As people get older, they have many resources at their disposal to help with the aging process. People in every community work hard to meet the needs of the elderly, especially in long term care facilities.
Long term care facilities are run by people who want to care for and comfort those who can no longer live on their own. They can be engaging and welcoming places to live, but they also benefit from volunteer help.
Anyone interested in volunteering should consider inquiring with a local nursing home. Here are seven reasons why you should volunteer at a long term care facility, and why you’ll help yourself as much as you’ll help the residents.
1. Volunteering Cheers You Up
You likely don’t always desire to walk into work each day. The expectation to show up to work every day, plus your job itself, can tire you out.
Volunteering allows you to spend your time how you genuinely want to. No matter where you volunteer, you walk in with a positive attitude because you chose to be there. That happiness grows when you volunteer at a long term care facility.
Interacting with residents and staff only marks the tip of the iceberg. You’ll learn a lot and find yourself proud of the work you accomplish. Sitting by a resident and talking with them for a few hours can make a big difference in their life.
2. Residents Love Meeting Volunteers
Routine can become a little boring for anybody. It’s why people make different weekend plans and switch their routine up every so often. Residents can also get bored with their routine, which makes them look forward to meeting volunteers.
You’ll make their day by spending time with them and forming a new friendship. Listen to their stories, talk with them about your life and let them gift you with the wisdom they’ve learned over their lives.
Getting the chance to meet someone new and talk about their lives helps brighten any resident’s day.
3. You’ll Learn So Much
You can learn new things by volunteering at a long term care facility. By interacting with residents, you’ll hear stories of their lives and experiences which you may never get to live through.
You’ll also learn from the facility staff. If you’re not chatting with residents or playing games with them in a common area, the staff might have you help with other jobs.
You could assist with food prep, front desk work or general maintenance. It’ll leave you with a newfound respect for what the staff does every day, along with new skills you learn on the job.
4. Your Self Confidence Will Increase
Learning new things can immediately boost a person’s self-confidence. It’s one of the many reasons why people volunteer.
Cheering someone up or helping run the facility will prove that you’re capable of doing amazing, life-changing things. Even the tiniest volunteer job makes a big difference to everyone involved.
5. Volunteering Benefits the Employees
Many long-term care facilities require guardianships of their residents which really keeps the facility employees busy. While they how to take care of their residents and get their jobs done every day, it’s still appreciated to have a helping hand.
When you volunteer, you assist the staff members as much as you do the residents. While you talk with a resident or finish an assigned task, you free up team members to get ahead of their workload.
6. You’ll Comfort Family Members
Imagine moving one of your closest family members into a long term care facility, if you haven’t already experienced that. You trust the staff to take care of your loved one, but it’s a big adjustment.
Family members of residents want to know their loved one is being taken care of and living a life that makes them happy. It’s not enough to just have their basic needs met.
When family members hear that volunteers stopped by to hang out with residents and play a few games or listen to songs, it’s a source of comfort. Family members may not visit as much as they’d like, so it means a lot for them to know volunteers helped their loved one have a great day.
7. You’ll Gain Job Experience
Volunteering is one of the best ways to gain job experience and it looks great on your resume. Whether you’re a young person looking to start a resume or someone shifting careers, volunteering teaches you important job skills that you can use later on in different settings.
Working with a team is the number one job skill you’ll learn when you volunteer at a long term care facility. You’ll be paired with other volunteers or staff members and receive leadership by someone who’s in charge. Successfully helping your team accomplish their goals for the day will reflect well on your ability to perform in a job setting.
You’ll also receive job experience by tending to residents. Talking or play games with residents allows you to watch over them. If they have a need, you take care of it or find someone who can. You’re temporarily their advocate, which relates to customer service.
Volunteering Is Always a Win
People sign up to volunteer for many different reasons — job experience, something to cheer them up or a way to give back to the community.
Whatever your reason for volunteering, consider volunteering at a long term care facility. The residents will love making a new friend, and the staff members will appreciate the extra help around the facility.
