In 2021, I wrote a blog post about the cognitive benefits of volunteering by older adults. More recent studies expanded the range of benefits. The following studies provide further support the multiple benefits for seniors who volunteer.
Lower mortality risk, better health and well-being
Higher levels of volunteering predict better health and well-being. A recent study extends previous research by evaluating whether changes in volunteering over a four-year period predict better subsequent health and well-being. Data came from 34 health and well-being outcomes for 12,998 participants with an average of 66 years at baseline in the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study. Analyses controlled for a large set of potential confounding factors and for the health and well-being outcomes. Compared to participants who did not report any volunteering, participants who volunteered at least 100 hours per year (about 2 hours per week) had a significant 44 percent lower risk of dying during four years of follow-up, plus greater self-rated health, positive mood, purpose in life, and contact with friends after additional statistical adjustment. Given the substantial decrease in mortality risk with volunteering, it was unclear why volunteering did not predict lower risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and stroke or many health behaviors or many psychological factors. In any event, volunteering may help seniors live longer, but the mechanisms that underlie longer life remain unclear.
Multiple health factors predict more volunteering
Volunteering predicts a host of better health and well-being outcomes over a wide range of ages, especially elders. A team of researchers evaluated the effects of changes in 61 aspects of physical health, health behaviors, and psychological behaviors on the rate of volunteering over a four-year period. Data came from 13,711 participants with an average of 69 years in the Health and Retirement Study. A dozen health and well-being factors predicted significantly greater odds of volunteering over four years after adjusting for confounding variables and multiple comparisons. The factors included frequent physical activity, physical functioning limitations, cognitive impairment, positive affect, volunteering at least twice a week or at least three times per week, attending religious services less than or more than once per week, and four levels of helping neighbors or relatives ranging from 1-49 hours per year to more than 200 hours per year. Increased attendance of religious services was the strongest predictor of volunteering over the four-year period. Given the increasing age of the US population, interventions that target one or more of the above dozen factors might increase the rate of volunteering and increase the health and well-being of older Americans.
Cardiovascular biomarkers
Might volunteering predict favorable changes in cardiovascular biomarkers over time? Researchers used data from 18,847 participants with an average pre-baseline age of 66 years in the Health and Retirement Study to find out. The seven cardiovascular biomarkers included HbA1c, total cholesterol / HDL-cholesterol ratio, cystatin C, C-reactive protein, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure and presence of obesity. After 4 years of follow-up and after adjusting for confounders in the pre-baseline wave, participants who reported volunteering more than 200 hours per year (about 4 hours per week) had a significant 22 percent lower risk of having high diastolic blood pressure compared to participants who reported no volunteering. Over the same time period, participants who reported increasing their number of yearly volunteer hours from less than 100 to more than 100 had significant 21 and 15 percent lower risks developing high diastolic and systolic blood pressure, respectively. Volunteering did not predict significant changes in the other five cardiovascular biomarkers. Given that high blood pressure is the strongest predictor of cardiovascular disease, high levels of volunteering might reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Do the benefits of volunteering apply to Europeans?
Volunteering predicts reduced risks of adverse health outcomes and improved well-being and quality of life. Researchers in Poland used data from 19,821 participants with an average pre-baseline age of 64 years from 15 European countries in the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement to determine reciprocal relationships between volunteering and 21 measures of health and well-being. The analytical approach used an outcome wide analysis correcting for covariates in the pre-baseline wave and tested for changes in variables in two subsequent waves from 2013-2020. Volunteering or charity work was categorized as either 1) almost every week or more often, 2) almost every month or less often, or 3) never.
After 6 years of follow-up and after adjusting for a host of confounding factors, volunteering almost every week or more often predicted greater scores for three measures of emotional well-being, reduced risks of limitations of daily living and being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. On the flip side, limitations of daily living, loneliness, high blood cholesterol, hypertension, and chronic lung disease independently predicted lower participation in volunteer or charitable work.
Can volunteers help seniors improve their health and well-being?
Scientists have developed interventions using volunteers to improve the physical health, mental health, and quality of life of seniors. Canadian researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of such interventions. The 27 studies, mostly from high-income countries, included participants with a median age of 66 years and with a variety of clinical conditions, including diabetes patients, independent living elderly, and pre-frail or frail elderly. Volunteer roles included general support, mentoring, educating, coaching, advising, and counseling, among others. The five most common aspects of health-related outcomes included improved physical activity, chronic disease self-management skills, coping with cancer, care giving, and end of life state.
The 12 trials that sought to improve physical function showed a significant increase compared to the control groups. Similarly, the 6 trials that sought to improve levels of physical function showed a significant increase compared to the control groups. None of the trails that sought to improve aspects of mental health (emotional functioning, depression, anxiety) showed significant improvement. None of the interventions designed to improve quality of life showed significant improvement. Overall, this review showed that volunteer-delivered interventions increased physical functioning and levels of physical activity. These interventions might help seniors maintain both their independence and their ability to perform activities of daily life.
What to do
If you’re a senior, find a local non-profit organization whose mission resonates with you. Check out the organization to make sure it fits well with you. Then find out how you can help. If you’re like me and many other seniors, you’ll be amply rewarded.
