We live in an era when problems outpace solutions and more help is necessary than we can possibly provide. We also live during a time when volunteers are stepping up in significant numbers to provide much-needed help. And at the same time, evidence is mounting to demonstrate that valuable health benefits accrue to volunteers who give so generously of their time, resources, kindness, and skills. In 2021 (the most recent year for which there is data) more than 60 million Americans volunteered to help someone else in some way.  Available data also show that adults aged 65 and older are 2-3 times more likely to volunteer compared to adults in their 20s or 30s. No big surprise there, as older adults likely have more time and fewer at-home responsibilities than younger adults. 

It’s not just a one-way street. Sure, those who are the recipients of volunteer help benefit enormously, but volunteering can give the volunteer a sense of purpose and a reason to get up in the morning. And it can also get you out of your own head and allow you to put your life and problems in perspective. Volunteering is an important way to combat the loneliness and social isolation that so many older adults experience. But there is some evidence that volunteering and other acts of charity such as donations and altruism have been on the decline in recent years. So how to make sure that those in a position to volunteer know that they can do good and do well at the same time? 

Increasingly, scientific evidence shows that concrete health benefits can come to those who volunteer. For example, in a new study out of Washington University in St. Louis, researchers determined that volunteering is linked to slower biological aging in both retirees and older workers, but the effects were most significant among retirees. For those who volunteered for 1-4 hours/week, there was a modest slowing down of biological aging compared to those who did not volunteer; for those who volunteered over 200 hours per year, there was a much greater association with slowing biological aging. It’s not clear exactly what links biological aging and volunteering, though it’s probably a combination of the physical, social, and psychological benefits derived from volunteering. It may also be that those who volunteer are in better health, and have more time and resources. For more on this study, find a sign-up sheet and look here. There is also research connecting the act of volunteering to reductions in the risk of depression among older adults. In a study published in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers from Columbia University analyzed data from nearly 3000 older adults, aged 65-79. Especially for those newly retired, the risk of depression fell by 43% among seniors who volunteered. In essence, the study validates the role of “work” and purpose for older adults, even if that work is not paid. 

A recent story on NPR reported that it’s not just an association between volunteering and better health but that there is scientific evidence from a Baltimore tutoring program documenting measurable brain changes in the older adults who tutored young, underprivileged children.  It’s not clear exactly why volunteering produces these results- perhaps it has to do with the social engagement involved or perhaps it’s connected to the stress reduction that can accompany volunteering. But there’s no doubt that volunteering can bring about tangible health benefits. To find out more about the health perks of volunteering, try your hand at a Harvard research-based quiz detailing the biological benefits of being and doing good.

So where might you look for volunteer opportunities? Experts always suggest you start nearby, exploring options in local community programs or inquiring at your local library about opportunities. Your local Area Agency on Aging may also be able to connect you with organizations in need of volunteer help. There is the Federal Americorps Seniors program that deploys volunteers into programs that include such neighborhood help as tutoring, bringing supplies to or helping drive older, disabled neighbors or even helping during natural disasters. AARP also keeps an extensive list of volunteer opportunities in local communities. And there have even been suggestions that we create a National Service program for the millions of healthy older adults who are no longer in the workforce yet have so much to offer. Finding volunteer opportunities is likely not going to be hard if you are open to new experiences and new communities. If you can give, you will be doing so much to benefit others, and at the same time, you’ll be helping your own health and well-being. That’s quite a win-win for all involved.