The Brain Health Benefits of Volunteering in Your Community

Volunteering in your community with an organization you support or mission you love can improve your brain health! Volunteering can…

• Improve memory
• Improve cognitive flexibility
• Increase focus
• Help prevent dementia onset

Additional Benefits of Volunteer Work

Volunteering also provides many physical and social benefits, which are also great for the brain! Volunteering can…

• Improve overall mental health
• Decrease stress, depression and loneliness
• Lower blood pressure
• Increase a sense of purpose
• Increase social support and interaction
• Reduce the frequency of hospitalization
• Increase the ability to carry out activities for daily living

Overall, “studies have shown that volunteering is associated with a 24% reduction in mortality risk for older adults.” Isn’t that amazing??

Ideas for Getting Involved in Your Community

Volunteering needs to be regular, with a recommended minimum of two hours per week in order for benefits to materialize. Finding a volunteer opportunity that incorporates something you are passionate about will make you want to volunteer more often!

• Walk the dogs at a local animal shelter
• Help clean up your local parks or beaches
• Become more active in your church
• Be a mentor at a community youth center
• Help feed the hungry or work at a local food bank
• Become a reading tutor for children
• Help veterans through your local USO chapter or a veterans nonprofit
• Volunteer with a Red Cross disaster services team
• Become a guide at a local museum

Why Not Start Today?

The evidence is clear: volunteering is good for you and good for your community! I encourage you to find a way to get involved today!

If you liked this information, I invite you to check out next month’s blog post for another great cognitive health tip!