Q: I have always enjoyed working with seniors and would like to volunteer to work with seniors at an assisted living community. How do I go about doing that?
Brightening the day of a senior can be tremendously rewarding, so people frequently ask us how they can volunteer at assisted living communities. Volunteers are always appreciated at assisted living communities and nursing homes, and they can contribute in a variety of ways.
Volunteers can help with activities, lead classes, socialize with seniors, or even provide entertainment if they have a special skill. For example, during high school I volunteered at a local assisted living community in my hometown of Tacoma to help seniors learn to use computers. A friend of mine would come with me and organize a scrabble game with the ladies while I gave the computer lessons. Whatever you enjoy or are good at can usually be harnessed in some way as a volunteer at senior communities. Musicians can perform, poets can read, and dancers can dance. Even just spending your time socializing with the seniors who live at the community will beneficial to them.
If you are interested in volunteering at a particular senior community, call that community and ask to speak with the person who coordinates volunteers, who will generally be the activities director. If you don’t know of any communities in the area, browse our assisted living directory to find assisted living options in your area.
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