Volunteer engagement in rural age-friendly care: a scoping review
- 1John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia
- 2John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Australia
Abstract
Background: Integrated, age-friendly care models are important in preventing functional decline and improving quality of life for older people. However, these models require an adequate, sufficiently trained workforce, which is challenging in rural areas. This study explores how volunteers contribute to age-friendly care in rural contexts, drawing on the Indigo 4Ms Framework (what matters, medication, mobility and mental wellbeing).
Methods: A scoping review was undertaken following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Four databases (PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched for rural-specific, English language studies published between 2013 and December 2025. Of 3,953 studies screened, 23 met criteria relating to rural volunteer-supported interventions that supported core elements of rural age-friendly care– what matters, medication, mobility and mental wellbeing.
Results: Volunteer involvement spanned all four core elements. All studies reported volunteer contributions to mental wellbeing through cognitive, social, sensory, hydration, nutrition, sleep, continence, and carer support activities. Almost two thirds examined volunteer support for what matters, and volunteer involvement in enhancing mobility, with one third examining volunteer roles in medication access, management, and safe use.
Conclusions: There is evidence that volunteers can support all four elements of rural age-friendly care. Further research is needed to identify scope of practice for volunteers within rural age-friendly health care models, and to identify how volunteers can be best engaged in these models. Volunteer roles must be defined as supplementary, rather than as a substitute workforce.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-29007-3.
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BibTeX
@article{winterton2026volunteer,
title = {{Volunteer engagement in rural age-friendly care: a scoping review}},
author = {Rachel Winterton and Carmela Leone and Steph Houghton and Kathleen Brasher},
journal = {BMC Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-29007-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-29007-3},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Volunteer engagement in rural age-friendly care: a scoping review
AU - Rachel Winterton
AU - Carmela Leone
AU - Steph Houghton
AU - Kathleen Brasher
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/12
JO - BMC Public Health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-29007-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-29007-3
AB - Background: Integrated, age-friendly care models are important in preventing functional decline and improving quality of life for older people. However, these models require an adequate, sufficiently trained workforce, which is challenging in rural areas. This study explores how volunteers contribute to age-friendly care in rural contexts, drawing on the Indigo 4Ms Framework (what matters, medication, mobility and mental wellbeing). Methods: A scoping review was undertaken following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Four databases (PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched for rural-specific, English language studies published between 2013 and December 2025. Of 3,953 studies screened, 23 met criteria relating to rural volunteer-supported interventions that supported core elements of rural age-friendly care– what matters, medication, mobility and mental wellbeing. Results: Volunteer involvement spanned all four core elements. All studies reported volunteer contributions to mental wellbeing through cognitive, social, sensory, hydration, nutrition, sleep, continence, and carer support activities. Almost two thirds examined volunteer support for what matters, and volunteer involvement in enhancing mobility, with one third examining volunteer roles in medication access, management, and safe use. Conclusions: There is evidence that volunteers can support all four elements of rural age-friendly care. Further research is needed to identify scope of practice for volunteers within rural age-friendly health care models, and to identify how volunteers can be best engaged in these models. Volunteer roles must be defined as supplementary, rather than as a substitute workforce. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-29007-3.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -