Did you know that volunteering is a great way for older adults to feel confident, valuable, and happy? And that making a difference in the lives of other seniors as a senior living volunteer could bring you even more satisfaction?
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 anyone, but especially an older adult, with a feeling of accomplishment and community.
Why Volunteer at a Senior Living Community?
At a senior living community, like Bethesda’s communities throughout the St. Louis area, volunteers are often needed and always welcome.
But volunteering does not only benefit those receiving the service. The act of volunteering provides the volunteer 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, which keeps them from feeling isolated and lonely
- Something positive to focus on and put energy into
- Physical activity, which improves health and mobility
Especially during retirement, when a senior may have more time, volunteering is worthwhile. There are many benefits of being a senior living volunteer, including:
- Senior volunteers may live longer than their counterparts who don’t donate their time due to an increase in socialization, physical activity, and sense of purpose.
- Donating time gives senior volunteers opportunities to keep their skills sharp and to indulge in their own interests.
- Older adults who volunteer tend to 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 skilled nursing community. If you like to play games, you can call the numbers in a bingo game or set up an art activity. 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 residents’ hair or give manicures. Other opportunities include transporting residents from their rooms to the dining area.
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, listening to music, hearing their life stories, or simply keeping them company and providing support during a difficult time.
Hospice care volunteers, like those in Bethesda’s No One Dies Alone program, sit vigil and provide a peaceful presence at the bedside of hospice patients. This allows family members to tend to other responsibilities and recharge, knowing their loved one is not alone.
Senior living volunteers can also assist with fundraising or 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!
