The Experience of Involving Senior Citizens ("Silver Volunteers") in the Practice of Volunteering

Abstract

Background: The presented article is based on the practical experience of Sochi-2014 volunteer centers that involved senior citizens in the practice of volunteering in the organization of different events and facilities. Methods: The paper presents new, modern methods and models for organization of work with silver volunteers. These models are complex and versatile, so they can be applied to the work of elder volunteers in other events. Findings: This article provides results of analyzing the training of this category of volunteers in the framework of participation in the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Winter Paralympics Sochi-2014. It also analyzes the results of the study of personality characteristics and motivational systems of modern silver volunteers, and includes practical recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency of the selection process in volunteer practice, which improves the quality of work with them. Such comprehensive approach in the preparation and training of volunteers was used for the first time and showed very good results. Improvement: The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that its conclusions and recommendations can be used in the professional psychological selection, psycho-pedagogical support, training, re-training and analysis of volunteers from among the elderly.