Supporting senior volunteers is both a responsibility and an opportunity for organizations that engage volunteers.

As the workforce sees an increasing number of older individuals choosing to continue working, volunteer programs must also adapt. Check out Rob Jackson’s article on this topic. That means that to hold on to your current senior volunteers, and entice new ones, we need to make a point of focusing on their needs.

I know many volunteer programs look at decreasing their reliance on seniors by bringing in younger volunteers who might have a longer active life with the organization. I don’t say that’s wrong but there will always be a predominance of the older demographic in volunteerism, and we need to support them.

Older volunteers bring a wealth of expertise, a strong work ethic and a deep sense of purpose to the organizations they serve. However, traditional volunteer engagement strategies often fail to address their needs.

Here are four ways you can support the elders in your volunteer program:

Offer flexible volunteer opportunities—All volunteers like flexibility, but senior volunteers benefit more than most from adaptable opportunities. Part-time or project-based engagement, rather than full-time........

© Castanet