Health Benefits of Volunteering Toolkit
USAging has developed a public education campaign to spread awareness of the fact that older adults can reap major physical, mental and emotional benefits by volunteering for as little as two hours a week. Research shows that older volunteers may experience a reduction in depression, chronic pain and stress, while improving their mental functionality and even their chances of living longer.
The centerpiece of the campaign which can be used at any time in your area is a consumer brochure: Doing Good is Good for You: Volunteer!. The brochure that provides older adults with information about the health benefits of volunteering, as well as a checklist to help them match their interests with available opportunities.
To help educate the public and key stakeholders about this issue and to support volunteer recruitment efforts, USAging has produced a toolkit containing the following materials: