April is National Volunteer Month, and it’s a great time to look at the health benefits of volunteering, as they apply to seniors.
It’s not uncommon for seniors to feel isolated and depressed as they begin to deal with the impacts of aging. Giving your time for a good cause can help combat that. April is a time to honor those who volunteer, and it may also be a good time to explore some reasons why seniors may want to consider increasing volunteer time. For seniors that have trouble getting in and out of their homes, we offer affordable solutions that will make mobility a reality.
The Health Benefits of Volunteering are Abundant:
It Reduces Stress – Volunteering makes you feel better. The act of doing something meaningful for someone else releases dopamine in the brain.
Ends Loneliness – It’s common for seniors to feel lonely and isolated as they age. An increasing number of adults in the U.S. report feeling lonely. Volunteering can combat these feelings, and it gives seniors a good method for remaining social. It’s also a way for seniors to find new friends.
Purpose – When you do something to help someone outside yourself it can give you a renewed sense of purpose. This sense of purpose can do wonders to increase self-confidence that flows into other aspects of your life.
Decreases Depression – Volunteering can have you interacting with a network of like-minded individuals who share a common purpose. Building this network and living with purpose can decrease depression.
Reduced Risk of Alzheimer’s – Studies have shown that those who volunteer run a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. The social interactions associated with volunteering can keep seniors healthy for longer.
Conclusion
The health benefits of volunteering are evident – and doing work to benefit others can have a profound impact on seniors. You can utilize websites like VolunteerMatch that will find places for you to volunteer near you based off of your particular interests and skills.
There are also Food pantries, homeless shelters, and other organizations or non-profits that offer wonderful opportunities for seniors to volunteer. It may be time to explore the opportunities available to you outside your normal day-to-day activity.
- If you are interested in learning more about RampNOW and the services that we offer, simply call us at: 630-892-7267 OR fill out the contact form and we can call you!