Three Lessons Seniors Can Pick Up from Volunteering
Guest Author, Jessica Dawn
Older adults are in the perfect position to volunteer. For one, they have more free time on their hands compared to when they were younger and had full-time jobs. Aside from helping the people and communities that are in need, volunteering also imparts some benefits to older adults. In fact, a non-profit online resource notes that volunteering can help reduce stress, keep depression at bay, continually engage the mind, and keep the body active. But aside from the aforementioned benefits, older adults can also pick up some valuable lessons from volunteering. In this article, we discuss three of them.
Learn the importance of staying physically active
Some seniors in retirement might not be the most physically active individuals. However, it is important for seniors to stay active in order to be healthy throughout their golden years. An easy way for seniors to stay active is by joining community initiatives and volunteer projects. These programs can encourage a senior to walk around and keep busy, allowing them to keep a healthy level of fitness. Moreover, seniors that volunteer in health initiatives and programs can see the devastating effects of a sedentary lifestyle. This may further inspire them to be more physically active and attain better health as they age.
Learn the current issues that afflict today’s society
Many older adults are not as adept as younger adults when it comes to keeping up with current news and affairs. Because of this, they might not be aware of the current issues that plague today’s society. This is why older adults should strongly consider volunteering in local programs. Aside from helping those that need assistance, volunteering also opens their eyes to the problems that the youth face today.
Volunteering programs are often led by social workers who can help seniors understand such societal problems. Thankfully, more insightful social workers are joining the field as universities are now offering fully remote sociology degrees. These degrees help social workers develop their understanding of important issues, such as community responsibility, mental illness, race, and ethnicity. And they allow students to study on their own schedule through online learning. This allows them to enter the workforce faster, or even work and study at the same time. This is needed, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that a growing elderly population is a key driver for the job growth in social workers and community service managers. Alongside helping those in need, these professionals will also be qualified to help seniors recognize current societal issues. And they can help explain to them what they can do.
Learn to widen their empathy
Research by gerontology professors shows that older adults may have lower cognitive empathy than younger adults. This is attributed to some decline in attention, memory, executive function, and verbal comprehension. However, researchers also note that empathy is not an immutable trait and can still be developed and strengthened. For older adults who may find it hard to empathize with their loved ones and acquaintances, they should strongly consider volunteering.
Through volunteering, older adults can widen their understanding of themselves and their purpose in the community they belong to. Volunteering can also instill empathy by motivating an individual to create a lasting social impact. The empathy seniors learn from volunteering can be applied in their daily lives. It can also positively affect their friends, family, colleagues, and community members.
Our guest author, Jessica Dawn, graciously contributed this article to the Members of the Living to 100 Club. We thank her for this contribution to successful aging and commend her for her writing talents.