Communicating the joys of volunteering
Abstract
Besides being philanthropic, studies have shown that volunteering increases health and longevity. But the real virtue may be in the pleasures gained in the process — seeing a smile or hearing a thank you. Eileen Brown shared a list of physical, mental, and emotional benefits of volunteering on the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list in March 2006. This effective practice also highlights studies that corroborate the benefits identified by this RSVP director.Issue
Developing a list of the physical, mental, emotional benefits of volunteering that can be shared with potential volunteers and members.Action
The joys of volunteering include:
- Answering a need
- Building lasting relationships
- Caring for others
- Developing new skills
- Earning respect and admiration
- Feeling good about yourself
- Giving back to the community
- Hearing "thank you!" from all those you help
- Inspiring others with your dedication
- Joining the millions like you in improving the world
- Keeping active and involved
- Lifting spirits
- Making great use of your time and talents
- Noting the difference your efforts make
- Opening doors to new experiences
- Putting your compassion into action
- Quieting others' worries and fears
- Reaching out to people in need
- Spreading smiles wherever you go
- Touching lives forever
- Understanding people better
- Vitalizing programs with your service
- Warming hearts with your kindness
- Exploring new opportunities
- Year-round appreciation
- Zeroing in on what's important — being part of the solution!
Context
Senior Corps connects individuals over 55 with the people and organizations that need them most, helping them to become mentors, coaches or companions to people in need, or contribute their job skills and expertise to community projects and organizations. Conceived during John F. Kennedy's presidency, Senior Corps currently links more than 500,000 Americans to service opportunities. Their contributions of skills, knowledge, and experience make a real difference to individuals, nonprofits, and faith-based and other community organizations throughout the United States. Senior Corps offers several ways to get involved. Volunteers receive guidance and training so they can make a contribution that suits their talents, interests, and availability.Although this list was developed with Senior Corps volunteers in mind, the benefits of volunteering remain the same across all programs and ages. Consequently, this is a list that can be used in recruitment efforts across streams.
Outcome
Volunteers benefit with increased health and longevity, and feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment.Evidence
A University of Michigan psychology study has found that elderly people who volunteer regularly live longer than those who do not. The study followed 423 older couples for a period of five years. The psychologists who led the study say the findings indicate that people who get help from volunteers don't benefit as much as the volunteers themselves.
A 2006 study at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that older adults who volunteer in a program that joins them with troubled urban students boosts the mental and physical health of the volunteers. Volunteers in this program, Experience Corps, reported feeling stronger after volunteering. Specifically, the volunteers' incidence of falls decreased, but more generally, they reported improved health. So while most volunteers in Experience Corps signed up to contribute to the lives of the students, they in turn contributed to their own health. Indeed the study not only found health benefits for volunteers, but also found long-term benefits for the students.
Another 2006 study published in the British Medical Journal finds that early retirees have higher mortality than workers who stay employed. Researchers tracked employees of Shell Oil who retired at 55, 60, and 65 years of age for 31 years. The employees who retired at 65 tended to live longer than those who retired at 55 (controlling for gender and socioeconomic status). Some of the difference can be attributed to the fact that many workers who retire early do so due to ill health. But even early retirees who were healthy had a shorter lifespan than those who retired at age 65.
(From "Age at Retirement and Long Term Survival of an Industrial Population: Prospective Cohort Study," by Shan P. Tsai, et al. Cited in the Atlantic magazine, January/February issue, 2006.)
According to the study, Senior Corps Volunteer Participation: An Effective Means to Improve Life Satisfaction, by National Service Fellow Peter J. Gartland:
- Participation in Senior Corps programming does result in quantifiable changes to factors that lead to improved satisfaction with life among its volunteers.
- Participation enables volunteers to satisfy both basic and self-actualizing needs that lead to improved life satisfaction.
- Senior Corps appears to be an effective means for providing volunteers with opportunities to contribute to the meaning and enjoyment of their lives.
- Therefore, Senior Corps appears to be an effective method for improving the quality of life for elder volunteers.
Posted On
March 31, 2006For More Information