AI Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how willing individuals are to assist neighbors in need, focusing on emotional and practical support during serious illness or dying.
- A survey conducted in Flanders, Belgium, revealed that respondents were more willing to help caregivers of dying partners than older individuals needing assistance, with an average willingness rating of 3.41 and 3.85, respectively.
- Factors that increased willingness included having a positive outlook on support, personal caregiving experience, and prior volunteering in related contexts, indicating that community initiatives could leverage these insights to enhance support networks.
Article Abstract
Background: Wider social networks are increasingly recognized for supporting people with care needs. Health-promoting initiatives around the end of life aim to foster these social connections but currently provide little insight into how willing people are to help neighbours facing support needs.
Objectives: This study describes how willing people are to help neighbours who need support practically or emotionally, whether there is a difference in willingness depending on the type of support needed and what determines this willingness.
Design: We applied a cross-sectional survey design.
Methods: We distributed 4400 questionnaires to a random sample of people aged >15 across four municipalities in Flanders, Belgium. These surveys included attitudinal and experiential questions related to serious illness, caregiving and dying. Respondents rated their willingness (scale of 1-5) to provide support to different neighbours in hypothetical scenarios: (1) an older person in need of assistance and (2) a caregiver of a dying partner.
Results: A total of 2008 questionnaires were returned (45.6%). The average willingness to support neighbours was 3.41 (case 1) and 3.85 (case 2). Helping with groceries scored highest; cooking and keeping company scored lowest. Factors associated with higher willingness included an optimistic outlook about receiving support from others, family caregiving experience and prior volunteering around serious illness or dying.
Conclusion: People are generally willing to support their neighbours who need help practically or emotionally, especially when they have prior experience with illness, death or dying and when they felt supported by different groups of people. Community-based models that build support around people with care needs could explore to what extent this willingness translates into durable community support. Initiatives promoting social connection and cohesion around serious illness, caregiving and dying may harness this potential through experiential learning.
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|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11085024 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/26323524241249196 | DOI Listing |
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