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Can Volunteering Keep You Healthy?

It makes us feel good. It helps us “get out of ourselves” and assist others in need. But aside from the obvious feelings of personal satisfaction that drive people to volunteer their time, energy and effort to worthwhile causes, the latest research finds that there are health advantages to be derived from volunteer activities.

For example, older adults who volunteer seem to live longer. Neenah L. Chappel, Canadian researcher and author of the study, Volunteering and Healthy Aging: What We Know, states, "Studies demonstrate that 70% of older volunteers claim to enjoy a better quality of life than the average non-volunteer."

Other studies designed to measure the health effects of volunteerism on older adults have shown that:

• Participants in a long-term study, who were involved in volunteer activities at the start of the study, were less likely to be depressed eight years later

• Among a group of participants in a government-sponsored program that coupled older adults with school-aged children, many who initially reported difficulties with cognitive activities, such as driving a car or using a map, showed improvements in performing these same tasks nine months later

• Volunteering is associated with living longer

• Those involved in volunteer programs, during their post-retirement years, experience a greater sense of purpose and meaning in their lives and lower levels of depression

David Eisner, CEO of U.S.-based Corporation of National and Community Service, reports, “Volunteering makes the heart grow stronger. More than 61 million Americans volunteer to improve conditions for people in need and to unselfishly give of themselves. While the motivation is altruistic, it is gratifying to learn that their efforts are returning considerable health benefits.”

So it appears to be true that you attract what you give and giving of yourself, even if it is only two hours a week, produces positive physical and mental benefits that improve the quality if your life.