Did you know that volunteering is a great way for older adults to feel confident, valuable, and happy?
For those reading this who wake up every morning and head into their place of business, retirement may sound like a dream come true. However, not having a place where people are counting on them, or where they are making a difference in the lives of others, can make a senior feel unimportant. Volunteering can provide an older adult with a feeling of accomplishment and community.
Why Volunteer at a Senior Living Community?
Volunteering is beneficial for everyone–from children to seniors. At a senior living community, like the Bethesda’s communities throughout the Saint Louis area, volunteers are always needed and welcome.
Find volunteer opportunities at Bethesda.
But volunteering does not only benefit those receiving the service. The act of volunteering provides a person with:
- A sense of purpose
- The feeling that they’re making a difference in the world or in the lives of other people
- Social interaction to keep them from feeling isolated and lonely
- Something positive to think about instead of worrying about their problems
- Physical activity, which improves their health and mobility
Especially during retirement, when a senior may have less to do, volunteering is a worthwhile way to spend extra time. There are benefits of volunteering for seniors, including:
- Senior Volunteers tend to live longer than their counterparts who don’t donate their time
- Donating time gives senior volunteers opportunities to keep their skills sharp and to indulge in their interests
- Older adults who volunteer get more exercise and are less apt to lose their mobility
- Volunteers can make friends by getting “out and about” in the community
- Volunteering helps keep the minds of older adults sharp
Skilled Nursing Volunteer Opportunities
There is no shortage of need for volunteers at a senior living community. If you like to play games, you can call the numbers in a bingo game or organize a Wii bowling or tennis league. If you’re good with numbers, you can help out in the office. If you’ve got a sense of fashion, you could volunteer to do resident’s hair or give manicures. Other opportunities include transporting residents from their room to the dining area. There is always something for a volunteer to do at a senior living community.
Become a Hospice Care Volunteer
Hospice care volunteers play a special part in the lives of seniors and their families. These volunteers make patients more comfortable by doing things like reading to them, helping them to write letters, or simply keeping them company and providing support during this difficult time.
Hospice care volunteers help the family of hospice patients by taking care of routine tasks for family members. This may include feeding and walking family pets or house sitting while the family member tends to their loved one in hospice care.
Volunteers can also assist with hospice care by fundraising, assisting in with clerical work, or by donating their time to bereavement services.
Start Making a Difference at Bethesda
If you’re interested in making a difference in the life of a senior, there are plenty of opportunities available to volunteer at Bethesda’s skilled nursing, assisted living, or hospice care communities.
Ready to make a difference? Become a Bethesda volunteer today.
