Productivity of voluntary organizations the case of Counseling Services for the Elderly CSE of the National Insurance Institute NII in Israel

• Published in: The International journal of public sector management Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 447 - 462
• Main Authors: Vitner, Gad, Shalom, Vera, Yodfat, Avital
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald Group Publishing Limited 01-08-2005
• Subjects: Counselling; Elderly people; Employee productivity; Voluntary organizations
• ISSN: 0951-3558
• DOI: 10.1108/09513550510608895

Purpose To review the voluntary operations of Counseling Services for the Elderly, which has operated since 1972 under the National Insurance Institute of the State of Israel. Designmethodologyapproach The paper considers the elderly population and its characteristics and the gradual development of the volunteering counseling services. The characteristics of the volunteers and their motivation in this work are also discussed. The training that volunteers undergo is constantly being updated and upgraded, and details are provided that cover home visits, consultations and special projects. Findings Currently, Counseling Services for the Elderly operates 4,278 volunteers in 21 branches across the country, supporting thousands of the elderly on a relatively low budget of less than 3 million for 2003. Originalityvalue The paper presents a unique voluntary service that is fully integrated into national welfare for the elderly. The service meets the objectives of assistance to the elderly while helping to maintain and develop the quality of life of the volunteer.