Community connectedness is the measure of how people in a community come together and interact. It is a sense of personal responsibility individuals feel to uphold their obligations to directly address an issue or work with others in a community to solve a problem. As Americans, we thrive off of our creative ingenuity to solve complex problems. People often get involved at a local level by joining groups that they care about in their community. By surveying older adults about our interests, community organizations can offer meaningful volunteer opportunities at a central location that interested volunteers can visit or call to learn about volunteer openings. As older adults, we acquire accumulated wisdom and creativity throughout our life. These volunteer opportunities allow us to use our skills to benefit our communities and feel a sense of accomplishment and connectedness. Volunteering can positively impact people who volunteer as well as those helped by volunteers, a few benefits include; satisfaction with life, improved health and well-being, boosts self-esteem, personal accomplishment and overall functioning. All communities benefit from residents who are engaged with one another and who invest their time and interest in community activities (Frameworks Institute, 2017). Community connectedness: civic engagement and volunteer opportunities characteristics of aging-friendly communities include:
- A range of flexible options for older volunteers is available, with training, recognition, guidance, and compensation for personal costs
- Decision-making bodies in public, private, and voluntary sectors encourage and facilitate membership of older people
- There is a central clearinghouse that people can visit or call to learn about volunteer opportunities
- Older adults commonly serve on government advisory boards and other communities
- Local nonprofits and other community organizations provide meaningful volunteer opportunities suited to older adults
- Older adults have been surveyed about their volunteer interests
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Data to inform the discussion around this characteristic.
- Volunteer opportunities (potential data source: Corporation for National & Community Service; City/Town Community Services Department)
Activities to help contextualize this characteristic.
- Quiz: What percent of the population volunteers on an average day? from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 15-24 years: 4.5%; 25-34 years: 1.9%; 35-44 years: 4.6%; 45-54 years: 5.2%; 55-64 years: 4.0%, 65+: 6.9%
- Discussion: volunteer opportunities that others may not know about, especially opportunities that leverage the skill-sets of older adults.
Success Stories from local communities.
- RSVP: Retired and Senior Volunteer Program helps people age 55 and older find service opportunities in their home communities. “More than 11,000 Wisconsin residents are serving as Retired and Senior volunteers.”
- AARP Wisconsin touts its volunteers as a driving force behind its success
- Wisconsin Association of Home and Community Education (WAHCE): HCE Programs have 3000+ members with a lot of volunteer hours. In 2016, volunteers from 37 Wisconsin counties engaged in more than 72,000 hours of outreach!
Resources and other ideas for next steps.
Resources and further reading:
Ideas for next steps:
- Maximizing the Potential of Older Adults. This report from the The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) has strategies to reduce barriers to volunteerism and engagement for older adults
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