Volunteering Supports Healthy Aging

April 18 - 24 is National Volunteer Week

In these tough economic times, the budgets of service organizations must stretch farther than ever. Charitable donations are down, and there is less money in the public coffers for social services and education. So it's not surprising that social service agencies, community groups, non-profit organizations, schools and cultural organizations all report that they now rely more than ever on volunteers to help their programs succeed.

At the same time, many organizations report that their pool of volunteers is smaller as people are spending more time looking for work, some even taking second jobs to make ends meet.

Seniors Are Stepping Up

The good news is, help is arriving from an increased cadre of senior volunteers, many of them baby boomers who are now reaching retirement age. A recent study from SeniorCorps, the national program to match older adults with volunteer opportunities, reports that boomers who are currently in their 50s volunteer at a higher rate than earlier generations did at that age, and there is no reason to think the trend will change. And though many boomers are expected to retire at a later age—for financial reasons and the personal satisfaction of their worklife—they are also likely to change the face of retirement by taking later-life work with a smaller financial reward, but with more flexibility, and a greater sense of giving back.

Boomers aren't the only seniors who are taking on this challenge. Seniors of every age—even Centenarians—are finding ways to put their talents to good use. In some families, older adults and family caregivers volunteer together, spending rewarding hours while helping out a favorite cause. No matter what your age and abilities, consider the many rewards and benefits of public service!

Volunteers know that public service can be an important part of later life, and a major boost to healthy aging in several ways. Serving as a volunteer offers:

Continued Sense of Purpose. Did you know that gerontologists name depression as one of the greatest health challenges faced by seniors? Many retirees are surprised to discover that leaving work creates a "vocation gap" in later years. "After the initial flurry of golf games and sleeping in," said one former Air Force colonel, "I realized how much my self-image was tied up with my job." Volunteer service can produce a profound sense of achievement—often well beyond what our paid work offered. 

Enhanced Satisfaction with Our Life's Legacy. One of our basic emotional "tasks" in our older years is life review—taking stock of what we have accomplished, and seeking reassurance that the path we have taken through our world has made it a better place. No matter what your religious or philosophical beliefs, chances are good that you have gained the perspective that our families, communities, nation, human race and planet can only thrive if we work together. By offering a daily reminder that we can make a difference, volunteer service encourages an enhanced sense of satisfaction and well-being.

Healthier Body. Staying physically active is a major component of healthy aging—and retirement itself can lead to inactivity, offering the temptation to develop "couch potato" habits. The Corporation for National and Community Service released a report, The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research, which showed that volunteers have greater longevity and less incidence of heart disease. "This is good news for people who volunteer," said Robert Grimm, Director of the Corporation's Office of Research and Policy Development. "Just two hours of volunteering a week can bring meaningful benefits.”

Healthier Mind. Brain researchers know that novelty—trying something new, thinking outside the box—builds new connections in the aging brain. A few months ago, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health released the results of a study that used MRI imaging of seniors' brains to show that volunteering promotes cognitive health. According to the study, volunteer service "can help older adults delay or reverse declining brain function."

Greater Social Connectedness. Many seniors report a feeling of isolation—and did you know that current research demonstrates that spending time with others is as important as physical activity? A University of Chicago researcher tells us, "Loneliness undermines health and can be as detrimental as smoking." Serving as a volunteer helps fill this vital role for many seniors: it provides a context for human contact, for connecting with others in a sense of community and belonging. (For more information on the healthy aging benefits of socialization, see "Rx Friendship: Add Socialization to Your Senior Wellness Prescription" in the August 2009 issue of Insight for Caregivers.)

Volunteering can be an important part of healthy aging—a way to stay active and keep your mind challenged, while giving back to the community and the world. The need for volunteers has never been greater. Fortunately, more and more seniors are answering the call, serving their communities, sharing their gifts, and helping others!

Check Out Volunteer Opportunities

A good place to begin is U.S. SeniorCorps, which is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Opportunities include the Foster Grandparents Program, Senior Companions, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

The Points of Light Institute, sponsor of National Volunteer Week, is a collective network that manages millions of volunteers and 50,000 volunteer-driven community impact projects annually around the country. Their website includes information about volunteer opportunities around the country.

Read on to the next article to learn about a very valuable volunteer opportunity in "Hospice Volunteers: A Special Kind of Caring."