4 PLACES WHERE SENIORS CAN VOLUNTEER

Senior housing communities in Rio Rancho, New Mexico are not just places where volunteers engage with residents to keep them mentally and physically active. For example, at our assisted living center in Rio Rancho, we encourage our residents to return the gift of volunteering by signing up to contribute their skills to worthy causes.

Research indicates that volunteering positively impacts both mental and physical health. The results of studies discovered that nearly 80 percent of volunteers at least 55 years old enjoyed good, very good, or excellent health. Senior volunteers reported a significantly lower number of mobility issues, as well as a dramatically higher quality of life. About two-thirds of seniors polled felt less isolated, which helps prevent the development of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

“Volunteers have lower mortality rates, lower rates of depression, increased strength and energy, and fewer physical limitations than those who do not volunteer,” said Samantha Jo Warfield, who is the spokesperson for the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency behind the study.

Let’s look at the four places where seniors can volunteer as part of the activities calendar at a senior housing facility.

National Park Service

The National Park Service needs volunteers to care for more than 85 million acres of American landscape and historic sites. Once a volunteer and now the spokesperson for the National Park Service, Kathy Kupper emphasizes the importance of the role played by the organization. “We take care of America’s most special places. These parks are part of the American story. People can be part of that. We match the skill set of the volunteer to the needs of the park. If someone calls who’s a librarian or a photographer or a videographer, that might not be somebody we knew we were looking for. But we would gladly work with them.”

Senior Corps

Seniors offer considerable experience, as well as an incredible amount of dedication to building communities across the United States. The Senior Corps acts as the magnet that attracts seniors who are eager to share their wisdom and life experiences with people from all walks of life. Because of the Foster Grandparent program, which has more than 8,000 locations across the country, seniors serve as mentors, tutors, and role models for children and adolescents in need. The Senior Companion program connects senior volunteers with older adults who struggle with daily tasks such as shopping and paying bills.

Canine Companions for Independence

Maybe you have seen clips on TV or experienced it first-hand, but there is no denying how dogs enhance the mental well-being of seniors. You can benefit from the joy of interacting with canines by volunteering with Canine Companions for Independence. This organization trains support dogs to help people living with disabilities. Senior volunteers help by teaching standard commands, as well as helping puppies socialize during instructional classes. The volunteer work also involves submitting monthly puppy progress reports.

Meals on Wheels

How would you like to help fellow seniors who are homebound? With a network of more than 5,000 independently operated programs, Meals on Wheels delivers meals to homebound seniors. This volunteer opportunity requires you to pick up meals at a distribution center and then deliver the meals by following a well-organized route. When you complete a route, you return the delivery packaging to the distribution center.  “Often, a volunteer is the only person an isolated, homebound senior will see in a given day,” said the spokesperson for the Meals on Wheels program, Jenny Bertolette Young.

Learn more about the volunteer opportunities for residents at our assisted living facility in Rio Rancho, NM by submitting the Contact form found on our website.