Volunteer: Do what you like, and help others

You know that helping a neighbor or friend in need makes you feel better. But maybe you didn’t know that volunteering could also be good for you.

A study published in the Journals of Gerontology indicates that seniors who volunteer have significantly lower mortality rates than those who don’t volunteer.

Health, habits, faith and social support can impact mortality rates as well; but volunteering is a good way for you to connect with people, says Mary Jo Ball, Good Samaritan Society resident services manager.

 “Volunteering gives people something to do and a reason to get out of bed. It can help them avoid isolation and becoming withdrawn,” she says.

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