Volunteering in retirement: Helping and staying active

Older adults often find it difficult to maintain social connections, especially when they reach retirement age. This issue is the subject of much research into practical solutions. In Germany, about 31% of elderly citizens are involved in volunteering in various non-profit organisations. This practice helps older people to maintain social ties, stay active and benefit society. Volunteering contributes to improving quality of life and reducing social isolation among the elderly population.

Volunteering: What is it and what is it like?

According to online resources, volunteering is an unpaid and freely chosen activity that usually takes place within non-profit organisations. This activity is based on a system of commitment and giving volunteers their time and skills. Volunteers do not officially receive any financial rewards and, what's more, anyone can volunteer! But there are still some restrictions that do not apply mainly to the population we are considering.

There are many types of volunteering activities, such as:

• Informal: For example, neighbours helping neighbours without getting paid for it;
• Formal: This is the most common form of volunteering and includes formal volunteering;
• Associative: People make a short or medium-term commitment to an association, on a more or less regular basis, and participate in the life of the association;
• In companies: Volunteers give their time to the company without financial compensation. They cannot replace an employee;
• Skills: More specific to seniors, this implies providing their know-how and experience. Retirees are in demand because of their experience. 

Older people and volunteering in retirement

Volunteering can be a means of social interaction for elderly people as they quite often suffer from loneliness. But volunteering among the elderly has also faced challenges in recent times. Although many elderly people are involved in volunteering, the number of volunteers over the age of 65 is gradually decreasing. This can be attributed to several factors:

• The need for rest after the end of a career;
• A desire to devote more time to caring for family (e.g. parents or grandchildren);
• An increase in the number of older people who are forced to work in retirement to improve their financial situation;
• Late retirement, which reduces the time available for volunteering.

Unfortunately, these factors make it difficult for retirees to participate in volunteering and give their time to any outside cause. But there is hope for this statistic to improve in future years.

Why volunteer?

Giving up your time is an activity that not only benefits the community, but also the seniors themselves. The first and perhaps most important benefit of volunteering is maintaining social connections. It allows you to meet new people, discuss different topics and get rid of feelings of isolation. Being socially active makes you feel needed and useful.

Volunteering also promotes physical and mental health. Being active keeps you healthy and alert, and being involved in the community strengthens your psychological well-being. In this way, older people remain involved in current events and feel fully involved in society.

In Germany, the proportion of people over the age of 65 is around 22% , and this will only increase by 2050. This will lead to an increased need for volunteers, as the need for social support increases with age. Volunteering helps older people to stay active and promotes social cohesion, which is particularly important as life expectancy increases.

Where do I go to offer help?

There are a large number of organisations and associations in Germany that support and encourage volunteering among older people. People can devote as much time as they can to this activity, as there are no strict restrictions. Anyone can first contact local associations, participate in special forums and open days. Major non-profit organisations in Germany include: the Order of Malta, the Red Cross, Caritas, as well as various local associations in the fields of sport, education, social assistance and culture. 

Online platforms such as Freiwilligenagenturen and Ehrenamtssuche allow you to find volunteering opportunities that match your skills and interests. The Benevol platform also works as a dating site, connecting pensioners with associations in need of help. Freiwillig.info and Volunteer.de enable seniors to find projects according to their preferences and free time.

For those approaching retirement, there are training programmes for volunteering, for example on the SeniorTrainer platform. Here, seniors can prepare themselves for the role of a volunteer and share their professional experience while teaching young people. These are indeed very useful and interesting training programmes, especially for those who don't know where to start their volunteering journey.

Conclusion: Volunteering in retirement

Volunteering really helps older people, as it is not only a way to help others, but also a great way to stay active and socially engaged. Such activities can promote health and support psychological well-being. With the growing need for social assistance, older volunteers play an important role in society. Participation in volunteer projects gives pensioners new opportunities for self-realisation.