America's Senior Volunteers

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Senior Volunteers in America
Senior citizens make up an increasing proportion of the population of this country. Currently, seniors comprise approximately 21 percent of the residents of the United States. This number is only going to increase over the next twenty to thirty years as the almost 79 million members of the "Baby-Boomer" generation mature. With retirement coming earlier to many in this group, senior citizens today are active, involved, and interested in helping whether it be through charitable contributions or volunteer time. 

According to a recent survey, almost 44 percent of all people 55 and over volunteer at least once a year; over 36 percent reported that they had volunteered within the past month. These older volunteers give on average 4.4 hours per week to the causes they support. The 26.4 million senior volunteers gave approximately 5.6 billion hours of their time— a value of $77.2 billion to nonprofit organizations and other causes in this country. 

Seniors of every age, ethnic and racial group volunteer to some level. Over 46 percent of persons ages 55 to 74 reported performing some type of volunteer work in the past year. Almost 34 percent of those 75 years old and older reported volunteering. 

Significant numbers of seniors in minority groups reported volunteering including 37.4 percent of blacks and 38.9 percent of Hispanics. These groups constitute a growing portion of American society and a valuable resource of volunteer time. 

Reaching Out to Various Causes 
Volunteering can take many forms. One can volunteer formally through a service club, at a homeless shelter, or at a church or synagogue, to name but a few. However, much volunteerism happens informally— helping a neighbor with chores or babysitting for no pay. 

Seniors actively pursue a wide range of volunteer activities, often volunteering for many types of causes during a particular year. For example, 64.6 percent of volunteers reported serving with their church or synagogue, 22.3 percent report working with an educational institution, like a school, and 37.3 percent volunteer informally in their neighborhoods or towns. 

Seniors who volunteer are some of the most active volunteers within the community. Thirty-four percent of adult volunteers volunteer more than four hours per week; however, over 40 percent of seniors who volunteer give, on average, more than four hours of their time per week to various causes. 

Staying Involved and Active
The more active and involved they are, the more seniors seem to volunteer. Over 47 percent of senior volunteers who are still working on a part or full-time basis, volunteer over four hours a week of their time; 42 percent give over five hours per week! 

Retired persons ages 55 to 64 do not report volunteering as often (34 percent) as those of the same age group who are still employed in some capacity (48 percent). However, once over the age of 64, the participation rate becomes almost identical for retirees and those still employed. Generally, senior volunteers who are still working, volunteer on an informal basis more often than their retired counterparts. 

Where Do You Find a Volunteer? 
Who are the volunteers in your community? Independent Sector’s studies have shown that the more linked a person is to his or her community, the more likely that person is going to be a volunteer. People who are part of the social network of the community, give back to the community. Involvement can take the form of membership in a religious institution or participation in various civic or social clubs, sports clubs and hobby groups. 

Over 80 percent of seniors surveyed claimed membership in a religious organization like a church or synagogue. Almost half of these members reported volunteering in the past year. Members in other organizations like social clubs, unions, or alumni organizations were even more likely to volunteer. Of the 39 percent of seniors who stated that they were members of these types of organizations, over 67 percent reported volunteering. 

Membership in organizations fosters the spirit of volunteerism among all adults. Regardless of the type of organization, these adults are more involved and have a greater link to other people in the community.  

Helping Others, Helping Society 
The desire to help others less fortunate is a major motivation for seniors to volunteer. Senior volunteers stated most often that the ability to help individuals meet their needs and the feeling that those that have more should help those with less were major motivations that drive them to be volunteers in their community. 

Giving back to society, either financially or socially, are also major motivations for volunteerism among seniors. Over one-third of senior volunteers reported that they volunteered because they wanted to give back to society some of the benefits they received individually; they wanted to enhance the moral basis of society; or they felt that it was important to keep taxes and other costs down. 

Creating Links and Encouraging Volunteerism
Increasing outreach and matching seniors with volunteer opportunities that fit their capabilities is extremely important. Of those seniors that did not volunteer over the past year, 40 percent cited health issues and physical problems as the reason for not volunteering. Twenty-seven percent stated that their age was a reason that they did not volunteer. 

Seniors have the time to help, if given an opportunity. When all adults were surveyed, they cited other time commitments as the major reason why they were not able to volunteer. This was not the case for seniors. Seniors were less likely to say that their personal schedule was too full to volunteer than their younger counterparts. 

How do seniors find out about volunteer opportunities? Various institutions are very important to encouraging volunteerism. Most frequently, senior volunteers found out about their volunteering options through their religious institution. In fact, senior volunteers find out about their volunteer opportunities through their church more often than any other institution; almost three quarters of volunteers age 55 and over discovered volunteer possibilities through their church or synagogue. Membership organizations, places of employment, and other voluntary organizations are also places where seniors found out about volunteering. 

By asking someone to volunteer, you are reaching out to them and involving them in the community. People who are asked to volunteer do so at a much higher rate than if they were not asked. Only 38 percent of seniors were asked to volunteer in the past year. While 48 percent of persons age 55 to 64 were asked at one point or another in the past year to volunteer, less than one-third of all seniors over 65 years of age were asked to volunteer. 

The difference in the rate of volunteer participation is very apparent when one compares those who are asked versus those who are not asked. Seniors were approximately four times more likely to volunteer if they were asked. Even people over 75 years of age volunteer at a high rate when asked. Almost 68 percent of seniors over 75 years of age volunteered when asked, compared to only 18 percent when they were not asked. 

Among all adults surveyed, including seniors, it was found that minorities— specifically blacks and Hispanics— were not asked to volunteer as frequently as whites were. When asked, minorities were four to five times more likely to volunteer— a rate almost equivalent to whites. 

Charitable institutions must work to reach out to more seniors and minorities. Seniors possess experience, expertise, and time that can greatly benefit any organization or cause. While some volunteers, seniors included, work to build houses and clean roads, there are a wide variety of other volunteer opportunities in every community. Simply talking with someone in need of a friend or spending time with a child has a benefit that resonates for a lifetime. Organizations must help seniors understand the impact they can have on their community by doing just one simple thing— volunteering.