Engagement & Volunteerism

Older adults who stay engaged as volunteers, paid workers, or caregivers provide important benefits to society. Volunteers and paid workers also tend to enjoy better health and greater satisfaction in retirement than unengaged older adults. Our team examines engagement patterns at older ages, including transitions from career jobs to formal volunteer positions, and examines the benefits of engagement.

• Engagement Patterns
• Benefits of Engagement
• Events
• All Publications

Engagement Patterns

• Volunteer Transitions among Older Americans (2007) full report | brief
• Will Boomer Retirees Form a New Army of Volunteers? (2007)
  brief | press release
• Older Adults Engaged as Volunteers (2006)
• Enjoying the Golden Work Years (2006)
• Many Older Americans Engage in Caregiving Activities (2005)
• Older Adults’ Engagement Should Be Recognized and Encouraged (2005)

Benefits of Engagement

• Are We Taking Full Advantage of Older Adults’ Potential? (2007)
• Satisfaction and Engagement in Retirement (2006)
• Value of Unpaid Activities by Older Americans Tops $160 Billion Per Year (2005)
• Golden Years Are Active Years, Study Shows (2005) (press release)

Events

• Rethinking Retirement: Opinions, Obstacles, Opportunities (2008)
• Productive Aging: Boon or Burden? (2006) podcast | transcript

All Publications