Retaining Older Volunteers Is Key to Meeting Future Volunteer Needs (Policy Briefs/Perspectives on Productive Aging)Author(s): Barbara Butrica,
Richard W. Johnson,
Sheila R. ZedlewskiThe boomers' impending retirement has spurred interest in tapping their productive energies to benefit society. This study examines older adults' decisions to stop or start formal volunteer work. The findings show that older adults usually stick with their original decisions, but more often stop than start volunteering. Volunteers who contribute a lot of hours over many years and who are married to volunteers are less likely to quit. And nonvolunteers are more likely to start volunteering if they have been uninvolved for few years and their spouses volunteer. The results highlight the importance of volunteer retention strategies for nonprofit agencies.
| Posted: December 13, 2007 | Availability: HTML | PDF |
Volunteer Transitions among Older Americans (Series/The Retirement Project Discussion Papers)Author(s): Barbara Butrica,
Richard W. Johnson,
Sheila R. ZedlewskiAs the nation ages, older adults' volunteer activities are becoming increasingly important This study uses longitudinal data from a nationally representative survey to examine entries into and exits from volunteer activities by adults age 55 to 65. The findings reveal considerable persistence among both volunteers and nonvolunteers; however, older adults are more likely to stop volunteering than to start. Duration and intensity of volunteering, as well as marriage to a volunteer, are strong predictors of continued volunteer activities. And, the time spent away from volunteer activities, as well as marriage to a nonvolunteer decreases the odds of volunteer starts.
| Posted: December 13, 2007 | Availability: HTML | PDF |
Will Boomer Retirees Form a New Army of Volunteers? (Press Release)Author(s): The Urban InstituteAs the first phalanx of the 76 million-strong baby boom generation begins turning 62 and receiving Social Security benefits January 1, will they create a massive army of willing and able volunteers? Researchers from the Urban Institute's Retirement Project examine this question in three new research briefs.
| Posted: December 13, 2007 | Availability: HTML |
Will Retiring Boomers Form a New Army of Volunteers? (Policy Briefs/Perspectives on Productive Aging)Author(s): Sheila R. ZedlewskiThis study looks at older adults retiring between 1996 and 2004 to see who engages in formal volunteering after retirement. The results, based on data from the Health and Retirement Survey, show that while most volunteers acquire the volunteer habit while still working, a significant share begins volunteer work after retirement. Among adults who retire, 45 percent engage in formal volunteer activities even though only 34 percent of these same adults volunteered while working. Since boomer cohorts following this group will be much larger, nonprofit organizations seem destined to benefit from a significant growth in the services of retirees.
| Posted: December 13, 2007 | Availability: HTML | PDF |
Are We Taking Full Advantage of Older Adults' Potential? (Policy Briefs/Perspectives on Productive Aging)Author(s): Sheila R. Zedlewski,
Barbara ButricaStaying engaged in work and formal volunteer activities at older ages significantly benefits the well-being of the volunteers, the organizations that count on them, the people served by those organizations, and the economy. This study, based on data from the Health and Retirement Survey, shows that over 10 million healthy older adults with no caregiving responsibilities did not work or volunteer in 2004. About half of these able seniors are under age 75 and 9 out of 10 have prior work experience. Given this untapped potential, shortages of volunteers and workers should prompt employers and nonprofits to court this talent.
| Posted: December 13, 2007 | Availability: HTML | PDF |
