At Her Age: Exploring Perceptions of Successful Aging with Older Women Engaged with Volunteerism in Nova Scotia

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dc.contributor.authorAmey, Sharon E.
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-20T12:55:12Z
dc.date.available2025-06-20T12:55:12Z
dc.date.issued2025-01
dc.description.abstractWhile volunteerism is often viewed as giving back to a community, it also presents opportunities for learning and growth for the volunteer. The purpose of this study was to explore older women’s experiences with volunteerism, including volunteerism as a context for lifelong learning and how this contributes to successful aging. This was a phenomenological inquiry of six women’s experiences with volunteerism in Nova Scotia. Experiences were explored through individual interviews and enhanced by arts-based methods, specifically that during interviews the women shared an object that is meaningful to her volunteer experience. Transcripts of interviews and digital images of objects were analyzed and compiled into themes. Themes describing the volunteer experience centred on a sense of purpose, giving back, identification with their volunteer mission, incorporating volunteerism into their lifestyle, and the social nature of volunteering. Themes around learning included organized learning for their role, unintentional learning, learning through experience, and self-transformation through learning. As a context for successful aging, the women value that volunteering allows for personal growth, continued connection to others, and maintaining a positive outlook. This study revealed that volunteering is a unique experience with highly-valued, multifaceted returns to the volunteer. Socialization is a crucial element to all three experiences of volunteering, learning, and aging successfully. All participants readily identify as lifelong learners and volunteering is one way they pursue learning. Similarly, they each have a clear vision of what successful aging looks like to her, and volunteering is a conscious activity towards realizing her vision.
dc.identifier.urihttps://ec.msvu.ca/handle/10587/2330
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMount Saint Vincent Univerity
dc.titleAt Her Age: Exploring Perceptions of Successful Aging with Older Women Engaged with Volunteerism in Nova Scotia
dc.typeThesis
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