BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY - OLDER VOLUNTEERS COMMITTED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Research on volunteerism has focused primarily on the recipients of th is activity as opposed to the volunteers themselves. We examined the c haracteristics and experiences of older adults who volunteered with Fa mily Friends, a program designed to assist families who have children with chronic illnesses or disabilities living at home. A profile of vo lunteers who remained involved in the program after their requested 9- month commitment and those who did not was also developed. Results sug gested that Family Friends volunteers experienced a mutually beneficia l relationship between themselves and families that provided them with a sense of purpose and personal competence. Volunteers who stayed wit h the program beyond their required commitment were more highly educat ed, received a higher annual income, were more likely to volunteer wit h other organizations, and reported higher life satisfaction. Implicat ions for volunteer recruiting and longevity are discussed.