As we journey through life, the importance of sharing our abilities in impactful ways becomes increasingly evident. Using your skills in support of others not only helps them, but offers a wide range of health benefits for you. Here’s why giving your time to help loved ones and community is a win all around.
What Are the Benefits of Volunteering?
We don’t often think about volunteering our time and talents in terms of our own betterment, but it’s important to know that when you share your skills with others, you’re also helping yourself. There are a surprising number of health benefits of volunteering for seniors, whether you choose to do so in an official capacity for a local organization or simply pitch in to improve the lives of family, friends, or community members.
Improved Physical Health
Volunteering can significantly improve physical health, particularly for seniors. Engaging in regular volunteer or other supportive activities often involves at least light physical movement. This helps maintain mobility and fitness, and certain activities (like walking) can even alleviate arthritis symptoms. Compared with those who don’t volunteer, seniors who donate their time are more likely to enjoy a reduced risk of the following:
- Heart and cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- General illness
- Certain cancers
- Mortality (i.e., volunteering can help you live longer!)
Enhanced Mental and Emotional Well-being
The mental health benefits you gain when you give back to the community are equally significant. Engaging in meaningful activities in service of others provides a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and social connectedness, all of which can alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Better Brain Health
Volunteering can also have positive effects on cognitive function. Seniors who regularly engage in volunteer work are likely to experience slower rates of cognitive decline. Activities that involve learning, problem-solving, planning, and social interaction stimulate the brain and keep it active, which is crucial in maintaining mental acuity. If you’re helping others in a teaching capacity of some kind, it will also help with recalling knowledge, which improves memory function.
Having a Lasting Positive Impact on Others
Beyond personal benefits, volunteering allows seniors to make a tangible difference in their communities. Whether it's through mentoring, teaching, or simply lending a helping hand, seniors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that can greatly benefit those around them. Helping nonprofits, family, friends, and neighbors fosters stronger social bonds and creates a more tightly knit community environment.
Spiritual Fulfillment
For Christian seniors, volunteering is also a way to fulfill God’s purpose for your life and tangibly put your faith into practice. Specifically, helping others helps you to:
By doing acts of service, you can demonstrate love and compassion. This will not only help to bolster your own spiritual life and that of others, but will also foster deeper connections with and among your faith community.
Volunteer Ideas for Seniors
Want to serve others, but aren’t sure how to do it? Here are some simple ideas for volunteering and sharing your abilities in general:
- Get involved with the Senior Corps, local or national nonprofits, parks and recreation centers, animal shelters, community gardens, local schools or tutoring centers, or performing arts centers
- Visit or tangibly help your elderly neighbors who have mobility limitations or who may be at risk for isolation
- Share your best recipes, or cook/bake for others
- Read to children or help them with their homework
- Teach a class
- Play your instrument at a senior living community or local gathering, such as a party, festival, or charity event
- Teach practical skills (woodworking, cooking, sewing, crafting, etc.)
- Lead Bible studies
- Organize social group or church events
- Lead a prayer group
- Organize or contribute to a drive or fundraiser
For Christian seniors, volunteering your talents yields a multitude of benefits, from improved health to spiritual fulfillment and community-building. Your contributions — formal or informal, big or small — are a testament to the enduring power of faith, service, and doing good things with your life.
Get the Benefits of Sharing Your Talents With Chapel Pointe
Chapel Pointe is a faith-based continuing care retirement community. We commit each day to serving and enhancing the quality of life for people aged 62+ in Central Pennsylvania, offering amenities and services to boost our residents’ physical, mental, and spiritual health. We’re honored that our greater community sees the servant-heart of our nonprofit organization and consistently selects Chapel Pointe as “The Best of Cumberland County.”
At Chapel Pointe, you’ll have opportunities to share your unique abilities with others, whether it’s volunteering with a local organization or contributing to our vibrant social events on campus.
Nestled in eight beautifully landscaped acres in Carlisle, PA, our welcoming campus is filled with amenities that make life easy, enjoyable, and wellness-centered. Bird-watch from the gazebo, take a quiet moment in the chapel, curl up with a book in the library, join a friend for coffee in the community room, use the free internet in the café, or take the shuttle to local stores.
Contact us to learn more about our community wellness offerings and how Chapel Pointe can help you to live your best life!