Many seniors find that this phase of their life can be lonely and feel a bit empty. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. This is the perfect time for a senior citizen with extra time to look into volunteering. Volunteering offers critical assistance to people in need and supports worthwhile community causes. The benefits of volunteering are significant, and benefit not only those being helped but also the volunteers. The right volunteer opportunity can help individuals meet new friends, make connections within their local community and even learn – or teach – new skills.

Giving of yourself can help to protect mental and physical health, minimize stress, fight depression, and offer a sense of purpose. Let’s look at how offering your time and talents to others can provide significant benefits.

Volunteering is Good for the Heart and Soul

This article will discuss many ways that volunteer opportunities can positively influence your life.

Volunteering builds connection: Volunteering has a wonderful impact on the community. Volunteering permits seniors to connect to their community, making contributions that make a real difference to people, organizations, or even animals that need them. Committing time to the volunteer process helps connect new friends with similar interests and values. For a senior, it can help to fight the isolation that can be crippling and detrimental.
Volunteering introduces new friends: One of the easiest ways to meet new friends and bolster existing relationships is to participate in a common interest or activity. Volunteering is an effective way to connect with new people, especially if you have recently moved to a new living situation. Volunteer activities create strong ties to the local community and build the support networks everyone needs to live a healthy and content life.
Volunteers can sharpen their social skills: Some people are naturally extroverted and conversational, but others struggle with reaching out to meet new people. Seniors can feel especially intimidated with starting new friendships, especially if they live alone. Volunteering provides the opportunity to develop social skills, which in time will help to be more outgoing in other situations outside of the volunteering sphere.
Volunteers can build family ties: Giving back to the community is even more meaningful if you can do it with people you love. Seniors and their loved ones can benefit by spending quality time together while enacting positive change in their sphere of influence.
Volunteers have lower stress: Volunteering benefits mental and physical health in many ways. Doing good work can counteract stress, anger, and anxiety and promote an overall sense of well-being. Few things relieve stress more effectively than meaningful relationships, working with animals, and truly helping another human being. In fact, research shows that volunteering generates genuine happiness and pleasure.
Volunteering builds self-confidence: Doing good for others results in an authentic sense of accomplishment, pride and identity. The more positively you view yourself, the more likely you are to have an optimistic view of life and future goals overall.
Volunteering provides a sense of purpose: Seniors who have retired or lost a spouse can discover renewed purpose and direction by helping others. Volunteering distracts you from your own worries and cares, maintains mental stimulation and adds more variety and excitement to your life.
Volunteering benefits physical health: Studies have revealed that volunteers have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. Senior volunteers tend to walk more than their peers and are less likely to develop high blood pressure and heart disease – not to mention, their cognitive skills remain sharper. Volunteering can also minimize chronic pain.

Seniors who live in an assisted living facility can still live a life of volunteerism. They can help the other residents with day-to-day tasks, offer to teach a class showcasing their skills, or even ask the administrative staff for any ways they can help. There is never a shortage of ways to benefit others through volunteering – and to significantly improve your life as well.

A Banyan Residence provides professional assisted living and memory care based in The Villages.