Volunteering and Healthy Lifestyle Definition of Health according

Volunteering and Healthy Lifestyle Definition of Health according the World Health Organization (WHO) The WHO goal is for all people to have the highest possible level of health. Health is described as physical, mental and social well-being, and not just the absence of sickness.

Balanced Health Emotional Health Something Important to Do Physical Health Social Health

True or False? Feeling ill affects your social life.

True or False? True: When you feel sick, you don’t feel like going out. People stay away because they don’t want to get sick.

Benefits of Volunteering Fact: Senior volunteers benefit from social support. • Many seniors are at risk for social isolation and agingrelated stresses. • Research suggests that volunteering increases social activity and social networks and reduces isolation and dependency.

True or False? Staying at home all the time affects your heart health.

True or False? True: Your heart is a muscle. It needs exercise. Getting out of the house on a regular basis… • Keeps you more active • Increases your ability to move • Is good for your heart and other muscles

Benefits of Volunteering Fact: Senior volunteers build houses and do home repairs, help do grocery shopping, drive others, and deliver meals to frail elders.

True or False? What you eat can affect how happy you are.

True or False? True: A balanced diet is important for your body’s chemicals to work together properly.

Benefits of Volunteering Fact: Senior volunteers learn about nutrition when they are concerned with food for others. They learn about special diets for diabetes and lowering cholesterol. They also benefit from healthy meals at meal-sites and program-sponsored events.

True or False? Stress can make you depressed.

True or False? True: Stress takes energy from other important things you want to do. It can make you feel tired and ‘blue’.

Benefits of Volunteering Fact: The regular physical and social activities of volunteering reduce stress by helping you sleep well at night and not sleep during the day, avoid overeating or not eating at all, and keeping you involved with others, which helps you share your concerns.

True or False? Being alone challenges you to think harder.

True or False? False: Being alone a lot narrows your point of view. Mental processes are reduced. Memory can be affected.

Benefits of Volunteering Learning Volunteers steadily gain skills in these areas the more they volunteer: • Interpersonal • Communication • Knowledge • Managerial • Fundraising • Technical or office skills

Benefits of Volunteering Learning also… • Makes you feel good about yourself • Makes someone else feel good for having taught you • Makes you feel capable to pass along information to someone else

Balanced Health Emotional Health Volunteer! Physical Health Social Health

References Tess Scannell, Director, CNCS Senior Corps http: //www. whcoa. gov/about/policy/meetings/summar y/tess%20 remarksdec 102004. pdf Volunteering can enhance seniors' social support networks, contributing to their physical and psychological health. http: //www. phac-aspc. gc. ca/vssb/voluntarysector/benefits 1 c. html What can volunteering do for you? http: //www. timebank. org. uk/aboutgiving/benefits_ vol. htm

References Helper's high: volunteering makes people feel good, physically and emotionally Psychology Today, Oct, 1988 by Allan Luks Secret Benefits of Generosity THE GIVING HEART by M. J. Ryan Internet excerpt