actnet 8 Report Share Posted April 30, 2021 View this email in your browser In-House Volunteer Programs As the light at the end of the tunnel appears to be getting closer, we can see and believe in restored life pursuits in the very near future. Soon the current unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic will finally be considered a history lesson that we all will gladly choose not to revisit. Not too long from now we can thankfully restart facility programming that offers those socially engaging opportunities that our residents look forward to. We are almost there! With this in mind, this article is all about one such program that you may thinking about implementing. Why Elderly People Should Volunteer Formerly active (pre-residential) elders that were once involved in volunteering services will continue to look for ways to serve as a productive member of his/her new found senior care facility community. Identify those residents with this interest and meet their need to continue serving in this way by ramping up your facility volunteer programs. Volunteering has its social, mental, and physical benefits for people of all ages; both the young and the old will mutually reap improved health benefits and overall wellness while participating in volunteering opportunities. Research discovered that 70 percent of elderly people who were experiencing five or more symptoms of depression saw a decrease in those symptoms after their first year of volunteering. https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2017/health-benefits-volunteering-seniors-fd.html Volunteering Benefits Socially Beneficial: Volunteering can pull elderly out of isolation, even if it’s only for a handful of hours a week. Volunteering at events at local religious institutions, parks, and museums is a great way to interact with a wide range of people in the community. Other benefits include restored energy, an optimistic outlook, reaffirming livelihood, and restored self nourishing “positivity”. Good For Mental Cognition: Volunteering provides opportunities to keep conversation flowing, constantly stimulate the brain, and help overall cognitive functions stay active. Physically Engaging: The physical hustle and bustle which may be associated with volunteer duties may improve physical wellness. Examples include door-to-door solicitation for candidates for local elections, helping build community gardens, collating flyers, preparing mailers or something in between. Developing New Skills: Residents might learn a new skill that previous decades of work did not offer. For instance, an interest in our furry and feathered friends could be an opportunity to volunteer in an animal sanctuary or zoo to learn a thing or two about the animal world and plays into the cognitive health benefits of volunteering. Need ideas for volunteer or community service projects? Here are a few ideas from the staff at notjustbingo.com to help get you started. https://ssww-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Community-Service-Projects-for-Senior-Residents-Checklist.pdf References: https://www.ssww.com/blog/summer-community-service-projects-senior-residents/ https://aginginplace.org/how-to-volunteer-as-a-senior/ https://www.nationalservice.gov/vcla/national Have a topic request or question for Celeste? Send them over to celestechase@activitydirector.org Activity Directors Network was founded in 1996 on the idea that we could help create elderly care that dramatically improved the lives of those we all serve. We envision facilities that feel like homes and that celebrate our resident’s individuality and allows them to live with dignity, purpose and joy. We believe the exchange of education and wisdom between the most talented teachers and passionate students is the way to make an impact. Each and every single one of you are the revolution that is changing everything. Thanks for being a part of The Network. Copyright © 2021 Activity Directors Network, LLC All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2010 US HWY 190 W Ste 120 Livingston, Texas 77351 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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