There is an urgent need to identify lifestyle activities that reduce functional decline and dementia associated with population aging. The goals of this article are to review critically the evidence on the benefits associated with formal volunteering among older adults, propose a theoretical model of how volunteering may reduce functional limitations and dementia risk, and offer recommendations for future research. Database searches identified 113 papers on volunteering benefits in older adults, of which 73 were included. Data from descriptive, cross-sectional, and prospective cohort studies, along with 1 randomized controlled trial, most consistently reveal that volunteering is associated with reduced symptoms of depression, better self-reported health, fewer functional limitations, and lower mortality. The extant evidence provides the basis for a model proposing that volunteering increases social, physical, and cognitive activity (to varying degrees depending on characteristics of the volunteer placement) which, through biological and psychological mechanisms, leads to improved functioning; we further propose that these volunteering-related functional improvements should be associated with reduced dementia risk. Recommendations for future research are that studies (a) include more objective measures of psychosocial, physical, and cognitive functioning; (b) integrate qualitative and quantitative methods in prospective study designs; (c) explore further individual differences in the benefits associated with volunteering; (d) include occupational analyses of volunteers' specific jobs in order to identify their social, physical, and cognitive complexity; (e) investigate the independent versus interactive health benefits associated with volunteering relative to engagement in other forms of activity; and (f) examine the relationship between volunteering and dementia risk.

The benefits associated with volunteering among seniors: : A critical review and recommendations for future research

Although there is now a voluminous literature on supportive social relations in later life, most of this research has been concerned with assessing the beneficial effects of receiving support from others. The purpose of this study is to assess whether giving support to others within informal as well as formal settings might also benefit older help-providers. Findings from a recent nationwide survey of the elderly suggest that giving informal assistance to others (but not formal assistance) appears to bolster feelings of personal control in later life. The data further reveal that greater feelings of personal control are in turn related to lower levels of depressive symptomatology.

Providing support to others and well-being in later life

Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.

Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System

Objectives Social participation has generated a wealth of research in gerontology, but the concept suffers from a lack of conceptual clarity that renders it difficult to define and measure. This means that research on social participation is difficult to compare directly. The aim of the present study was to draw the literature on social participation in older adults together to inform health services researchers seeking to investigate social participation as an indicator of successful aging. Methods A narrative review of studies investigating the association between social participation and health in adults aged 65 years and older was conducted. Results Three concepts of social participation (i.e. social connections, informal social participation and volunteering) were defined, their measurement instruments described and evidence of their associations with health explored. All three concepts have demonstrated associations with an array of health indicators. Prospective studies reveal that social participation at baseline is positively associated with mental and physical health. Conclusion A model of social participation on health is presented, showing the evidence that all three concepts contribute to the association between social participation and health through their shared mechanisms of social support and social cohesion with the wider community. Using an instrument that can be separated into these three distinct concepts will assist health services researchers to determine the relative effect of each form of participation on the health of older adults. What is known about the topic? Social participation has generated a wealth of research in gerontology. The scope of the literature on social participation is broad and the concepts diverse. For this reason, most previous systematic reviews have been unable to comprehensively assess the effect of all concepts of social participation on health. This means the research on social participation is difficult to compare directly, and indicators of social participation in older adults are difficult for policy makers to select. What does this paper add? This paper overviews the three concepts of social participation, their methods of measurement and their associations with health in older adults. We present a model of social participation that incorporates all three concepts of social participation and their effects on health. We argue that the use of a measure that can be segmented into each of the three forms of social participation will predict more of the variance in health outcomes than any measure on its own. What are the implications for practitioners? Enhancing the social participation of older adults is a key factor in successful aging that many older adults value. However, many service provision organisations tend to focus on meeting the specific physical needs of clients, rather than targeting services that connect older adults with their community. Targeting social participation may present one of the greatest opportunities to improve older adults' general health, and will also generate societal benefits by increasing community contributions from this group. Selecting an indicator of social participation that measures each of the three concepts overviewed in this paper will enable policy makers to identify the areas in which social interventions for older adults will have the most effect.

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Social participation as an indicator of successful aging: an overview of concepts and their associations with health.

"Productive aging" puts forward the fundamental view that the capacity of older adults must be better developed and utilized in activities that make economic contributions to society-working, caregiving, volunteering. It is suggested that productive engagement can lead to multiple positive ends: offsetting fiscal strains of a larger older population, contributing to the betterment of families and civil society, and maintaining the health and economic security of older adults. Advocates claim that outdated social structures and discriminatory behaviors limit participation of older adults in these important social roles as well as prevent the optimization of outcomes for older adults, families, and society. We ask two important questions: (a) How can we shape policies and programs to optimally engage the growing resources of an aging population for the sake of society and older adults themselves? and (b) How can policies pertaining to productive engagement reduce health and economic disparities? We answer these questions by first describing the current state of engagement in each of the three productive activities and summarize some current policies and programs that affect engagement. Next we highlight challenges that cross-cut productive engagement. Finally, we provide policy recommendations to address these challenges.

Increasing Opportunities for the Productive Engagement of Older Adults: A Response to Population Aging

Purpose of the Study: This study explores (a) whether retirees’ formal volunteer experiences represent an extension of their career in the paid workforce; and (b) how this integration of life roles affects career self-concept, as interpreted through Donald Super’s life-span, life-space theory of career development. Design and Methods: A survey was conducted involving a Canadian sample of 214 individuals aged 55–75 years to examine retirees’ volunteer activities and their sense of self. Results: The results demonstrate the need to further develop Super’s theory with the addition of a new developmental stage, which I am labeling “Redirection” to better reflect postretirement experiences. During “Redirection,” retirees develop a “new self.” Implications: This study indicates that retirees experienced a new stage of “Redirection” and found new meaning through volunteer work during retirement. The results will be of interest to professionals and researchers focused on career development, older workers, and retirement.

Redirection: An Extension of Career During Retirement

An innovative housing model that provides integrated support services to a mixed community of adults with physical, developmental, and mental health needs demonstrates how the use of social and personal space intersects with social participation levels. Case study findings from the first two years of this five-year research project at Reena Community Residence will report on the lived experience of a diverse, multigenerational population as they transition from various residential settings and connect to a new “intentional community with supports.” It is important when considering housing for older adults who are aging in place to recognize that these tenants with special needs age much earlier than the rest of the population. Tenant responses define their personal space and environmental fit. Emerging levels of social participation are being recognized by the tenants as life-changing events.

Exploring the Connection Between Personal Space and Social Participation

The Canadian workforce is ageing and there is greater labor force participation among older adults. These unprecedented shifts require business and industry to examine the talent management of older workers while considering their career development. In fact, a top strategic issue facing organizations is the talent management of the ageing workforce such as the recruitment, retention, training and development, and career progression of older workers. This chapter examines the career development of older workers and talent management policy in organizations through a critical lens in order to shift the discourse surrounding work and ageing. This approach can support the labor force participation of older workers and their career development needs while also strengthening talent management within organizations.

Talent Management and Older Workers: Later Life Career Development

Intergenerational education brings young and old together for learning. Studies have produced only limited information about the experiences of participants and the potential benefits these programs may provide. Multi-age cohorts learning or associating outside of family context are quite rare, and even rarer in a setting where all age groups are learners. This paper expands on the doctoral research conducted by one of the authors. It introduces the concept of intergenerational learning and uses empirical interviews from a project of intergenerational learning in a high school music program as well as anonymous quotes from students and seniors engaged in intergenerational learning in an undergraduate university class. Findings are that formal classroom environment facilitates learning and connection through regular interaction. The act of learning together has a positive influence on seniors and younger students, changing stereotypes on both sides. We conclude by suggesting what this means for adult education.

Suzanne L. Cook

Papers

The benefits associated with volunteering among seniors: : A critical review and recommendations for future research

Redirection: An Extension of Career During Retirement

Exploring the Connection Between Personal Space and Social Participation

Talent Management and Older Workers: Later Life Career Development

Pedagogy for an aging world: Intergenerational learning and association