There’s no better way for your loved ones to be engaged and contribute back to society than to be a volunteer. Volunteering is such a rewarding experience. As your loved one has ample time to spend during their retirement years, why not spend it to make a difference? In Naples, Florida, there are organizations such as Volunteer Florida and VolunteerMatch that can provide help in choosing a specific charity based on your interests and location.
In this article, we look into the various volunteering ideas that your loved ones can participate in, and why volunteering can be beneficial.
Volunteering Ideas
There are some roles and organizations that your loved ones can volunteer in:
- Become a Foster Grandparent
Love kids? Your loved one will no doubt enjoy this one. By volunteering as a foster grandparent, your loved one can act as a role model and caretaker to children who faced abuse and neglect in their previous homes. A foster grandparent offers hope, love, and healing in a nurturing and safe environment.
- Distribute Meals
Whether they are from homeless shelters, food banks, or soup kitchens, disadvantaged people are always looking for hot meals to fill their tummies. Hunger is sadly one of the most prevalent issues in our society, and your loved one can lend a helping hand by either cooking up meals or serving them.
- Walking Dogs
If your loved one is an animal lover, then volunteering at animal shelters is an obvious choice. Walking dogs is a perfect way for your loved ones to bond with pets and maintain an active lifestyle at the same time. Being surrounded by greenery also positively affects mental and emotional well-being.
- Volunteer from Home
Not wanting to head out? No worries, as your loved one can volunteer in the comfort of their own home. Looking at charitable organizations such as Warm Up America, volunteers can sew and knit blankets, or write letters to encourage cancer patients through Chemo Angels.
Why Volunteering Matters?
Volunteering is not only beneficial to the community, but also to the volunteers themselves. These are the reasons why volunteering is a good idea:
- Lead a More Active Lifestyle
By volunteering, your loved one is encouraged to head outdoors and be more mobile. Such daily activities can act as a form of light exercises, which carry several benefits such as promoting better sleep patterns, controlling weight, and preventing or slowing down the risks of health conditions.
- Increase Happiness
You know what they say: doing good always makes you happy. When you see someone smile, you’ll smile too. Volunteering is all about making the community a better place to live in, be it improving the lives of people and animals or helping the environment. According to many studies, an increase in happiness leads to better cognitive and physical health.
- Reduce Dementia
Participating in volunteering activities allows the brain to be stimulated, keeping the brain sharp and focused. This reduces the risk of memory-related illnesses such as dementia. Based on research by the University of Calgary in 2017, older adults who volunteer frequently are at lesser risk of developing dementia.
