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United States Value:
Percentage of adults age 65 and older who reported volunteering in the past 12 months
Percentage of non-Hispanic white adults age 65 and older who reported volunteering in the past 12 months
59.4% - 37.5%
37.4% - 32.3%
32.2% - 29.4%
29.3% - 25.5%
25.4% - 16.6%
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 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:
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:
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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Musich, Shirley, Shaohung S. Wang, Sandra Kraemer, Kevin Hawkins, and Ellen Wicker. “Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults.” Population Health Management 21, no. 2 (April 2018): 139–47. https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2017.0063.
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.
Villalonga-Olives, Ester, Kayleigh R. Majercak, Josue Almansa, and Tasneem Khambaty. “Longitudinal Impact of Volunteering on the Cognitive Functioning of Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis from the US Health and Retirement Study.” International Journal of Nursing Sciences 10, no. 3 (July 2023): 373–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2023.06.018.
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