Volunteer and Intergenerational Programs

Volunteer and Intergenerational Programs

Twice a week, 78-year-old Hazel volunteers at a local adult day care center. She helps with the hands-on care of participants. Her volunteer duties include helping people eat, walking with them to the bathroom, and just sitting and talking with them. She also does what the director calls tender loving pushing. Hazel enjoys volunteer work. When interviewed by a local newspaper, Hazel said, “I hope if something happens to me, there will always be someone to care.”

With the growth of the older adult population and the decline in resources, community agencies often seek assistance from seniors in delivering their programs and services. In many communities, senior volunteerism has developed into a highly organized and often large-scale activity. ...