Volunteering & Activism Suggestions for Older Adults
Volunteering and activism at any age are one of the most direct ways to impact and help improve your community, and among the elderly, it proves to be a great way to create a mutually beneficial partnership to occupy one’s free time while providing aid and support to their area.
Engaging With Younger People
One undeniable positive impact of having an elderly presence through volunteering or activism work is that older generations are a direct link to history, and within minority communities, they lived through earlier pushes for progress that are important to hear about and learn from. There are many specific programs that partner elderly people with younger volunteers, however, when an organization has a staff that spans many decades, the older volunteers can provide their own lived experiences as guidance for the younger generations of activists and workers.
Whether you are working within your own community or for an organization that has a specific theme such as literacy, voter registration, or animal welfare, volunteering or engaging with activism can also benefit older people as they work alongside the youngest generation. While you may be able to provide guidance or share your own experiences with younger community members, it is also important to hear from younger workers about the unique ways that they engage with their community and take the initiative to volunteer.
Staying Connected With Yourself
Volunteering and activism are extremely beneficial ways to support your community, and also they are great ways to continue staying connected with your hobbies and areas of interests in older age. Some aspects of life can become more difficult or less accessible as you age, however, spending your free time by remaining active in causes or organizations that are meaningful to you is an important part of healthy living.
Whether it's a large social or political movement that you’ve been involved with since adolescence such as hospital volunteering or access to education, or a more recent but just as beloved hobby like fiction writing or cycling, staying active physically and socially in these spaces connects you with others who share your passion. Activism or volunteering are both tools that help you support your community while also allowing you to grow new friendships to open up your network to new people.
Suggested Volunteering & Activism
When considering where to give your time we recommend choosing an organization that is engaged in activism or community support for a cause that you are passionate about. There can also be physical health benefits if you were to join an organization that involves working outside or throughout your community. A quick Google search of your local area will provide you with many different places that could use your support, but here is a list of some of the most popular causes/organizations for elderly volunteers or activists:
The Humane Society or a local animal shelter
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America -- this is another organization where you can volunteer to mentor a young person, usually from an underprivileged background, and they also matches where you can mentor a child as a couple which is a great collaborative opportunity
Your local library at a branch near you -- they often have mentorship and literacy programs where you can volunteer with young readers
Voter registration and canvassing -- with your free time you may choose to get involved with your chosen political party at the local level by registering people to vote, canvassing for a particular candidate or political issue, or working at a polling place on voting day