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Health Benefits of Volunteering
"People who do volunteer work are much less likely to suffer illness. The close interpersonal relationships and community involvement that occur with volunteer service are tailor-made to enhance the healing process." ---- The Healing Power of Service by Edward V. Brown
Volunteering helps to rebuild communities and solve serious social problems. And, according to research, it can also improve your physical and mental health!
Volunteering improves the well being of individual volunteers. It enhances social support networks. People with strong social support networks have lower premature death rates, less heart disease, and fewer health risk factors. (Fact Sheet: Volunteer as a Vehicle for Social Support and Life Satisfaction, Public Health Agency of Canada)
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Volunteering improves self-esteem, reduces heart rates and blood pressure, increases endorphin production, enhances immune systems, buffers the impact of stress, and combats social isolation. (Research summary: Graff, L. (1991). Volunteer for the Health of It , Etobicoke, Ontario: Volunteer Ontario.)
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Volunteering lowers the risk of physical ill health because it boosts the social psycological factors to that of healthy people. (The Effects of Volunteering on the Volunteer, John Wilson and Marc Musik, 62 Law & Contemp. Probs., Autumn 1999)
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Medical and scientific documentation supports volunteeering results which show a heightened sense of well being, decreases in insomnia, strengthening the immune system, and hastening surgery recovery time. (The Healing Power of Doing Good, Alan Luks & Peggy Payne)
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Volunteering puts people into highly social situations, increasing the opportunity for close interpersonal relationships and strengthening a sense of identity. (Peer Counseling Perspectives, April 2003 Survival News, Mary Lynn Hemphill, "Volunteer for Your Health")
Volunteering also offers numberous health benefits specific to older adults:
- Volunteering allows older adults an opportunity to participate in fulfilling activities, and can make a difference in the lives of others.
- Improving situations for others contributes to healthy communities. Older adult volunteers feel a sense of community inclusion giving a positive impact on their health and overall well being.
- Volunteer activities help older adults form interpersonal ties and develop social networks, like family and friends. These networks act as a buffer against stress and illness.
- Older adult volunteers live longer than non-volunteers. Studies report that regular volunteer work increases life expectancy because social interaction improves quality of life.
Feeling bad? Do something good for someone! Make a Difference!