Abstract
BACKGROUND: With the acceleration of population aging, it becomes increasingly difficult to meet the complex needs of older adults living in communities. Although volunteering is an important resource in addressing the aging crisis, the lack of clear motivations and finely-tuned strategic guidance present obstacles. This study aims to understand the motivations and strategies involved in voluntary service for urban home-based older adults provided by volunteers with a nursing background. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design was adopted. Twenty-three volunteers with nursing background were recruited using purposive and maximum variation sampling. Data analysis followed directed content analysis. RESULTS: Two themes highlighted the motivation to participate: (1) external motivation and (2) internal motivation. Another five themes described the strategies applied: (1) maintaining belief, (2) knowing, (3) being with, (4) doing for, and (5) enabling. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified the initial motivations of volunteers with nursing backgrounds to participate in community-based services for older adults, along with a range of effective strategies they use. The key findings of the study offer valuable insights for volunteer recruitment and retention, while also providing strong support for improving service quality and ensuring the systematization and effectiveness of services.