Seniors Volunteers and the Community
If you’re a newly retired senior who is looking for interesting ways to spend your time, have you ever considered volunteer work? Seniors often have a vast wealth of knowledge and skills they’ve acquired over the span of their lives, and can help organizations save money and train the younger generation. Or, volunteering can allow seniors to learn something new!
Volunteering allows you to make a difference in someone’s life or even the community as a whole. Seniors are often proficient in various services and industries that companies and various organizations are looking for. Plus, as you provide your own skills and assist others, senior volunteer opportunities can offer a chance for reciprocal learning from the younger generation. For example, maybe you’re not very comfortable with some of today’s technologies; as you provide training to younger employees, they can help you get more comfortable with things you’d like to know more about.
Why Should You Consider Becoming a Senior Volunteer?
Studies have been conducted which show that seniors who volunteer are more socially active in their communities. Volunteering offers a chance to build new relationships and make your community a better place. Plus, being socially active promotes better brain function and increases cognitive abilities, and also wards off depression and loneliness that come with social isolation. As you’re spending more time with others, doing quality work you are passionate about, your overall happiness will increase.
As senior volunteer, you have the option of choosing what type of work you’d like to do. Research shows that seniors who volunteer are actually more satisfied than their paid counterparts. This is because the choice of work you do is yours alone; you can find volunteer opportunities in a field you find meaningful and exciting.
Senior Volunteer Opportunities
The volunteer opportunities for seniors are truly endless. Remember to seek out work you would find the most rewarding, whether it’s using the skills you’ve gained from a lifelong career or an activity you’ve always thought would be interesting and/or fulfilling. For example, if you were an accountant with a passion for numbers, you can volunteer your services during tax season. If you want to assist those in need, local hospitals or schools are often looking for senior volunteers. Maybe you love animals; local shelters are almost always in need of volunteers to feed the cats or walk the dogs.
If you still aren’t sure where to begin, there are some online services that can help steer you in the right direction. For example, visit the website Volunteer Match, which helps senior volunteers find opportunities in their area simply be entering their zip code. Or, The Retired and Senior Volunteer also helps place seniors in the perfect volunteer position.
Whether you’d like to expand your horizons, help others, continue to use lifelong skills, or are simply looking for a unique way to stay socially active in your community, consider becoming a senior volunteer.
Find out more about the Charitable Fund and opportunities for volunteering at Galloway Ridge by clicking here.
