It’s important for us to recognize the impact of serving and the power of those who volunteer to tackle society’s greatest challenges, building stronger communities and becoming a force that transforms the world. We love to shine a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve, recognizing and thanking volunteers who lend their time, talent and voice to make a difference in their communities.

It’s interesting. Because of the rate at which they are more likely to be retired, elderly people simply have more time on their hands than almost every other age demographic that’s eligible to work. Yet, despite this, they don’t have the highest percentage of the population who volunteer—that belongs to those aged 35 to 54 who are also at the height of their working days. So, let’s figure out exactly why volunteering is so important.

Volunteering has its social, mental, and physical benefits for people of all ages. However, these benefits are most true for elderly folks, as they are more often those with the most time on their hands.  A variety of studies have proven that people who volunteer live longer, and that’s because of a culmination of all the benefits we’re about to discuss.

Socially Beneficial

One of the challenges of retirement is staying social. Isolation occurs when seniors “have little contact with adult children, other relatives, or friends,” according to Forbes. Covid 19 really isolated many of us. Volunteering pulls us out of isolation, even if it’s only for a handful of hours a week. Volunteering at events at local religious institutions, parks, and museums are a great way to interact with a wide range people in the community.

Good For Your Mental Cognition

As we age, there’s always an increase in the likelihood of someone developing cognitive issues, other memory loss issues, and motor function diseases. What can slow this down? Staying active and engaging the brain. Volunteering provides opportunities to keep conversation flowing, constantly stimulate the brain, and help overall cognitive functions stay active.

Helps Give Back To The Community

So many organizations depend on volunteers to function. Something that may set an elderly person apart from any other individual is the wealth of knowledge they possess. There are youth camps, churches, boys and girls clubs, and a slew of places where younger generations gather.

Physically Engaging

Whether it’s volunteering door-to-door for candidates in your local elections, helping build community gardens, or something in between, physical activity is vital for an elderly person.

Learn Something New

Volunteering is a great way to learn a new skill that your previous decades of work wouldn’t allow. For instance, maybe you had a passing interest in aquatics and sea life. You could volunteer at an aquarium to find out more information about animals you never knew about.

Ready to volunteer? There are many organizations that need you, even here in Southwest Georgia. Call our ADRC at 1-800-282-6612 or visit our Volunteer page to learn more.