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Volunteering, a Smart Way to Recover from COVID-19

  • Writer: Patricia Faust
    Patricia Faust
  • May 5, 2022
  • 4 min read

This past Sunday, my husband and I ran the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fluid station for the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati. This is a labor of love for us as we have been involved since the very first marathon. This year was the 24th Flying Pig Marathon! Every year we say this will be the last one we work until we experience the day, and we commit to the next year. This year was especially challenging because we had an awful time finding volunteers to help us. It is a big undertaking and there were days when we thought we would have to withdraw. But, as usually is the case, LLS contacted Xavier University’s women’s soccer team and we had the best help ever! I tried to get a commitment to next year’s race while we were all still feeling the glow of the event. It worked – they said they would be back!


Why am I relaying this story to you? Volunteering was down significantly for all aspects of the race. It is a weekend event with lots of activities and events scheduled. The race could not go on without a large number of volunteers to carry the race day load. It doesn’t look like those not in the know, had no idea there was a scramble to pull all of this together. But I questioned why this was such a problem this year?


U.S. Volunteering Below Pre-Pandemic Levels

Gallup reported at the beginning of 2022 that donations to charitable organizations had rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, however, volunteering remained lower for the same period. While lower today than in recent years, the rate of volunteering has been at its current level in the past, most notably during the Great Recession. (https:news.gallup.com)

According to Gallup, a recovery in volunteering may be more elusive as concerns about COVID-19 exposure and public health safety measures limit Americans’ willingness and ability to perform volunteer work.


The Benefits of Volunteering During COVID-19

COVID brought a new sense of fear of being with others. But as the crisis continued some people began to look at volunteer opportunities as a way to give back; help individuals feel they were doing something at a time of crisis; and enable many to cope with the daily sad accounts they were hearing every day in the media. A review of 33 articles on volunteering during emergencies, exploring motives, suggested that being connected with a cause can be a key driver, alongside regarding it as emotionally cathartic when affected personally, and finding solace from collaborating with others towards the same goal. (Tierney,S. & Mahtani,K. https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/...)


Health Benefits of Volunteering

I researched many articles regarding volunteering on a regular basis and during the pandemic. The same benefits were elaborated in all the articles I read.

1. Decrease your risk of depression: Volunteering increases social interaction and helps build a support system

2. Enjoy a sense of purpose and fulfillment: Increase your self-confidence

3. Stay physically and mentally active: Volunteers actually increased their brain functioning. Volunteer activities get you moving and thinking at the same time.

4. Reduce stress levels: You feel a sense of meaning and appreciation.

5. Experience the ‘Happiness Effect’: You know that feel-good sense you get after a vigorous workout? It comes from a release of Dopamine in the brain. Helping others has the same effect – so the more you volunteer, the happier you become!

6. Find global opportunities: Volunteering can open up opportunities to go abroad, as many organizations and programs put on ‘voluntourism’ trips across the globe. Traveling spurs physical activity and mental planning while providing you different perspectives – literally and figuratively – on life. (https://createthegood.aarp.org/volunteer-ideas/health-benefits.html)


Volunteering Can Help to Prevent Dementia

Of course, there was a study done to support this statement. In March of 2017, a study conducted by the University of Calgary showed that doing regular volunteer work can significantly reduce the development of dementia in seniors. This is an important statement currently. The consequences of companies shutting down and then trying to recover caused a cascade of job losses. The departure of boomers from the workforce at this time has made a mark on the lack of qualified employees in certain industries. But these boomers are left with the future of what’s next! Volunteering can serve as a recovery tool for them as they investigate where their future lies. But it also instills a feeling of ‘mattering’.

Instead of spiraling into depression and increasing their risks for depression and dementia, volunteering opens a wide variety of activities that can stimulate their brains.

“It brings structure to the day, like when we need to be up at seven and at the office for 8:30. It offers social contact with other people outside of our family. It brings us the social status we get with a job title. It makes us feel like we’re making a meaningful contribution to society. And there’s a physical aspect as well, even if it’s just walking from your house to the spot where you do your volunteer work.” (Participants quotes from the University of Calgary study). Volunteering is unique is unique because it creates a wide range of overlapping benefits, including social interaction, physical activity, and a sense of purpose!


Yes, the pandemic has been traumatic for many of us. Volunteering is a means to recover not only for you, but also for the people and the causes you serve.


References

Giving Back Helps Others and You. Health benefits of volunteering. Retrieved from https://createthegood.aarp.org/volunteer-ideas/health-benefits.html#:~:text=A study released by Johns, Reduce stress levels.


Jones, J. January 11, 2022). U.S. charitable donations rebound; volunteering still down. Retrieved from https://news.gallup/poll/388574/charitable-donations-rebound-volunteering-down.aspx


Tierney,S. & Mahta, K.R. (April 23, 2020). Volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic: What are the potential benefits to people’s well-being? Retrieved from https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/volunteering-during-the-covid-covid-19-pandemic-what-are-the-potential-benefits-to-peoples-well-being/


Volunteering – Caring For Your Brain While Helping Others. Retrieved from https://www.revivebrainsupplement.com/blog/volunteering-caring-for-your-brain-while-helping-others


 
 
 

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We are already into June! I am not moving as fast as time apparently. I am just preparing for the “lazy, hazy days of summer”.

June is anything but lazy.  This is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.  This month brings to light the value of living a brain healthy lifestyle, the importance of early detection, and the support that is available for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

The FDA approved the blood test that detects Alzheimer’s disease and identifies what stage of the disease is present.  These tests will be available in doctor’s offices.  What does this mean?  Diagnosing Alzheimer’s was a bit of hit or miss because the methods of diagnosis were complicated and not definitive.  The primary care doctor had to figure out what specialist to refer the patient and lose more diagnostic time trying to get them an appointment.  Determining how far the disease had progressed was even more of a challenge.  With this blood test, immediate results and staging allows immediate, appropriate care to be initiated.  In the early stages of the disease a person can maintain a higher quality of life for a longer period.

The Alzheimer’s Association National Event – Outshine the Darkness of Alzheimer’s.  The Longest Day is celebrated on June 21, the summer solstice.

This is a global effort to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, with participants choosing activities they love to do while fundraising.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) promotes a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by highlighting the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

National Safety Month includes safety measures for seniors – fall prevention, safe medication use, home safety modifications. Check with you local Area Agency on Aging for information.

 

Over the past few years, I have had a friend, Carol Meyer, who has been a part of My Boomer Brain.  Carol has her own publication, InFlow that is published quarterly.  It is amazing.  InFlow Magazine - Your Digital Dose of Inspiration is just that.  She has chosen some of my blogs to publish in InFlow and I am grateful.  She wants me to extend an invitation to look at InFlow for yourself.  Here is the link and access information:

https://inflowmagazine.gumroad.com/l/Issue11

Scroll to ‘Name a fair price’

Enter ‘0’ in the ‘name a fair price’ field to get it for free

Click ‘I want this’ and follow the prompts

 

With summer just around the corner, I’m booking online and in-person presentations for July.  Topics are varied and topical, ranging from memory care, the aging brain, brain health, cognitive resilience, and many more.  If you are interested in organizing an event or want to discuss how brain health can be integrated into your community or organization, please reach out to me directly at patricia@myboomerbrain.com

 

Finally, if you are looking for more in-depth strategies and a roadmap to better health, I encourage you to explore my book, The Boomer Brain. It is a resource designed for anyone over 40 who wants to understand how lifestyle choices impact cognitive aging and what you can do to keep your brain sharp for years to come.  Find it on Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/1962133613

 

Slow down your time and enjoy the laid-back pace of summer. 

Pat

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