Why Volunteering Matters: A Guide for Older Adults to Stay Active and Engaged

Volunteering, whether formally or informally, helps to keep our society healthy and functioning. Volunteers often do work behind the scenes that enables charities and other organizations, such as schools, shelters, and food banks, to provide much-needed services to their communities. Nearly one-third of adult Americans formally volunteer at least once per year, with many volunteering on a more regular basis.

Volunteering is important work at any age, but it can be especially important for older adults, both for those they help and also for themselves. Although our culture can send the message that youth is more important than age, younger generations can benefit greatly from the wisdom and experience that older adults can offer. And studies have shown that older adults who volunteer live longer, have better physical and mental health, and have higher cognitive abilities than older adults who don’t volunteer. Volunteering also brings with it many benefits for us as we age, including:

• Providing opportunities for social interaction.

Social isolation can be a real threat as people age, and result in illness, anxiety, and depression. One study showed that 70% of older adults who experienced symptoms of depression saw improvement in those symptoms after volunteering.

• Providing opportunities to learn new things.

Do you find butterflies interesting? By volunteering at a butterfly pavilion, you could learn all about butterflies in a practical, hands-on way. Want to learn more about local history? Volunteer at a history museum.

• Providing opportunities to give back to our communities.

Someone with decades of experience in accounting could provide help at tax time to senior and community centers. Someone who spent years as an auto mechanic could teach a community class on the subject. Someone with years of life experience could mentor youth.

• Providing opportunities to stay physically active.

Animal shelters often need volunteers to walk their dogs, and volunteering to help clean up a local park will keep you on your feet and moving.

One of the important things to remember is to start small. You needn’t fly to the other side of the world to make an impact (although you can). You can make an impact in your own community in ways that fit your personal schedule. Let’s look at a few of the ways you can volunteer.

• Mentor youth. This can be done in a number of ways, from volunteering at a community youth center to being a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters or Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Volunteers with mobility issues can mentor or tutor kids online.
• Helping the homeless. This can take many forms, from working with community organizations to provide clothing and meals, to volunteering in homeless shelters, to working with Habitat for Humanity.
• Supporting a cause. Whether you want to volunteer to help elect your favorite political candidate or help keep the world a beautiful place or help find a cure for cancer, there are many worthy causes that need your help.
• Peace Corps. If you love traveling around the world, consider the Peace Corps. There is no upper age limit to service in the Peace Corps, though health issues may limit where you maybe allowed to serve.

If you want to volunteer, but aren’t sure where to start or what type of volunteer work you might like to do, Senior Corps maybe a good place to visit. Senior Corps connects people 55 and older with volunteer opportunities in their communities. Visit https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/senior-corps to find out more.

Volunteering can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have, no matter what their age. Make no mistake—our society could not function without volunteers of all ages in all aspects of life to, among other things, keep our museums running, our parks and roadsides clean,and serve the most vulnerable members of our communities. No help is too small or insignificant. Even if “all” you do is knit a hat for a cancer patient who’s lost his or her hair, you have met a need and done wonderful work that will not be forgotten. Please consider sharing your talent and life experience with those in your community who need you.