Volunteerism - Ages 65+

Volunteerism - Ages 65+ in United States

United States

After retirement, some older adults may choose to spend their free time volunteering. Volunteering provides a service for communities and organizations, and for volunteers, it can provide positive social interactions, a greater level of social support and a sense of meaning and purpose. 

Volunteering also allows older adults to learn new things, promoting cognitive function. There is emerging evidence that older adults who volunteer regularly have fewer cognitive complaints and a lower risk for dementia compared with those who do not volunteer regularly. In addition to the cognitive benefits, studies show that older adults who volunteer have better health outcomes than non-volunteering older adults, including reduced symptoms of depression, better self-reported health, fewer functional limitations and lower mortality.

AmeriCorps also found that older volunteers experienced decreased depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. 84% of AmeriCorps Seniors participants reported that volunteering helped improve their health after one year of service. 

While many older adults show an interest in volunteering, some face barriers that prevent them from doing so. Some common barriers include lack of mobility, lack of transportation, lack of information about volunteer opportunities and health issues. External factors such as religion may also influence who volunteers as an older adult.

Older adults who are more likely to volunteer include:

• White adults compared with Black adults. This racial disparity may be due to fewer economic resources and more disadvantaged neighborhood and social environments among Black populations.
• Older adults with higher levels of education compared with those with lower levels of education.
• Low-income senior housing residents compared with low-income older adults not living in senior housing.
• Older women compared with older men.

The AARP website has resources for finding volunteer opportunities in your area based on interest. AmeriCorps, a federal agency that engages people in volunteer work, has a program called AmeriCorps Seniors centered around volunteer opportunities for adults ages 55 and older.

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