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Older adults' satisfaction with the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program

Nancy Kelley‐Gillespie (Based in the Grace Abbott School of Social Work, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA)
Frances Wilby (Based in the College of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)
O. William Farley (Based in the College of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)

Working with Older People

ISSN: 1366-3666

Article publication date: 1 April 2012

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the satisfaction of older adults in the services they receive from the Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) program – a program designed to assist older adults to remain independent in their homes and communities.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire examining various domains of service was developed and administered to 49 older adults who had been receiving assistance from NHN for at least six months.

Findings

Findings revealed that 87 percent (41) of the participants were satisfied with services and believed that NHN helped them remain independent in the community.

Research limitations/implications

The study was a cross‐sectional design and did not look at change over time based on a pre/post test research design. Therefore, no causation can be implied. Another limitation is that the study was conducted internally by NHN; program participants may have responded in a socially desirable way in order not to reflect negatively on the program.

Practical implications

Findings from this study may have implications for developing sustainable home‐ and community‐based support programs for older adults.

Social implications

With the aging of societies and cutbacks in government social services, it is important to examine how the needs of aging citizens can be met.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the NHN model is innovative in its use of students, community‐building approaches, and volunteers in meeting the needs of older adults. The NHN program provides an innovative model that can be replicated by other universities or other community‐based organizations around the country.

Keywords

Citation

Kelley‐Gillespie, N., Wilby, F. and Farley, O.W. (2012), "Older adults' satisfaction with the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program", Working with Older People, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 154-169. https://doi.org/10.1108/13663661211286684

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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