Twenty-seven percent stated that their age was a reason that they did not volunteer. Seniors have the time to help, if given an opportunity. When all adults were surveyed, they cited other time commitments as the major reason why they were not able to volunteer. This was not the case for seniors. Seniors were less likely to say that their personal schedule was too full to volunteer than their younger counterparts.
Various institutions are very important to encouraging volunteerism.
Most frequently, senior volunteers found out about their volunteering options through their religious institution. Membership organizations, places of employment, and other voluntary organizations are also places where seniors found out about volunteering. By asking someone to volunteer, you are reaching out to them and involving them in the community. People who are asked to volunteer do so at a much higher rate than if they were not asked. Only 38 percent of seniors were asked to volunteer in the past year.