It makes me realize maybe I'm giving instead of taking. Fred Doubleday, retired taxi owner and driver, now a home delivered meals driver for the Thompson Senior Center. In his book, The Healing Power of Doing Good, Allan Luks elaborates on the health and spiritual benefits of direct service. According to Luks, this results in a feeling of euphoria, followed by calm and increased self-esteem. This has positive effects on health problems, similar to the effects of meditation and relaxation.
Employers benefit directly and indirectly.
Those providing healthcare benefits to retirees have a vested interest in encouraging active lifestyles to promote physical and emotional wellbeing. Employees at local businesses have their stress reduced by volunteers' efforts in a number of ways. Workers with relatives living at a nursing home know that their own visits are complimented by volunteers like June Greene at Brookside. As Debbie Paradis, Activities Director explains, some residents can't go places but they still like to hear what's going on. Volunteers are a bridge to the outside world.