Volunteer base shifts as seniors age
OTTAWA, ON—Fewer Canadians now report volunteering on a regular basis than they did 12 years ago. But those who do are giving an average of 20 minutes more time.
These were the recent findings of The General Social Survey, which provides a snapshot of how Canadians spend their time on any given day.
While it found the percentage of people who regularly volunteered had dropped from 18 per cent in 1998 to 17 per cent in 2010, the largest drop was in those over the age of 65. Volunteerism among those aged 65-75 and those 75-plus both dropped by three per cent.
"Many who would like to volunteer may not have the capacity," says Paula Speevak Sladowski of Volunteer Canada. "Increased care-giving demands, caused by shorter hospital stays and less homecare, can limit the capacity of seniors to participate."
A greater number of seniors are now acting as caregivers. Canadian Social Trends reports more than one in 12 seniors are now providing care for an aging or ailing peer. Twenty-five per cent are caring for a spouse, 33 per cent are caring for a close friend and 19 per cent are caring for a neighbour.
Ruth Somerville of Cornwall, Ontario, works with a group of volunteers to provide a community meal at the Agape Centre on statutory holidays. The group, called Feed My Sheep, was formed out of Knox-St. Paul United Church.
"The volunteers have changed over the years, mostly because their health won't allow them to continue," Somerville says. "Young people are interested in coming, but retired people are the majority of the group."
There are also generational differences in volunteering.
"A desire to help the community is a motivator for many volunteers," Speevak Sladowski says, "but life circumstances also affect motivation. Youth may need to develop skills, while seniors may be looking for a social network and an outlet for their wisdom and experience."
She adds that drops in senior volunteer rates may also be due to more of them staying longer in the workforce.
Ruth Pentinga, director of volunteer resources at Yonge Street Mission, says they have benefited from an increase in corporate sponsor volunteerism, where companies encourage their employees to volunteer during work hours.
The General Social Survey is intended to provide a snapshot of what Canadians are doing on any given day. While only 17 per cent reported to have volunteered recently when polled, the 2007 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating did find 46 per cent of Canadians report volunteering at some time during the year.
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