Q. I recently retired after a long and fulfilling career. I am enjoying the slower pace, but I do wish I had something more to fill my days. Do you think I should look into volunteering?
A. Congratulations on your retirement! You are not alone in your desire to stay busy and involved in your community. Many people feel that way when they retire. After a long career, I am sure you have lots of skills and experience that you can share with others. You may also find that you would like to explore new interests. Both are possible when you volunteer.
As you consider where you would like to volunteer, take some time to reflect on your interests and abilities. Think about the causes that are important to you and how much time you would like to dedicate to volunteering. Talk to friends about organizations and causes they support. Another great place to start is your local Council on Aging or another non-profit that you respect.
Here at AgeSpan, volunteers are an important part of our mission. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, I would like to thank the more than 450 volunteers who dedicated 80,000 hours to AgeSpan programs in 2024. If you would like to make an impact on older adults locally, here are some programs to consider:
IMeals on Wheels: Deliver meals and check in with homebound older adults and adults with disabilities.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman: Work as an advocate for residents of assisted living, nursing, and rest homes and their families.
Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): Educate Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and their caregivers on how to detect and report healthcare errors, fraud, and abuse.
Mobile Market: Pack and distribute fresh and non-perishable foods at monthly community markets.
Friendly Visitor: Offer support and connection to isolated older adults.
Money Management: Help older adults develop basic money management skills such as paying bills and budgeting.
Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE): Provide information to Medicare beneficiaries to help them understand their health insurance options.
To learn how you can get involved with AgeSpan, visit www.agespan.org/volunteer/ or contact us at 978-651-3114 or volunteerprograms@agespan.org.
Joan Hatem-Roy is the chief executive officer of AgeSpan, which serves the following cities and towns: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rowley, Salisbury, Salem, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, and West Newbury.
First published in the Eagle-Tribune.
