Volunteers Befriending Older Adults in Aged Care Residencies: Three Case Studies

Abstract

ObjectiveThe benefits of befriending programs for aged care residents are well documented. However, there is a paucity of research on the befriender's experience. The aim of this paper is to provide insight into the experiences of befriending from the perspective of befrienders in aged care residencies. It is intended to provide a snapshot into the complexities inherent in the befriending role, in order to prepare potential befrienders with a realistic expectation of this role, and to generate the type of training that is needed to assist befrienders to address such challenges.MethodThree postgraduate psychology students participated in Swinburne University's Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults' Befriending Program. After a year of befriending, exploratory case studies were produced from the befrienders' first‐hand experience.ResultsEach case study is composed of three subheadings: role description, challenges, and role uncertainty. Befriending predominately consisted of companionship and conversation, and befrienders were exposed to confronting discussions, memory decline, and an uncertainty surrounding their role.ConclusionsGreater insight has been provided to future befrienders into what befriending entails, as well as some of the challenges and benefits of the role. This may minimise their apprehension towards befriending. Befriending has the potential to benefit both the befriender and the older adult and could be a viable and sustainable solution to combating loneliness in aged care residencies. Formal training programs that provide counselling skills and guidelines on the specifics of what the role entails may facilitate future befriending and should be investigated in future research.