Volunteerism - Age 65+ in Mississippi

Mississippi

After retirement, some older adults may choose to spend their free time volunteering. Volunteering provides a service to the community and offers volunteers opportunities for positive social interactions, increased social support and a sense of meaning and purpose during retirement. 

Many volunteer opportunities involve active mental and physical engagement, socialization and learning, all good for 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. Other improved health outcomes among older adults who volunteer include:

• Reduced symptoms of depression.
• Better self-reported health.
• Fewer functional limitations.
• Lower mortality rates.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency that engages people in volunteer work, has found that older volunteers experience decreased depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. More than 80% of participants in the AmeriCorps Seniors program report that volunteering helped improve their health after one year of service. 

Common barriers to volunteering include lack of transportation, lack of information about volunteer opportunities, mobility issues and other health problems. External factors such as religion may positively influence who volunteers as an older adult

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of volunteerism is higher among:

• Older adults with a college education compared with those who have less education.
• Older adults with an annual household income of $50,000 or more than those with lower incomes.
• White older adults compared with Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Hispanic older adults. 

The U.S. government has multiple programs to organize opportunities for potential volunteers, including AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Citizen Corps and poll worker positions. More government opportunities are listed on Volunteer.gov. These programs have been shown to increase adult volunteering, even after exiting the program.

The AARP website has resources for finding volunteer opportunities in your area based on interest. Strategies to encourage older adults to participate in volunteer activities include collaborating with senior organizations to promote opportunities, emphasizing the social aspect of volunteering and addressing transportation barriers by providing transportation assistance.

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