Volunteering is essential for community strength and growth, but did you know it also improves outcomes for senior mental health?
Studies by the Mayo Clinic show that volunteering among people aged 65 and over decreased anxiety and depression rates. The stress reduction from volunteering is also linked to lower rates of cardiac health issues.
Volunteering also provides a deep sense of purpose for seniors, which is essential for managing mental health and maintaining independence. Seniors experience increases in confidence, socialization, and self-esteem.
In this guide, discover tips for finding volunteer work for seniors and excelling.
How to Find Local Museum Volunteering Opportunities
There are several ways to uncover local volunteering jobs. First, start with your own interests. What industries and institutions do you naturally gravitate toward?
For example, if you love visiting museums, you may find open volunteer positions at your favorite local museums in Knoxville. These roles may include museum docent, behind-the-scenes, volunteer teacher, resident artist, and more.
Museums to consider include:
- Knoxville Museums of Art
- McClung Museum of Natural History of Culture
- East Tennessee History Center
- Blount Mansion
- Muse Knoxville
- Beck Cultural Exchange Center
Museums will post open volunteering positions on their website. You can also visit these museums personally and ask about open positions at a customer service desk.
Volunteer at Your Local Library
Knoxville’s local library branches are an excellent source for volunteer opportunities. You can also donate books to library book sales.
Libraries may post volunteer opportunities on their websites or advertise them on-site. You can always ask a library clerk if there are any open positions.
Libraries also hold weekly free classes, guest speaker talks, and other activities for the public. If you have skills to share, don’t hesitate to approach your local library about leading a class or assisting others. You can also donate art supplies and other creative tools to a local library.
Consider installing a “Little Free Library” in your community. These library kiosks provide library books to the public without a required library card. Communities are encouraged to “take a book and leave a book” in exchange.
If you want to put a little free library in your neighborhood, you must register it with the network and purchase a charter sign for a one-time fee. Volunteers may purchase a box directly from the network or build one themselves.
Opening and managing a free library is an excellent idea if you have a surplus of books you want to donate.
Senior Volunteer Roles at Animal Shelters
Time again, studies have proven the valuable impact animals have on mental health. Caring for animals helps manage anxiety and isolation while instilling a sense of purpose. Many senior living communities welcome both pets and visiting therapy animals to assist with senior mental health.
Seniors may also find open volunteer positions with animals.
Volunteer possibilities include:
- Volunteering at animal shelters
- Fostering cats and dogs for adoption
- Working with therapy animals
- Volunteering at horse ranches
- Volunteering at local zoos
- Visiting schools with animals
Seniors who enjoy arts and crafts can create homemade pet toys and donate them to shelters. This point is also a good reminder that volunteer opportunities are everywhere, even at home. Seniors have valuable skills to share and can contribute to nonprofits and organizations by completing volunteer work at home.
How to Volunteer At Home
At-home volunteering opportunities are perfect for less active seniors who still want to volunteer in the community. Similar to creating homemade pet toys, seniors are encouraged to make all kinds of homemade gifts for varying purposes, from holiday present drives to thrift stores. Seniors who have accumulated a treasure trove of collectibles may also donate them to charity-run thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army.
Canned food drives are another way to get involved. Nonprofits that run these drives will happily drive to pick up canned items and other essentials for families in need. Charities will also pick up any other items for donation, like vintage toys and clothes.
Seniors who love to write will be happy to know that there are nonprofits that send holiday greeting cards to families in need. Volunteers may create as many homemade holiday greeting cards as they want and send them to the nonprofit. Volunteers may also purchase greeting cards from Hallmark.
Senior mentoring may also be completed from home with the help of online mentoring platforms. Volunteers sign up online, submit a form detailing skills and experience, and start offering free mentoring services via email, live chat, or video conferencing apps like Skype. In-person mentoring opportunities are also available through nonprofits, schools, and churches.
Volunteering at home is an excellent opportunity to discover new skills. It’s the perfect time to take up visual art like painting and photography. Seniors are encouraged to submit or donate their creations to local galleries, museums, visitor centers, and other local establishments.
Environmental Volunteer Work for Seniors
Volunteering also gets seniors out of the house for some much-needed fresh air. Fortunately, there are plenty of outdoor volunteer opportunities.
Ideas include:
- Volunteering at botanical and community gardens
- Beach and park clean-ups
- Parks and recreation volunteering
- City festival volunteer work
- Assisting at outdoor art fairs
- Community plant sales
- Volunteering at farmers’ markets
- Tree and garden planting
Seniors may also grow and donate plants from their own gardens to nonprofits and charities. These organizations raffle off homemade bouquets, centerpieces, and other plants. Gardening supplies may also be donated to community gardens.
Seniors can join a community garden or even start their own with fellow locals. This process requires a permit and approval from the city. Community gardens bring people together with the shared purpose of sustainability.
Discover the Benefits of Volunteering for Seniors
Volunteering is a game changer for seniors who are looking to reignite their purpose, creativity, and leadership skills. Start with general interests and experience and see where that leads, whether it’s a beach clean-up day or a book donation drive.
Deane Hill Place understands the importance of volunteer work for seniors. Our activities calendar is packed with ideas that get seniors moving, engaging, and interacting again. We’re a team of senior living professionals dedicated to the healthy aging of the Knoxville senior community.
Tour our community to discover the greater possibility of your golden years.
