04/01/2025

Volunteer to Stay Healthier and Fulfilled as You Age

Older adults who volunteer with nonprofits consider themselves to be healthier

As gerontologists—social scientists who study aging populations—we envision a future in which older people leave a doctor’s visit with a prescription to go volunteer for something.

Does that sound far-fetched? There’s scientific research backing it up.

GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

While spending more than a dozen years researching what happens when older adults volunteer with nonprofits, including churches, we’ve found that volunteers consider themselves to be in better health than their peers who don’t. In addition, their blood pressure is lower and they appear to be aging more slowly than other people of the same age.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.