Psychosocial intervention with elderly people and young volunteers: "Bonds between people, new rays of light in life"

Abstract

The demographic ageing observed in the last decades, in Portugal, has been accompanied by an increase in the number of older people living alone, often associated with situations of social isolation and loneliness. The social intervention project “Bonds between people, new rays of light in life”, guided by the Participatory Action-Research methodology, was developed with 12 older adults and a group of young volunteers. The main goal was to improve the quality of life of the elderly, by fighting loneliness and social isolation, and by reinforcing feelings of self-confidence and personal appreciation.

Based on the analysis of the social reality and on the assessment of the context, three actions were carried out, enabling the achievement of the main goals: expand interpersonal and social networks, promote self-confidence and a greater personal appreciation, organize a group of volunteers to respond to some of the needs of the older participants, and to minimize social isolation and loneliness through visits and at home support by volunteers. The project proved to be significant in the lives of the participants, contributing to a better quality of life, reducing the feeling of loneliness and the situation of social isolation.