Volunteering in Retirement: How to Find the Right Fit

The right volunteer role in retirement is one that matches what you care about, uses skills you enjoy, and fits the time and energy you actually have. Start by deciding what you want to get out of it, such as purpose, company, learning or simply getting out of the house. Then try one role for a few weeks before committing to more. Good fits exist for every ability level, including roles you can do from home.

Why volunteering is worth considering

Volunteering helps the people and places you serve, and it can help you too. The National Institute on Aging's tips on staying connected note that helping others through volunteering can make you feel less lonely and give you a sense of mission and purpose, which is linked to better health.

NIA's guide to cognitive health also describes research from the Health and Retirement Study in which high social engagement, including doing volunteer work, was associated with better cognitive health later in life. Volunteering is not a cure-all, but it combines several things that support healthy aging: activity, social contact and a reason to get up in the morning.

Many people also find that volunteering fills the gap left by work. The structure of a weekly shift, the sense of being counted on and the friendships that grow among volunteers can be as valuable as the task itself.

Step 1: Decide what you want from volunteering

Before you sign up anywhere, think through a few questions:

• What causes matter to you? Children, animals, the environment, health, faith, the arts or neighbors in need.
• Do you want to use your career skills or do something completely different? A retired accountant might enjoy tax help, while another might prefer gardening because it is the opposite of a desk job.
• People or tasks? Some roles are about conversation and companionship; others are hands-on work with little chatting.
• How much time can you give? One morning a month and twenty hours a week are both valid answers.
• What are your physical limits? Standing, lifting, driving and stairs all matter. Be honest so the role stays enjoyable.

Writing your answers down makes it easier to compare opportunities and to explain to an organization what you're looking for.

Step 2: Explore the main types of opportunities

Programs designed for older adults

AmeriCorps Seniors is the federal national service program for people age 55 and older. According to the AmeriCorps Seniors Pathfinder, you must be 55 years or older to serve, and the Pathfinder lets you search current volunteer opportunities near you. AmeriCorps Seniors includes the Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion and RSVP programs, which cover mentoring children, helping older neighbors stay independent, and a wide range of community projects.

Use your professional skills

• Free tax help. The IRS explains on its tax volunteers page that volunteers with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs receive training and then prepare taxes free of charge for people who need help. Training is offered online and in the classroom, and hours are flexible.
• Mentoring and tutoring. Schools, libraries and literacy programs often need patient adults to read with children or tutor adults learning English.
• Board and committee service. Small nonprofits frequently need help with bookkeeping, planning or writing.

Get outdoors

The National Park Service says on its volunteer page that you can volunteer for a day or year-round, on your own or with friends and family, close to home or at a dream destination. Local parks, community gardens and nature centers offer similar roles closer to home.

Serve in your neighborhood

NIA's list of activities to enjoy as you age includes many local options: serving meals or organizing clothing donations, running errands for people with limited mobility, helping at your place of worship, and volunteering at a school, library, museum, hospital or animal shelter.

Volunteer from home

If getting out is hard, you can still contribute. Ideas include making phone check-in calls through a local aging agency, knitting or sewing items for hospitals and shelters, writing cards for service members or isolated older adults, and helping a nonprofit with online tasks.

Step 3: Try before you commit

It's normal for the first role to be a poor fit. To protect your enthusiasm:

1. Ask for a trial period of a few shifts before agreeing to a long-term schedule.
2. Ask what training and support volunteers receive, and who to call with questions.
3. Find out the expectations, such as minimum hours, background checks, dress code and physical demands.
4. Watch how volunteers are treated. Good organizations thank volunteers, explain the purpose of the work and respect your limits.
5. Start small. NIA suggests adding one or two activities to your routine and seeing how you feel; you can always add more.

If a role leaves you exhausted or bored, it's fine to say so and move on. The aim is a commitment you look forward to.

Money matters: costs, mileage and taxes

Volunteering should not strain a fixed income. Ask whether the organization reimburses expenses like parking or supplies.

If you itemize deductions, some unreimbursed volunteer costs may be deductible. IRS Publication 526 on charitable contributions explains that you can't deduct the value of your time or services, but you may be able to deduct out-of-pocket costs such as gas and oil for driving to and from your volunteer work, or use a standard mileage rate of 14 cents a mile, plus parking fees and tolls. Keep written records and check the current publication or a tax professional, since rules can change. Free help is available through the same VITA and TCE programs mentioned above.

Some AmeriCorps Seniors programs may offer benefits to income-eligible volunteers; ask your local program what applies to you. Free or discounted entry to parks and events for volunteers is another bonus, and our guide to senior discounts worth asking for covers more ways to save.

Your next steps

• List two or three causes and the time you can give each week.
• Search the AmeriCorps Seniors Pathfinder, call your Area Agency on Aging through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, or ask your library, senior center or place of worship.
• Contact one organization and ask about a trial shift.
• Reflect after a month. Keep what energizes you and change what doesn't.

If you're volunteering partly to meet people, see our ideas for easing loneliness in later life.