Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Resilience in Aging pp 147–162Cite as

Civic Engagement: Policies and Programs to Support a Resilient Aging Society

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Civic engagement among older adults is gaining attention in both the popular and academic press. As the health and education of aging Americans continue to increase, so does the opportunity to engage this growing population in civic activities aimed at improving communities. At the same time, this engagement has the potential to promote the health and resiliency of older adults. Evidence suggests that volunteering improves health, mental health, and socialization, and is protective in the face of loss and other challenges of later life. Thus, it has a place in the discussion of resilience as defined in this book, the ability to achieve, retain, or regain a level of physical or emotional health after illness or loss. In this chapter, we review the current status of volunteering among older adults in the United States, and we highlight over two decades of research demonstrating the positive association between volunteering and wellbeing of older adults. We then consider the relationship of volunteering to resilience. We review current policies and programs that promote volunteering, and finally, we address challenges to wider participation among the older population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • AARP. (2003). A synthesis of member volunteer experience. Washington, DC: AARP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnstein, P., Vidal, M., Wells-Federman, C., Morgan, B., & Caudill, M. (2002). From chronic pain patient to peer: Benefits and risks of volunteering. Pain Management Nursing, 3(3), 94–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bridgeland, J. M., Putnam, R. D., & Wofford, H. L. (2008). More to give: Tapping the talents of the baby boomer, silent and greatest generations. Washington, DC: AARP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S. L., Brown, M., House, J. S., & Smith, D. M. (2008). Coping with spousal loss: Potential buffering effects of self-reported helping behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34, 849–861.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, M. C., Saczynski, J. S., Rebok, G. W., Seeman, T., Glass, T. A., McGill, S., et al. (2008). Exploring the effects of an “everyday” activity program on executive function and memory in older adults: Experience Corps®. The Gerontologist, 48, 793–801.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caro, F. G., & Bass, S. A. (1995). Increasing volunteering among older people. In S. A. Bass (Ed.), Older and active: How Americans over 55 are contributing to society (pp. 71–96). New Haven, CT: Yale University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casner-Lotto, J. (2007). Boomers are ready for nonprofits, but are nonprofits ready for them? New York, NY: The Conference Board.

    Google Scholar 

  • Center for Health Communication, Harvard School of Public Health. (2004). Reinventing aging: Baby boomers and civic engagement. Boston: Harvard School of Public Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambre, S. (1987). Good deeds in old age. Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath and Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, L. H. (2003). Factors affecting volunteerism among older adults. The Journal of Applied Gerontology, 22(2), 179–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christiano, T. (1996). The rule of many. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Civic Ventures. (2004). Experience after school: Engaging older adults in after-school program: An Experience Corps tool kit. San Francisco, CA: Civic Ventures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cnaan, R. A., Handy, F., & Wadsworth, M. (1996). Defining who is a volunteer: Conceptual and empirical considerations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Quarterly, 25(3), 364–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corporation for National and Community Service. (2007). The health benefits of volunteering: A Review of recent research. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0506_hbr.pdf.

  • Corporation for National and Community Service. (2009). Volunteering in America: 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/national.

  • Eisner, D., Grimm, R. T., Maynard, S., & Washburn, S. (2009). The new volunteer workforce. Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter, 32–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estes, C. L., & Mahakian, J. (2001). The political economy of productive aging. In N. Morrow-Howell, J. E. Hinterlong, & M. N. Sherraden (Eds.), Productive aging: Concepts and challenges. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 197–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster-Bey, J., Grimm, R., & Dietz, N. (2007). Keeping baby boomers volunteering: A research brief on volunteer retention and turnover. Washington, DC: Corporation for National and Community Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, M. (1999). Prime time: How baby boomers will revolutionize retirement and transform America. New York: Public Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fried, L., Carlson, M., Freedman, M., Frick, K., Glass, T., Hill, J., et al. (2004). A social model for health promotion for an aging population: Initial evidence on the Experience Corps Model. Journal of Urban Health, 81, 64–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerontological Society of America. (2005). Civic engagement in an older America. Washington, DC: Gerontological Society of America. Retrieved July 25, 2009, from http://www.civicengagement.org/agingsociety/2005WHCOArec.pdf.

  • Gomperts, J. S. (2007). Toward a bold new policy agenda: Five ideas to advance civic engagement opportunities for older Americans. Generations, 30(4), 85–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenfield, E. A., & Marks, N. F. (2006). Formal volunteering as a protective factor for older adults’ psychological well-being. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 59, S258–S264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Independent Sector. (2000). American Senior Volunteers 2000. Retrieved February 24, 2005, from http://www.indepsec.org/programs/research/senior_volunteers_in_america.html.

  • Koppen, J. (2009). Volunteering perceptions and realities: A national survey of adults aged 18+. Washington, DC: AARP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y., & Ferraro, K. F. (2007). Recovering from spousal bereavement in later life: Does volunteer participation play a role? Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 62, S257–S266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lum, T. Y., & Lightfoot, E. (2005). The effects of volunteering on the physical and mental health of older people. Research on Aging, 27, 31–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mark, M., & Waldman, M. (2002). Recasting retirement: New perspectives on aging and civic engagement. San Francisco, CA: Civic Ventures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, I., Frick, K., Glass, T., Carlson, M., Tanner, E., Ricks, M., et al. (2006). Engaging older adults in high impact volunteering that enhances health: Recruitment and retention in the Experience Corps Baltimore. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 83(5), 941–953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinson, M., & Minkler, M. (2006). Civic engagement and older adults: A critical perspective. The Gerontologist, 46(3), 318–324.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McBride, A. M. (2007). Civic engagement, older adults, and inclusion. Generations, 30(4), 66–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • McBride, A., Gonzales, E., Morrow-Howell, N., & McCrary, S. (2009). A case for stipends. Working paper. St. Louis, MO: Center for Social Development, Washington University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Midlarsky, E. (1991). Helping as coping. In M. Clark (Ed.), Prosocial behavior (pp. 238–264). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moen, P. (1995). A life course approach to post-retirement roles and well-being. In L. Bond, S. Cutler, & A. Grams (Eds.), Promoting successful and productive aging. (pp. 239–256). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moen, P., Dempster-McClain, D., & Williams, R. (1992). Successful aging. American Journal of Sociology, 97, 1612–1638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow-Howell, N. (2007). A longer worklife: The new road to volunteering. Generations, Spring, 63–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., Rozario, P. A., & Tang, F. (2003). Effects of volunteering on the well-being of older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 58B(3), S137–S145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow-Howell, N., Hong, S., & Tang, F. (2009a). Who benefits from volunteering? Variations in perceived benefits. The Gerontologist, 49(1), 91–102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow-Howell, N., Hong, S.-I., McCrary, S., & Blinne, W. (2009b). Experience Corps: Health outcomes of participation (CSD Research Brief 09-09). St. Louis, MO: Center for Social Development, Washington University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musick, M. A., & Wilson, J. (2003). Volunteering and depression: The role of psychological and social resources in different age groups. Social Science & Medicine, 56(2), 259–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Musick, M. A., & Wilson, J. (2008). Volunteers. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musick, M. A., Herzog, A. R., & House, J. S. (1999). Volunteering and mortality among older adults: Findings from a national sample. Journal of Gerontology: Social Science, 54B(3), S173–S180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Council on the Aging. (2006). Respect ability in America: Promising practices in civic engagement among adults 55+. National Council on the Aging. Retrieved July 25, 2009, from http://www.ncoa.org/Downloads/PromisingPracticesReport.pdf.

  • National Governors Association. (2008). Increasing volunteerism among older adults: Benefits and strategies for states. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, G. (2007). Civic engagement on the agenda at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. Generations, 30(4), 101–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omoto, A., Synder, M., & Martino, S. (2000). Volunteerism and the life course. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 22(3), 181–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters-Davis, N. D., Burant, C. J., & Braunschweig, H. M. (2001). Factors associated with volunteer behavior among community dwelling older persons. Activities, Adaptation, & Aging, 26(2), 29–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pillemer, K., & Glasgow, N. (2000). Social integration and aging. In K. Pillemer, P. Moen, E. Wethingon, & N. Glasgow (Eds.), Social integration in the second half of life (pp. 20–47). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Law 111-13. (2009). Retrieved May 30, 2009, from http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.1388.

  • Rozario, P. A. (2007). Volunteering among current cohorts of older adults and baby boomers. Generations, 30(4), 31–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shmotkin, D., Blumstein, T., & Modan, B. (2003). Beyond keeping active: Concomitants of being a volunteer in old-old age. Psychology and Aging, 18, 602–607

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spring, K., Dietz, N., & Grimm, R. (2007). Youth helping America: Leveling the path to participation: Volunteering and civic engagement among youth from disadvantaged circumstances. Washington, D.C.: Corporation for National and Community Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stengel, R. (2008, September 22). A sense of community. Time, 172(12), 48–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugihara, Y., Sugisawa, H., Shibata, H., & Harada, K. (2008). Productive roles, gender, and depressive symptoms: Evidence from a national longitudinal study of late-middle-aged Japanese. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 63B, 227–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, E. J., Xue, Q.-L., Li, T., Carlson, M. C., & Fried, L. P. (2006). Volunteering: A physical activity intervention for older adults – The Experience Corps® Program in Baltimore. Journal of Urban Health, 83(5), 954–969.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tang, F., Morrow-Howell, N., & Hong, S. (2009). Inclusion of diverse older populations in volunteering: The importance of institutional facilitation. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 38(5), 810–827.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2005). Volunteering in the United States, 2005. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2009). Volunteering in the United States, 2008. Washington, DC: United States Department of Labor. Retrieved July 27, 2009, from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/volun.nr0.htm.

  • Van Willigen, M. (2000). Differential benefits of volunteering across the life course. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 55B(5), S308–S318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wuthnow, R. (1991). Act of compassion. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zedlewski, S. R., & Schaner, S. G. (2005). Older adults’ engagement should be recognized and encouraged. The retirement project: Perspectives on productive aging. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Nancy Morrow-Howell

Authors
  1. Nancy Morrow-Howell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Greg O’Neill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jennifer C. Greenfield
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nancy Morrow-Howell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, 21201, Maryland, USA

    Barbara Resnick

  2. Center for the Study of Aging and Human, Duke University, Durham, 27710, North Carolina, USA

    Lisa P. Gwyther

  3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State, Center for Gerontology, Blacksburg, 24061, Virginia, USA

    Karen A. Roberto

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Morrow-Howell, N., O’Neill, G., Greenfield, J.C. (2011). Civic Engagement: Policies and Programs to Support a Resilient Aging Society. In: Resnick, B., Gwyther, L., Roberto, K. (eds) Resilience in Aging. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0232-0_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0232-0_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-0231-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0232-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation