Does volunteering have an impact on the physical and mental health of older adults?
Introduction
The physical and mental well-being of older adults is paramount as it alleviates the symptoms of mental disorders. Older adults are vulnerable to physical and mental illness which are associated with depression and anxiety. However, physical activity contributes to healthy ageing and mental well-being. An important point to understand is that volunteering in older adults is associated with positive health outcomes. First, volunteering provides more choice which eventually helps the older adults gains a sense of control. Today, older people seek volunteer roles where they can exploit their talents and interest, transfer and gain skills, and contribute to the community well-being. Through an active connection, older adults can maintain social contacts and develop self-worth. Recent research and studies have found that volunteering does not only contribute to community wellness, but it improves mental and physical well-being as a result of the larger social network, sense of self-worth and emotional gratification.
Yeung et al. (2017) assert that older adults who participate in voluntary services have a higher level of happiness, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. These factors lead to positive mental and physical health. An important point to note is that in voluntary services, older adults engage in multiple roles and interact with different coping skills and a supportive network. The authors introduce other-oriented volunteering and self-oriented volunteering and assert that the former has better health effects than the latter. This means that older adults who desire to help other people create supportive relationships, gain self-worth, and life meaning which foster health benefits.
On the other hand, self-oriented volunteering is the desire to fulfil one’s needs and interest. Older adults who have self-volunteer motives engage in things that will benefit themselves. The authors say that this form of volunteering many not contribute to health-promoting benefits (Yeung et al.2017). For example, in the study, some older adults engaged in self-oriented voluntary services such as recreation, professional services, business, and other services that promoted self-actualization and development. Even though self-oriented volunteering contributed to life satisfaction and social well-being, it was less productive in alleviating depression symptoms (Yeung et al.2017). This indicates that other-oriented volunteering is more likely to contribute to mental and physical well-being. This is because, older adults who choose other-oriented volunteering engage in religious groups, health and education services, and other community organizations to care for others (Yeung et al.2017). From the study, there is evidence that other-oriented volunteering strengths interpersonal relationships, older adults develop a sense of mattering, it promotes sharing, and it is associated with generosity and gratitude.
Johnston (2013) also supports the other-oriented volunteering by asserting that religious-based volunteering yields more opportunities in the adult life course. In other words, religious institution volunteerism motivates the older adults to engage in other formal volunteering which generates physical and psychological benefits such as feelings of well-being and meaningful purpose. Gray et al. (2012) add that volunteering varies, and this means that there are different types of organizations that young, middle and older adults can join to offer volunteer services. Focusing on our main topic, which is adulthood, the authors say that older adults experience life transition such as retirement, health issues, wealth decline and more. However, an older adult can participate in welfare/ community organizations to improve mental and health benefits.
Therefore, older adult should engage in a form of volunteering that is problem-solving or a service that focuses on solving life problems such as traumatic events. In other words, other-oriented volunteering has the power to contribute to mental and physical health as it is more involved, and it shows humanitarian concerns.
People volunteer at many levels, such as in the community and the workplace. For example, African American women are well known for their willing service in a political, economic, and social environment. African American women have a spiritual mission for providing housing, employment, and counselling, health care, political support, among other provisions. These women enjoy psychological benefits such as personal competence, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose (Gutierrez & Mattis, 2014).
Also, volunteering in the workforce has mental and physical wellness. This is because they devote their time and energy to improve the organization. As a result, the social engagement lowers the level of stress and improves mental and physical well-being (Ramos et al.2015). Note that in all settings whether in the community or the place of work, human beings need social connection. The later increases self-worth, self-confidence, and lower stress. For example, employees experience job burnout. Note that burnout is a mental health issue, but it can be solved by strategies such as social support within team works. Therefore, volunteering in the workplace improves mental and physical well-being in that volunteers create social interaction, work toward the same goal, build a support system and decrease depression. On the same note,
Lancee & Radl, (2014) add that volunteering is influenced by factors such as family characteristic, education attainment, resources, and more. This means that even though women are in the forefront to help the community, their effort is affected by double burdens such as lack of time, loss of network members, retirement, health decline, and other changes in a social environment. Therefore, it is important to understand that in later life, volunteering is diminished due to a number of social forces. Lindley et al. (2014) assert that considering these social forces, greater flexibility and inclusiveness should be promoted to eliminate barriers and promote opportunities to support older adults who participate in volunteer services. The authors say that volunteering is a public policy responsibility, and therefore the governing sector should offer mutual reinforcement to support older adults in volunteering opportunities. Note that volunteering run in families and the genetic variation states that women are more likely to participate in volunteer work than men. Therefore, it is important to empower women to support flexibility and inclusiveness to help them have effective participation (Son & Wilson, 2010).
Rogers et al. (2016) assert that volunteering influence survival, better health, and positive socioeconomic status. This is because, volunteers have favorable characteristics such as salutary behaviors, feeling of usefulness and self-competency. Also, older adults believe that participating in volunteer activities is a way of keeping them busy, and as they remain socially engaged, they improve individual well-being and survival (Groenou & Tilburg, 2010). Since the research and studies show evidence that volunteering contributes to mental and health well-being, environmental volunteering changes and therefore, it is important to provide older adults with more opportunities. In other words, older adults need personal and social rewards which can be provided through ensuring better integration to eliminate cultural practical barriers (Pillemer et al. 2009). Note that volunteering is influenced by factors such as social capital and social cohesion. To help the older adults build a supportive community, volunteers need a stable household income, homeownership, social (Williams et al. 2007). The volunteer supporters' network should recognize that volunteering is an important activity, and therefore they need to build and maintain collaboration to promote long-term impact. There is a need for a new and meaningful volunteer to expand volunteer opportunities. Today, older people need empowerment through precious resources. The community also need to change the perception that older people are creatures of leisure and see them as productive citizens who devote their time to bring a difference in people's lives (Rozario, 2006). The last recommendation is that it is important to analyze both positive effects and negative effects of volunteering, and the in-depth knowledge will help promote the well-being of the volunteers. For example, volunteers spend a lot of time in serving the community, and the work is tiresome, sometimes the environment is unsafe, and they are unable to achieve life and work balance. Nevertheless, volunteers who are goal-oriented and value-oriented benefits from mental and physical well-being as a result of enlarging friendship circles and expanding social networks.
Conclusion
Social and communal activities increase physical and mental health. Older people who participate in volunteer activities gain positive health status, reduce depressive symptoms, gain self-worth, and increases life satisfaction. The research paper shows that older people who engage in volunteer activities have lower mortality and morbidity. This because, as they devote their time to engage in meaningful activities, they develop a social support network that enhances physical and mental well-being. The literature recommends that countries should come up with policies to empower older people' ability in engaging in volunteer activities.
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