The Contribution of Church-Based Networks to Social Care in the Coronavirus Pandemic and Beyond: The Case of Pastoral da Pessoa Idosa in Brazil

The Pastoral da Pessoa Idosa (PPI) is a national voluntary movement linked to the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), comprising approximately 2500 volunteers, who offer guidance and support for well-being to more than 170,000 older people throughout Brazil. This paper analyses the resu...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Authors: Kevern, Peter (Author) ; Barroso, Áurea Eleutério (Author) ; Côrte, Beltrina (Author) ; Lopes, Ruth Gelehrter da Costa (Author) ; Lucena, Carolina (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: MDPI [2020]
In: Religions
Year: 2020, Volume: 11, Issue: 10
Further subjects:B Catholic
B religious organisation
B Brazil
B Aging
B Pandemic
B social care
B Social Policy
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:The Pastoral da Pessoa Idosa (PPI) is a national voluntary movement linked to the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), comprising approximately 2500 volunteers, who offer guidance and support for well-being to more than 170,000 older people throughout Brazil. This paper analyses the results of a data gathering exercise designed to gain an overview of the scope, support needs and international transferability of the project in ‘normal’ times and during the coronavirus pandemic. A telephone questionnaire comprising 21 questions was launched nationally among PPI volunteers over a single week in May 2020. The dataset (n = 3888) was subjected to exploratory statistical analysis and key findings collated around three guiding questions. The central findings were, first, that the composition of the body of volunteers is changing, requiring changes to training and support; secondly, that the model may be exportable to other middle-income countries in which the Catholic Church does not have the same dominance over the culture, as long as a national organising structure is in place; and finally that the speedy and flexible response of the PPI to the coronavirus pandemic suggests that this type of NGO will have a role in response to future national crises.
ISSN:2077-1444
Contains:Enthalten in: Religions
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.3390/rel11100486