April 19-25 is National Volunteer Week

A supplement to the book "Aging in Stride"

"Who Will Help?" "I Will!"
Senior volunteers are more important than ever

The university arboretum found their funding slashed in the last round of budget cuts, and several ongoing studies were threatened by short staffing. In stepped Margaret, 75, a retired botany professor who now volunteers three afternoons a week. She monitors pest traps, oversees students who measure the growth of plants, and helps visitors identify plant species. _________________

In these tough economic times, the budgets of service organizations must stretch farther than ever. Charitable donations are down, and there is less money in the public coffers for social services and education. So it's not surprising that social service agencies, community groups, non-profit organizations, schools and cultural organizations all report that they now rely more than ever on volunteers to help their programs succeed.

At the same time, many organizations report that their pool of volunteers is smaller as people are spending more time looking for work, some even taking second jobs to make ends meet.

Seniors Are Stepping Up

The good news is, help is arriving from an increased cadre of senior volunteers, many of them Baby Boomers who are now reaching retirement age. A recent study from SeniorCorps, the national program to match older adults with volunteer opportunities, reports that Boomers who are currently in their 50s volunteer at a higher rate than earlier generations did at that age, and there is no reason to think the trend will change. And though many Boomers are expected to retire at a later age—for financial reasons and the personal satisfaction of their worklife—they are also likely to change the face of retirement by shifting to work with a smaller financial reward, but with more flexibility, and a greater sense of giving back.

Boomers aren't the only seniors who are taking on this challenge. Seniors of every age are finding ways to put their talents to good use. So no matter what your age, consider the many rewards and benefits of volunteering.

Volunteers know that public service can be an important part of later life, and a major boost to healthy aging in several ways. Serving as a volunteer offers:

Continued Sense of Purpose. Did you know that gerontologists predict that depression is one of the greatest health challenges Boomers will face? While it's a sure bet that some rest and relaxation are on your retirement "to do" list, many retirees are surprised to discover that leaving work creates a "vocation gap" in later years. "After the initial flurry of golf games and sleeping in," said one former Air Force colonel, "I realized how much my self-image was tied up with my job." Volunteer service can produce a profound sense of achievement—often well beyond what our paid work offered. 

Enhanced Satisfaction with Our Life's Legacy. One of our basic emotional "tasks" as we enter our older years is life review—taking stock of what we have accomplished, and seeking reassurance that the path we have taken through our world has made it a better place. No matter what your religious or philosophical beliefs, chances are good that you have gained the perspective to know that our families, communities, nation, human race and planet can only thrive if we work together. By offering a daily reminder that we can make a difference, volunteer service encourages an enhanced sense of satisfaction and well-being.

Healthier Body and Mind. Staying physically active is a major component of healthy aging—and retirement itself can lead to inactivity, offering the temptation to develop "couch potato" habits. In 2007, the Corporation for National and Community Service released a report titled The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research. The report, which examined over 30 different studies, showed that volunteers have greater longevity, higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease. "This is good news for people who volunteer," said Robert Grimm, Director of the Corporation's Office of Research and Policy Development. "This research is particularly relevant to Baby Boomers, who are receiving as well as giving when they help others. Just two hours of volunteering a week can bring meaningful benefits to a person's body and mind."

Greater Social Connectedness. Growing older can also result in a loss of social context. At our retirement party, many of us say we will get together soon with our work friends—but somehow, we seldom get around to it. And at this stage of life, our children are grown, possibly moved to new communities. Maybe we ourselves have retired to a different state. Many seniors report a feeling of isolation—and did you know that current research demonstrates that spending time with others is as important as physical activity? Consider these recent studies:

• University of Chicago researchers point to loneliness as a factor in reduced brain activity; one participating scholar even states, "Loneliness undermines health and can be as detrimental as smoking."
  
• An article last year in the New York Times reports on a Harvard School of Public Health study suggesting that socializing helps delay memory problems.  
  
  
• A recent study from the American Academy of Neurology on stress and dementia confirms that people who are socially active may be less likely to develop cognitive impairment.  
  
  
• Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine professor Dr. Stephen Post recently released a new book, Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life. Says Post, "There is now a convergence of research leading to the conclusion that helping others makes people happier and healthier. So the word is out—it's good to be good. Science increasingly says so."
  
  
• An article in the Journal of Gerontology revealed that African-American women aged 60 and older who volunteer in elementary schools are not only more physically active than their non-volunteering counterparts, but seem to sustain this physical activity over time.

Serving as a volunteer helps fill this vital role for many seniors: it provides a context for human contact, for connecting with others in a sense of community and belonging.

When Greta, 68, retired from her job in corporate real estate sales, she began volunteer work at a residential center for developmentally disabled adults. Without Greta's help, the eight adults would have less opportunity for outdoor recreation. Says Greta, "It feels good to get up in the morning, knowing I am going to make a difference."

By Joyce Remy, Editor, and Dennis Kenny, Co-Author, Aging in Stride–Plan Ahead, Stay Connected, Keep Moving. Copyright, 2009.