The Benefits Volunteering Can Have For Seniors

Seniors with extra time on their hands after retirement or after the kids are grown might want to think about giving back by volunteering in their community. While the time seniors give will help the community, it can do so much more than that. Volunteering can also benefit seniors themselves. Here are some ways that seniors can benefit from volunteering.

Lessen Loneliness

Volunteering can help increase socialization for seniors. Often, seniors suffer from loneliness. Being out in the community, meeting new people and interacting with them can help seniors socialize. Whether they are school-aged children or fellow seniors, volunteering with others can provide a great way for seniors to ease their loneliness and talk to people.

Create New Friendships

Volunteering is an opportunity for seniors to meet new friends. If you meet someone while volunteering, chances are he or she might have a similar interest as you or even a similar desire to help others. It could create a friendship that can bloom outside of your volunteering hours.

Increase Physical Activity

Being up and actively volunteering can help increase physical activity and exercise levels for senior citizens. You can donate your time as a dog walker for Second Chance Animal Rescue & Sanctuary. They have volunteer opportunities available every day of the week. If you’re not up for something that involves that much motion, even something less strenuous can increase exercise. Getting up and out of the house to restock shelves at the library or even to check in patients at a nearby hospital requires much more activity than sitting on the couch watching television.

Connect with Loved Ones

Volunteering is a great way for seniors to connect with their loved ones or friends. Often, families aren’t sure what to do together with their seniors and simply resort to going out to eat. Volunteering gives them an activity to do together. You can find something that is a passion that you both share and volunteer to help. Maybe you both have a fascination with butterflies and native plants. At the Mead Botanical Garden in Winter Park, you can volunteer as part of the Butterfly Brigade, meeting in the morning at the butterfly garden to create a haven for butterflies.

Keep Learning

One of the best ways for seniors to keep their minds sharp is to learn new things. Volunteering can provide that opportunity. You can try new things you have never done before. Think of a skill you’ve wanted to learn and find a place that can help you learn through volunteering. You can also learn more about things you love, such as artwork, by volunteering at the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. Maybe you can even learn the new ways kids are doing math these days by volunteering in a school or the latest fashions the kids are wearing. Who knows, it might make shopping for the grandkids at Christmas a little easier when you are iterating with people their age on a weekly basis.

Continue Your Passions

Maybe you’ve passed down your old Lionel train set to the next generation. By volunteering with the local train club for their annual Christmas show, you can help you keep up with something you love, even if it’s not in your home anymore. Maybe long ago, you loved fixing old electronics, but when you got married and had kids, you got rid of them to make room for bikes and a second car in the garage. You can pick up that hobby once again by volunteering.

We Can Help

At Visiting Angels, our professional and compassionate caregivers can help your seniors with their daily living. Whether they need help getting to a volunteering appointment at a local school or they need help getting ready each morning, our caregivers are experts at meeting the needs of seniors in the area. Our home care team can help ensure your senior loved one keeps up with their hygiene, as well as other tasks they may need assistance with, such as light housekeeping, meal prep and safety when walking. We strive to help seniors live their best lives and maintain their independence while aging in place at home.

Our trained caregivers help people in the Orlando Downtown East, Winter Park and surrounding areas of Orange County. We can come into your home to assess your needs and discuss how we can help make this journey easier. For information, contact us at (407) 236-9997.