Marilyn R. Gugliucci, MA, PhD (UNECOM), Shirl A. Weaver, MA, PhD (Retired Air Force Captain/Vet To Vet Board), and Amy Lin, BS, MS, OMS II completed a pilot study funded through the UNE Center for Excellence in Aging and Health. The team evaluated the Vet To Vet Maine companion program effectiveness in reducing isolation and loneliness for the Veteran Friends as well as the Veteran Volunteers. The study also included ascertaining program effects on Veteran Friend Care Partners. Vet To Vet Maine is an independent 501c3 non-profit organization offering a unique mission to connect trained veteran volunteers with fellow veterans to provide companionship, offer assistance with VA benefits, support independent living, and foster friendships and mentoring.
This 6-month evaluation project spanning 2019-2020, was conducted with mixed methods research design; pre/post assessment measures (Wilcoxon Sign Test) and interviews (NVivo 12+). Twenty-four participants ranging in age from 45-96 included 10 trained Veteran Volunteers (VV); 10 Veteran Friends (VF); and 4 Care Partners (CP) – 17 males/7 females. Assessments included Vet specific physical and mental measures of quality of life, combat veteran assessment of PTSD risk, and a caregiver burden assessment. Interviews ascertained participants’ perceptions of training (VVs), matching VVs with VFs, visits/activities, relationship building, and feedback on the program.
Assessments failed to meet significance (P=.05); however, trends were moving toward increased physical ability and decreased depression. Interviews revealed pairs established valued relationships built on essential common ground of being veterans and expanded based on their common interests, background, age, and military branch of service. A confounding variable was COVID-19; imposing social distance rules in March 2020 that dramatically affected the number and nature of the visits. In-person visits reduced by 72% (157.02 hrs. pre-COVID vs 45.27 hrs. COVID). Despite COVID, VVs made creative efforts to maintain contact with their VFs through phone calls, email, and delivering care packages and gifts. From participants’ perspectives, the program is highly valued, meets it mission and objectives, and fosters comradery. This pilot project is the foundation for Vet To Vet to apply for future grant funding.
We are veterans; we are a special breed (VF)
V2V Evaluation ReportFinal7-26-20https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:6583041c-df8a-4c85-9e3f-c46531b45684