The Most Overlooked Volunteers: Seniors
This one makes me a little emotional because it’s about basic human dignity. Seniors in care facilities still have skills. They still have value. They still want to contribute. But too often they’re just sitting around waiting for bingo night because nobody thinks to ask them to help with anything meaningful.
We need them. They need to be needed.
Here’s what we know about aging.
People live longest in communities where they have purpose and connection. The Blue Zones research proves this over and over. When you stick someone in a facility and give them nothing but word searches and birthday cake once a month, you’re taking away their reason to get up in the morning.
But here’s what’s crazy – so many of these folks can still craft. They still have skills. They still want to be useful. We’re partnering with senior facilities to give residents real work that matters. They make blankets, we deliver them to kids, and suddenly these residents have something to look forward to every month. Help give them their sparkle back! Families will see the difference, staff will feel the difference. It becomes a happier place for everyone.
Here’s a short episode that sparked this topic:
Adapting this:
Animal shelter: Residents knit pet blankets, make dog toys, write adoption bios, stuff fundraising envelopes, socialize adoptable animals during visits.
Food bank: Residents sort non-perishables, pack weekend food bags for kids, write encouragement cards, share Depression-era recipes for eating well on nothing.
Environmental organization: Residents start seeds, maintain container gardens for donation, make bird feeders, assemble educational kits, share historical knowledge about local ecosystems.
Literacy program: Residents record audiobooks, write letters to young readers, repair damaged books, make bookmarks, serve as virtual reading buddies on video calls.
Finding and working with facilities:
List every senior living place in your area. Independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing. All of them. Get the name of the activities director at each one because that’s who you need to talk to.
Go visit. You can’t tell from a website which facilities have residents who can participate. Some memory care units have people who still have their fine motor skills. Some independent living places have residents who are bored out of their minds and need something meaningful to do. You have to see it.
Talk to the activities directors. They’re drowning in the need for good programming for residents. Ask them about the residents’ abilities. What can they still do? What do they enjoy? What skills do they have? Some facilities will have a wing that’s super active and another that’s not. That’s fine. Work with what’s there.
Start by listing every senior living facility within reasonable driving distance. You want places you can actually visit regularly. Categorize them by type because independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing all have different capabilities. Note how big they are and get the activities director’s contact info.
Visit your top five facilities. You need to see the place and meet the activities director in person. Ask about current resident volunteer opportunities. Understand what mobility and cognitive levels you’re working with. Some facilities have wings where residents are super active and others where they’re not. That’s fine. Find the right fit. These are great volunteer opportunities for those who don’t typically participate in your events. This is the person who enjoys engaging with people, speaking.
Design your program with tiers. Not everyone can do the same thing. Some residents can handle complex tasks, others need simpler activities. Build options for different ability levels. Plan to visit monthly or twice a month. Consistency matters to seniors more than you’d think. They all want something to look forward to and break stale routines.
Create a presentation about your mission that includes big visuals and powerful stories. Seniors want to know their work matters. Show them exactly who they’re helping. Make it emotional. Make it real. Make it big enough they can see. Fewer words, more photos of joyful people, puppies, kitties, etc.
Write a proposal for the activities directors at the facilities. Address what they care about, which is keeping residents engaged and purposeful. Explain how you’ll provide materials and support. Be clear about insurance and liability. Offer flexible scheduling. Make it easy for them to say yes.
When you start, bring everything with you. All the supplies, all the materials, all the tools they need. Bring photos of the people who benefit. Share real stories. Take pictures of the residents working (get permission first). Track what they accomplish. Leave materials so they can keep working between your visits. Create a simple way to communicate with the activities director.
Then show up consistently. Reliability matters more with seniors than almost any other group. If you say you’re coming monthly, come monthly. Bring updates on how their work made a difference. Recognize individual contributions. Invite their families to join in. Consider making the facility a drop-off location for your community donations. Feature the residents in your newsletter and on social media. Celebrate their milestones.
