This study aims to investigate the experiences of volunteers during the course of their work, especially in the approach with the elderly, using semi-structured interviews. Five units of meaning were obtained: voluntary as a transforming experience, the need for volunteers to be thanked and acknowledged, the involvement/emotional detachment of the volunteer, the communicative difficulties between elders and youth related to the generation gap, strong feelings of empathy with the elderly and the perception of loneliness in which some elders are.
Keywords: Anziano, volontari, esperienze, emozioni, ricerca qualitativa, interviste