Volunteering is a wonderful way for older adults to remain
active, creative and productive in their later years. There have been a number of medical studies that show that
volunteering promotes good health, both physically and mentally. Contact your local senior center or
volunteer resource center for ideas as to where to go to volunteer. Oftentimes, newspapers will run articles or
columns about where volunteers are needed.
Usually it doesn’t matter how much time or energy you have to contribute. There is so much need in so many areas that
every little bit helps.
Some examples of how volunteers can help are:
Escort Transportation – Healthy, driving seniors give rides
to other seniors that have doctor’s appointments, wait for them, and then
return them safely home. This allows
seniors who are no longer able to drive to meet their medical appointments at
no cost or limited cost. This is vital
in an area where buses are scarce, taxis are expensive and medical
transportation cars are prohibitive. 
Shopping Assistance – Volunteers either take the senior
shopping and help them or take a list and money and go for them. Many shopping chores that are routine for
most of us are impossible for a senior who uses a walker or is in a
wheelchair. Granted, some stores have
motorized carts with baskets but this isn’t always the best solution for
everyone.
Friendly Visitors – Volunteers spend an hour or so each week
visiting a homebound senior and brightening their day.
Phone-a-friend - Volunteers call seniors and visit over the
phone one or two times a week. In some
cases, seniors who are homebound participate and call to visit with other
homebound seniors.
Meals-on-Wheels Drivers – These dedicated volunteers report
to the Senior Center every day at a specified time to collect the “red bag” and
“route book” and go on their journey.
In their travels, they will drop off hot lunches (with cold
accessories such as milk, salad, bread and butter, and dessert or fruit) to
many homebound seniors. They are the
“eyes and ears” in the community and often report back to Social Services if
they see any changes or problems with the seniors on their routes. Social Services then will follow up.
SeniorNet Volunteers – These computer wizards volunteer
their time to either teach or coach various
computer classes on a regular
schedule. Most SeniorNet Labs run
regularly scheduled classes. Two-hour
class sessions are offered for each period of 8 weeks for a total of 16 hours
of instruction in each class. With only
a limited number of students in each class and abundant help available, any
senior can learn computing and enter the technological age. Besides, it is empowering and fun to
participate.
Adult Day Care/Respite Volunteers - Helping seniors who are
mild-moderately confused, suffering from short-term memory loss or have some
other impairment at a senior center or adult day care center can be very
rewarding. It is a unique opportunity
to help others in a very meaningful, personal way.
S.H.I.P. (Senior
Health Insurance Program) Volunteers – These wonderful folks takes classes,
study hard and learn all the intricacies related to Medicare and insurance
coverage. They work on a regular
schedule to help older adults who have been hospitalized and have all the attendant
paperwork.
Income Tax Preparers
– Again, these special folks work hard
to be able to prepare tax returns for seniors without charge. They are available every tax season and do
an outstanding job. This is a good fit
for retired accountants and CPAs.
Additionally, there are many volunteers for the various
recreational programs. Bingo would not
be called without volunteers, various social groups would not be run, golf
leagues and bowling leagues would not exist and card games, especially Bridge,
would disappear from the recreation program if volunteers did not step forward
and take on the responsibility for that particular activity.
So volunteering can be a part of a healthy lifestyle for
older adults. It can keep you connected
to the community, promote self-esteem, promote health and help you continue to
feel needed as a fellow human being.
Volunteer Match
Volunteer Opportunities
