Mapping Compassion: A Scoping Review of Volunteer Impact in Rehabilitation Care

Short synopsis: This project is a scoping review with the aim of quantifying where volunteers are useful in rehabilitation settings, in order to guide future policies and treatment plans.

 

Background: With ageing populations and rising demand for rehabilitation services, health systems face increasing pressure to strengthen and adapt their workforce. Volunteers play a vital role in supporting care delivery and promoting patient well-being in rehabilitation settings, yet their contributions remain underexplored. This scoping review examines how volunteer engagement influences rehabilitation service delivery and patient outcomes.

 

Approach: Following JBI and Arksey and O’Malley guidelines, literature searches were conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Ovid, and ProQuest. Studies were systematically screened and analysed according to scoping review standards. Articles were included if they reported on volunteer involvement in rehabilitation settings.

 

Results: To date, 6,127 records have been identified, 356 full texts screened, and 24 studies included in the preliminary analysis. Volunteers contributed across multiple roles, including emotional support, peer mentoring, and assisting with service coordination, often in partnership with therapists and clinical teams. In several studies, stroke survivors who volunteered as peer mentors helped others regain confidence and motivation during recovery. Volunteer involvement was associated with improved patient confidence, psychological well-being, and reduced loneliness, though most evidence focused on stroke rehabilitation, highlighting the need for broader investigation across diverse populations.

 

Implications: This ongoing review reinforces the importance of integrating volunteer roles into rehabilitation strategies. Engaging volunteers can enhance patient outcomes, optimise service delivery, and extend workforce capacity. Findings are transferable to diverse rehabilitation and integrated care systems internationally, where volunteer engagement offers a sustainable approach to workforce development and improved care quality.