Ways Older Adults Can Volunteer
In your retirement years, you may find yourself with more free time than you want or need. It’s the perfect opportunity to travel, devote more time to cherished hobbies, and simply enjoy the freedom of fewer demands on your days.
However, many seniors discover that filling the gaps with an activity provides balance and creates great personal satisfaction. One rewarding solution: volunteering.
Senior volunteering opportunities give older adults a sense of purpose that’s beneficial for their emotional and mental health, while creating social connections. Giving back to the community and supporting a cause that holds personal meaning can be highly effective in achieving a more fulfilling retirement lifestyle.
If you’re curious about senior volunteering opportunities in your community, learn how you can get started making a difference in your neighborhood.
How do I volunteer as a senior?
The answer to this question may hinge on where you live. If you’re a resident of a Life Plan Community, also known as a continuing care retirement community, or if you’re affiliated with a senior living program like Springpoint Choice, it may be as simple as talking to your volunteer coordinator. You’re sure to find a wide range of senior volunteering opportunities, from resident-initiated scholarship programs that provide tuition for employees of Springpoint communities to partnerships with organizations in the surrounding area.
Without those resources, you can identify senior volunteer opportunities by following the local news, doing some online research, or making phone calls to area organizations supporting causes that interest you personally. Countless nonprofits will be in recovery mode from the pandemic for the foreseeable future, and extra hands willing to help are in high demand.
What services can I volunteer for as a senior?
Volunteering usually falls under three main categories: donating your time, skills, or money. As a senior, you’re in a good position to fill any of those roles, depending on your own personal wishes.
When you’re donating time, you don’t necessarily need any special knowledge; the organization will provide training, if it’s necessary. Volunteers are often invited to contribute by completing basic but important tasks, such as answering the phone, preparing mailings to benefactors, or sorting donated goods.
If you have unique talents or skills you acquired during your career, they may be helpful to an organization with limited resources. For example, you might be able to teach music or singing to a local youth group, or lend your marketing expertise to the board of a charitable foundation.
Financial contributions are nearly always welcome, and often you’ll be surprised to learn how far a donation can go toward helping an organization deliver on its mission. The Springpoint Foundation is one such example. A large majority of the foundation’s funding comes from generous contributions by residents, making it possible to fund valuable offerings, including the Resident Financial Assistance Program and Tomorrow’s Leaders Program, that strive to create better lives for people within our Springpoint communities.
How can I help in my area?
Talking with your community’s volunteer coordinator or reaching out to nonprofits in your area can help you identify local senior community volunteer opportunities and how you can make the most meaningful impact. You can help narrow your options by deciding ahead of time how you’d like to help and how big a commitment you’re willing to make.
If you’re planning your retirement future and access to senior volunteering opportunities is important to you, be sure to ask about the resources available through the providers you consider. Contact us to learn more about making Springpoint Choice—which includes full access to the services and amenities at our continuing care retirement communities in New Jersey and Delaware—part of your retirement plan.