Volunteering in a senior community can be rewarding for you and the residents

Everyday, people of all ages are looking for ways to make a difference in their community and to give back to society. And, increasingly, instead of making monetary donations, people are looking for ways to give of their time. Volunteering in a senior care community is a very enriching and rewarding experience – not just for the seniors, but also for the people who volunteer. Many times, people can shy away from volunteering in nursing homes because they think they do not have anything to offer. But everyone does have something to offer – even if you don’t consider yourself talented.

Volunteering can take many forms: reading the newspaper or books to residents who cannot see, playing a musical instrument or singing for a group of residents, leading an exercise class, calling bingo, facilitating an arts and crafts project, teaching a basic computer class or a Spanish lesson, running errands or personal shopping for residents, giving manicures, playing table games, writing letters, making welcome baskets, taking residents outside or more simply making one-on-one in-room visits. During these visits, residents may want to talk or may want to just listen to someone tell them about what is going on in the world today. They may just need a small touch on the arm or a loving smile.

For the volunteer, helping out in a senior care community can provide you with an incredible sense of fulfillment and purpose and an outlet for your knowledge, talent and abilities. You can enrich the life of an older adult and at the same time learn new skills, obtain unique life experiences and meet a diverse range of people that have lived long and storied lives. You can get a better understanding of the history and development of your community and the people who cultivated it.

Volunteering in a senior care community is simple and can take as little time as one hour a month or just on holiday occasions to as many hours as your heart desires. There is no right or wrong way. But your gift of time can make a huge difference in the life of an older adult. And in your life as well.