3 tips for volunteering with elderly people
Many elderly or sick people are dependent on support. This is not only true for single senior citizens, but also for those who already live in old people’s and nursing homes. Often the nursing staff does not have enough time for long conversations, a walk or a game together and so the life of many elderly people is not only monotonous, but also lonely. Conducting volunteering activities with elderly people can change that.
That is why our volunteer platform brings together numerous opportunities that invite you to get involved for and with seniors. For example, organising joint play evenings and reading aloud in the senior citizens’ home or accompanying excursions, for example to the theatre. So that you can decide whether a commitment with and for older people is the right thing for you, we have summarised three important points that you should know and observe when working with senior citizens.
1. Be open
If you are looking for volunteering with elderly people, according to Cathrin Redlin, Head of Social Services at former Caritas Nursing Home St. Josefsheim you should be prepared to “meet older people with very different and individual backgrounds, some of whom have lived through terrible experiences (war, hunger, death of children and spouses, …). It is important to be open and empathetic, to be patient and a good listener, or sometimes to simply be there and maybe even grieve with them.“
2. Pay attention
Most residents in nursing homes, explains Cathrin Redlin, “are very old and often suffer from various illnesses. Some of them are already very sick, they are bedridden and in some cases hardly responsive. It is important to pay particular attention to that person. Do they want you to read a story? What are their expressions like – do they seem relaxed or tense, do they enjoy physical contact (e.g. touching hands or shoulders)? If you are insecure, you can always speak to someone from the nursing and care staff.”
3. Suggest activities
Most residents are happy to talk and to do activities (e.g. baking, explaining the use of the Internet or going on walks as there is usually little time left in the nursing and care routine). This is a moment to be creative and to come up with ideas yourself.
You want to get involved with seniors?
Then have a look at vostel.de and discover numerous projects for and with seniors!
More tips and information on volunteering you will find in our volunteer guide or through our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). Here we will keep you up to date on everything important in the world of volunteering! So feel free to drop in there as well! 🙂
Your team from vostel.de
Hello, am very interested in volunteering in old people homes
Hey Joyce. As stated in the blog article, you can check out all volunteering opportunities for elderly people here: https://vostel.de/en/volunteering/projects?german_language_skills=basic_knowledge&target_group%5B0%5D=seniors
Please note that you need to already live in Germany in order to apply for a volunteering job. In case you have any further questions, please write an e-mail to hello@vostel.de. Thank you 🙂
Hello, am very interested in volunteering in old people homes I live in Neuss but I’m a asylumseeker can I work
Hello Festus, it’s great to read that you are looking for volunteering with elderly people. Your status as an asylumseeker should not be a problem.
On our website vostel.de you can look for projects and get in contact with the respective non-profit organisation that you like to support. At the moment there is no project directly in Neuss but you can find plenty in Cologne. You can see all projects here.
I hope you have a great time volunteering!
Sebastian