Volunteering Offers Connection as Well as Community Service
A Senior Citizens League article summarizes findings from its 2025 Lifestyle Survey of more than 1,200 retirees. About 33% of older Americans surveyed said they regularly volunteer, compared with 28% of Americans overall in the Census figure cited by the article. Among the senior volunteers, about one in four participated at least weekly; others volunteered monthly or less often.
The survey associated volunteering—regardless of frequency—with higher reported life satisfaction, enjoyment, and social connection, along with less loneliness and sadness. The article also cites Mayo Clinic guidance linking volunteering with better physical and mental health, lower depression and anxiety, and less stress. These are associations and reported guidance, not proof that volunteering alone causes better outcomes. Charities and nonprofits were the most common settings, followed by religious organizations. What volunteer roles on or near your campus fit residents’ interests and energy levels?
Read the full article here: Senior Citizens League article