In my master dissertation, I explored the level of development of volunteer work in the area of working with the elderly. I focused on the way volunteers were selected, their initial reasons and motivation to become volunteers, their training and training of mentors, the way how volunteering is perceived by volunteers, mentors and senior citizens, and on the position of social work within volunteering. To that end, I conducted a qualitative survey of volunteers, mentors, and seniors about facts, opinions, experiences, suggestions and findings regarding volunteering with the elderly, which were related to the topics mentioned above. During my research, I have also touched on the project of social activation as well as on the areas of dementia, violence and abuse of the elderly which are often overlooked topics in volunteering. Results have revealed that new volunteers were selected on the basis of introductory interview, probationary work, training of mentors and volunteers, as well as of various motivational factors among which was money allowance and the joy of working with the elderly. Furthermore, participants in survey perceived volunteering primarily as personal fulfillment and in the majority of cases their reasons for becoming volunteers were searching support for themselves and a desire to work with the elderly. As part of social work, the survey found social workers in nursing homes to be overworked, as well as volunteering to be an overlooked area of social work. In conclusion, based on the results and my own opinion, I offered some suggestions for improvement of volunteer work with the elderly. In my master dissertation, I explored the level of development of development of volunteer work in the area of working with the elderly.
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