Evaluating the Impact of Senior Companion Programs

Description

Senior Companion Programs (SCP) facilitate partnerships between community volunteers and local homebound seniors. Seniors served by the SCP will be provided with a companion who will conduct weekly visits with them, help with meal preparation or deliveries, provide transportation, assist with simple housekeeping, and socialize with the client amongst other tasks. These services are directed towards helping the senior client continue living independently in their own home instead of moving into an assisted living or nursing home. The SCP model is being evaluated to determine the impact of the services on the client's overall well-being and independent living status.

Conditions

Aging, Disabilities Multiple

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Senior Companion Programs (SCP) facilitate partnerships between community volunteers and local homebound seniors. Seniors served by the SCP will be provided with a companion who will conduct weekly visits with them, help with meal preparation or deliveries, provide transportation, assist with simple housekeeping, and socialize with the client amongst other tasks. These services are directed towards helping the senior client continue living independently in their own home instead of moving into an assisted living or nursing home. The SCP model is being evaluated to determine the impact of the services on the client's overall well-being and independent living status.

Evaluating the Impact of Senior Companion Programs on Homebound Adults' Well-being and Independent Living Status

Evaluating the Impact of Senior Companion Programs

Condition
Aging
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, 46556

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Each agency will maintain their standard of care definition of eligibility for services. Generally, these criteria include: the client must be at least 21+ or 65+ years of age (depending on the agency) and the client's current living situation makes them a good fit for services. "Good fit for services" is up to the agency based on how they typically admit clients for services. Some factors that enter into the definition of a good fit include: the client must either be isolated, lacking in social ties that assist them, or their caregivers need respite services, in which case we provide them the same services as an isolated individual. Volunteer assistance must be vital to the client remaining in the home.
  • * Participants under the age requirement for a given home will be excluded as will those who are deemed not a good fit for services. This might include clients who are not homebound or who's homes are in such poor condition that an agency doesn't feel the visiting companion would be safe.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

William Evans,

William N Evans, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Notre Dame

Sarah Kroeger, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Notre Dame

Study Record Dates

2025-12-01