Retired educator Arnold (Arnie) Dyer, above, chair of the Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington. The council is looking for volunteers on our advisory council in Skamania and Klickitat counties.
Retired educator Arnold (Arnie) Dyer, above, chair of the Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington. The council is looking for volunteers on our advisory council in Skamania and Klickitat counties.
With busy work lives, it can be hard to find the time to volunteer, but once you retire, you may be able to discover the fulfillment of helping others. The benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. The right match can help you find friends, connect with the community, and learn new skills.
Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.
“I volunteered on the Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington for six years and for the last two years I was the chair of the council,” said retired educator, Arnie Dyer. “We were able to get several initiatives pushed forward. It was very rewarding to be able to improve the lives of older adults and work with the other council members, who are active leaders throughout Southwest Washington. They were truly the eyes and ears in each of those communities.
“I believe that when you volunteer, you should try to give it your full measure,” Arnie continued. “You should try a few different kinds of things, but the biggest thing for me was the intellectual challenge and the social connections.”
Arnie also volunteers with the Firstenburg Community Center, the Men’s Shed and Habitat for Humanity ReStore, all located in the city of Vancouver.
The National Institute of Aging recently published research that shows the significant value of social connections like those found in volunteering. While we all have an innate need for meaningful social engagement, it plays an even more vital role in quality of life for older adults. Consistent social connection can keep older adults physically, emotionally, and mentally fit and leads to better long-term health outcomes.
As adults age, staying socially active does not happen naturally on its own. Commitment, support, and diligence are required to foster meaningful social connections. Active volunteers like Arnie intuitively know this; they go home each day knowing that they have made new friends, made a meaningful contribution, and with a heart filled with gratitude and purpose.
The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington connects older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers to a full range of community resources designed to offer choice, improve quality of life and respect independence.
We are committed to helping our community’s adults live and age well. We serve adults in Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties. Requests for information, assistance and general inquiries may be directed to 360-735-5720. To learn more, visit www.HelpingEders.org.
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