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Texas Value:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported volunteering in the past 12 months
Texas Rank:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older with an annual household income less than $25,000 who reported volunteering in the past 12 months
26.3% - 23.0%
22.9% - 19.4%
19.3% - 17.2%
17.1% - 13.4%
13.3% - 10.6%
No Data
US Value: 26.3%
Top State(s): Utah: 44.6%
Bottom State(s): Nevada: 12.9%
Definition: Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported volunteering in the past 12 months
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement, 2023
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
After retirement, some older adults may choose to spend their free time volunteering. Volunteering not only gives back to the community, but can also provide volunteers with positive social interactions, increased social support and a sense of meaning and purpose during retirement.
There is emerging evidence that older adults who volunteer regularly have better cognitive function compared with those who do not volunteer regularly. Other improved health outcomes among older adults who volunteer include:
AmeriCorps, a federal agency that engages people in volunteer work, has found that older adults who participate in their Senior Corps programs experience decreased depression, anxiety, loneliness and feelings of social isolation. More than 80% of Senior Corps volunteers report that volunteering helped them to improve or keep their health after two years 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:
The United States government has multiple programs that organize opportunities for potential volunteers, including the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and poll worker positions. More government opportunities are listed on Volunteer.gov.
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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Han, Sae Hwang, Jeffrey A. Burr, and Shiyang Zhang. “Helping Behaviors and Cognitive Function in Later Life: The Impact of Dynamic Role Transitions and Dose Changes.” Social Science & Medicine 383 (October 2025): 118465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118465.
Jongenelis, Michelle I., N. Biagioni, S. Pettigrew, J. Warburton, R. Newton, and B. Jackson. “Volunteering Engagement In Seniors: Barriers and Facilitators.” Innovation in Aging 1, no. S1 (2017): 1263–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igx004.4601.
Kent, Mary. “Volunteering and Health for Aging Populations.” Today’s Research on Aging, no. 21 (August 2011). https://www.prb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/TRA21-2011-volunteering-aging.pdf.
Kim, Eric S., Ashley V. Whillans, Matthew T. Lee, Ying Chen, and Tyler J. VanderWeele. “Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 59, no. 2 (August 2020): 176–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2020.03.004.
Pilkington, Pamela D., Tim D. Windsor, and Dimity A. Crisp. “Volunteering and Subjective Well-Being in Midlife and Older Adults: The Role of Supportive Social Networks.” The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 67B, no. 2 (March 1, 2012): 249–60.https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbr154.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
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