Volunteering offers many advantages, especially for seniors, including health and social benefits.
“When you stop, your whole system stops,” Sheila Borders, a Loudon County extension agent for family and consumer sciences with UT Extension, said.
Research has found volunteering among adults age 60 and over provides benefits in physical and mental health, including lower rates of depression and anxiety.
Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine. By spending time in service to others, volunteers report feeling a sense of meaning and appreciation, which can have a stress-reducing effect, Borders said.
Reduced stress further decreases risk of many physical and mental health problems, such as heart disease, stroke and general illnesses.
A study on aging found individuals who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not, even when controlling for age, gender and physical health, Borders said.
She said she works with many volunteers in the Loudon County 4-H program.
“Loudon County is blessed to have a large retirement community with knowledge and skill they can share,” she said.
Borders said the sharing goes both ways.
Seniors have academic skills they can share with students. Community Church at Tellico Village has classes for seniors with younger volunteers to teach them skills with cellphones.
The work volunteers provide gives a sense of purpose, especially in the areas they find meaningful. Older volunteers experience greater increases in life satisfaction and self-esteem.
Programs such as 4-H offer students in fourth grade and up the opportunity to learn new skills and pursue scholarship opportunities, Borders said.
Sharon Long, who has been volunteering with 4-H for more than 20 years, said she got involved when her fourth-grade son joined the program. She said he is now studying for an advanced degree. She said she continued long after her son left the program.
“You get volunteering in your blood,” Long said. “You see the benefits through your children and you want to keep giving back some of what your children have been given.”
Volunteering increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common interests.
One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to participate in a shared activity. Dedicating time as a volunteer helps expand social networks and fosters the development of skills with others, Borders said.
UT Extension offers opportunities for all ages, skills, backgrounds and talents, she said.
“They can volunteer as little or as much as they want,” Borders said.
From helping 4-H members learn a new skill to judging a public speaking contest, there are many ways to help make the lives of local youth better.
“The time commitment you are willing to make is entirely up to you,” Borders said.
Chrystal McConkey began volunteering with 4-H when her daughter was involved 15 years ago. She still works full time so most of her volunteering is after hours or on weekends.
Typical 4-H students are not likely to get athletic or academic scholarships, Borders said, so the program helps young people learn valuable skills and college scholarships.
McConkey said her daughter learned many key skills through 4-H that are not connected to agriculture. Her daughter now works in banking and daily uses the public speaking skills she acquired in 4-H.
“If you can get these young people pumped up in fourth or fifth grade, they can do it in seventh and eighth grade,” McConkey said. “They are the type of kids that can look you in the eye and have a conversation with you.”
The local office will host a dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 9 at 100 River Road in Loudon where those who want to volunteer can learn more about available 4-H programs. For more information, contact Borders at sborders@utk.edu or 865-458-5612, or visit online at https://loudon.tennessee.edu.
