Research on the process of the elders’ meaning- finding for life through their volunteering experience-Taking government agencies as an example

• Main Authors: Chia-yao Chang, 張嘉窈
• Other Authors: Wei-ni wang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/10504886384673393316

碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 成人及繼續教育所 === 98 === Recently, the government has to reduce the expenditure on personnel owing to extreme social structure change and financial crisis. In the certain condition, there should be volunteers in government agencies to provide more social welfare and help society get through this moment. In the upcoming aging society, the government needs the elders'' contributions as a sort of human resource. Besides, many elders retire in good health condition, so they can spend more time volunteering in social welfare, which will be beneficial to the whole country. Furthermore, with advanced medical technology, people have longer life span. If the elders are willing to dedicate themselves to the public with their expertise, it may say that they can find the significance of existence at the last moment of life. The purpose of the study was to discuss the process of the elders’ meaning- finding for life through their volunteering experience. Through this study, we could understand their mindset to participate in volunteering. Also, we can learn their feelings through the experience of being volunteers and self contemplation after contributing to social welfare. We even can understand the elders'' self-valuation on the certain practice of volunteering. The study was conducted by the qualitative method to interview ten elder seniors who work for government agencies as volunteers. Through this research, we learned how the elders find the significance of life through their experience of volunteering. The results were presented: a) It is necessary for the elders to have interactions with others, which becomes one of motivations that they participate in volunteering. That is, building relationships with others is really important for them. b) The elders were willing to seize each day to be volunteers. Rather than having expectation for the future, they liked dedicating themselves to social welfare each day. c) During the process of volunteering, the elders were faced with the role change, affectional compensations and their self-evaluation finding. Through the experience, they had chance to find the meaning for life. d) Through the experience of volunteering, the elders learned to treasure time. Besides, through self-actualization and self-mastery, they could understand the significance of life in non-religious way. e) During the process of volunteering, the elders learned the value of life through love and care rather than being suffered. f) The concern with health condition did not affect the elder volunteers'' willingness to find the meaning for life. As long as they have positive mindset, they could discover the meaning of life. g) The environment of government agencies would have positive influence on the elder volunteers. Either staff or volunteers could give beneficial perspective to each others through the interaction, so that service quality was improved. h) With the volunteering experience, the elders could make many friends. Besides, they have deep impression on love and sensation. i) Through volunteering, the elders could have self-contemplation and be willing to better themselves off, which could improve their relationships with others. There are some suggestions for the elders, the government and future research in the following description. I. Suggestions for the elders who are not volunteers: A) The elders can volunteer in any organization not especially religious or medical ones. With others’ encouragement, they can open their mind, interact with others and dedicate themselves to others. By volunteering, they can even find their valuation and learn the significance of life. B) The environment of government agencies is a suitable place for the elders to be volunteers without pressure and burden, where they can work happily. Besides, the elders and government staff can learn more from each other. II. Suggestions for elder volunteers: A) Having harmonious relationship with peers, elder volunteers can share with others their feelings about the significance of life and their experience of identifying themselves, which enriches and completes their lives. B) If elder volunteers learn how to change their thought and attitude in modern society, they can accommodate new generations. Also, they can have further relationship with young persons. III. Suggestions for government agencies: A) There should be more government agencies providing more volunteering opportunities for the elders. In aging society, the government''s promotion on volunteering can not only improve the elders'' living quality but also offer good service to people. B) Government agencies can provide some life courses with the elder volunteers to inspire their contemplation to the significance of life, which makes them feel impressed of being volunteers and improves their service quality. IV. Suggestions for future research: A) It is recommended to do a research on the elders who have no work experiences or the elders who are from different backgrounds to see their meaning- finding for life through volunteering experience. B) It is recommended to choose elder volunteers, government staff, and other people in government agencies as subjects in a research so that we can discuss their interactions and relationships in the process of volunteering.