Best Volunteer Opportunities for Seniors: Meaningful Ways to Give Back

If you’re recently retired or planning on retiring in the near future, you may be wondering how best to fill your free time during this transition. 

Volunteering can be an excellent way to add structure, purpose, and social connection into your routine. Some people also find that volunteering helps them to maintain an active lifestyle during retirement.

Finding the right volunteer opportunities for you will vary depending on your interests, physical mobility, and goals.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most popular volunteer categories for seniors, the potential benefits of volunteering, and how to get started with volunteer work.

Key takeaways

• Volunteering as a senior can help to increase your sense of connection and purpose while giving back to your community. 

• Finding an opportunity that meets your interests can help to make volunteer work feel more meaningful.

• Consider your goals as well as your mobility and schedule in order to choose an opportunity that’s right for you.

Volunteer opportunities for seniors

There are many ways to volunteer your time as a senior. Choosing an opportunity that appeals to your interests and goals can help make the experience more rewarding. 

Some volunteer categories that can be particularly attractive for retirees include parks and environment, community, and animals. 

Parks and environment

Lovers of the great outdoors may be drawn to volunteer opportunities like those offered by the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that require a diverse range of skill sets, physical mobility, and time commitment. Examples of NPS volunteer opportunities include working in park visitor centers, removing invasive species, leading guided hikes, and preserving artifacts. 

According to the NPS’s Volunteers in Parks website, volunteering with the NPS can help “promote an active lifestyle and provide a social outlet for seniors who wish to continue making a positive contribution to society.”

If you don’t live near a NPS volunteer opportunity, consider reaching out to your local community gardens to inquire about their volunteer programs.

Community programs

If you prefer a volunteer opportunity that offers more face-to-face contact with your community, there are several organizations you can reach out to, including:

• Your local library: Many local libraries offer volunteer opportunities, including volunteering as a greeter, assisting with youth programs, and literacy tutoring.

• Meals on Wheels: If you enjoy driving and connecting with other seniors, you can reach out to Meals on Wheels to help them deliver nourishing meals and moments of connection to homebound seniors. 

• Foster Grandparent Program: Help care for and mentor young children through the AmeriCorps’ Foster Grandparent Program. According to the program’s website, seniors who volunteer with AmeriCorps report “better health and longevity” as a result of giving back to their community.

Working with animals

Research has found that spending time caring for animals is associated with several health benefits, including lower blood pressure and reduced feelings of anxiety and loneliness.

If you’re an animal lover, try reaching out to your local ASPCA or animal shelter to learn more about their volunteer opportunities.

Benefits of volunteering

There’s no doubt that volunteering can help to improve your community. But there are benefits that you can reap from the experience, too.

One study of 12,998 participants found that volunteering 100 hours or more per year can offer specific benefits for older adults, including:

• Higher rates of physical activity

• Higher rates of optimism and feelings of purpose

• Lower rates of depressive symptoms

• Lower rates of loneliness

Finding and getting started with senior volunteer work

When searching for the right volunteer opportunity for your interests and needs, consider the following questions:

• Do you want an activity that will keep you physically active (like serving meals at a shelter or gardening) or more sedentary (like tutoring kids at a library)?

• Do you want regular face-to-face contact with others or an activity that is more autonomous?

• How many hours can you commit to on a weekly or monthly basis?

Once you have a better idea of what opportunity will be right for you, reach out to your friends to ask if they have any recommendations of volunteer organizations nearby. You can also search for volunteering opportunities on VolunteerMatch.

Bottom line

Volunteering as a senior can help you to feel more connected and physically active while giving back to your community. Understanding your goals for volunteer work, as well as your physical and time constrictions, will help you to have a clearer picture of what opportunities are right for you. 

Once you’re ready to start volunteer work, reach out to local organizations (like the National Park Service, ASPCA, or library) to learn more about opportunities near you.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best volunteer opportunities for seniors with limited mobility?

If you have limited mobility, consider volunteering as a literacy tutor through your local library. Most of the work can be done while seated.  

Do senior volunteers need background checks or special training?

Volunteer requirements will vary depending on the organization. Be sure to ask the organization you’re interested in volunteering with about what special training or requirements, if any, they require from their volunteers.

How many hours should seniors volunteer per week?

As a senior or retiree, you can volunteer as much or as little as your schedule allows. However, one study suggests that older adults who volunteer at least 100 hours per year (or roughly eight hours per month) can reap the most benefits from the experience.

Can volunteering help seniors meet new friends and stay social?

Volunteering is an excellent way for seniors to make new friends and maintain an active social life. If socializing is a priority for your volunteer experience, be sure to select an opportunity that facilitates this type of connection among its volunteers.

Are there volunteer opportunities that utilize professional skills and experience?

Yes, many organizations, including some local libraries, offer volunteer opportunities that utilize professional skills, including fundraising and event planning. 

Sources

Volunteers-In-Parks (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). https://www.nps.gov/articles/volunteers-in-parks.htm 

Meals on Wheels America. (2025, May 20). Volunteer with Meals on Wheels | Help Older Adults in Need. https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/volunteer/ 

AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program. (n.d.). AmeriCorps. https://www.americorps.gov/serve/americorps-seniors/americorps-seniors-foster-grandparent-program 

Martins, C. F., Soares, J. P., Cortinhas, A., Silva, L., Cardoso, L., Pires, M. A., & Mota, M. P. (2023). Pet’s influence on humans’ daily physical activity and mental health: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1196199 

Kim, E. S., Whillans, A. V., Lee, M. T., Chen, Y., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2020). Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 59(2), 176–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2020.03.004 

VolunteerMatch - where volunteering begins. (n.d.). https://www.volunteermatch.org/