El Día de Acción de Gracias no es la única época del año para ser voluntario: los estudios muestran los sorprendentes beneficios sociales y físicos de “retribuir”. Para voluntarios como Cathy Lonas y Bob O’Neill, es casi un mantra: Recibo mucho más de lo que doy!
Beneficios físicos de ser voluntario
Tome la salud física. Un estudio de cuatro años de la Universidad Carnegie Mellon de 1164 adultos de 51 a 91 años de todo EE. UU. mostró que los voluntarios tenían un 40 por ciento menos de probabilidades de desarrollar hipertensión en comparación con los no voluntarios.
No importaba el tipo de voluntariado; solo el tiempo invertido fue un factor según la Dra. Rodlescia Sneed. El tiempo de voluntariado informado por los sujetos del estudio fue de 200 horas al año.
Punto crítico de voluntariado
“Un estudio dirigido por el Instituto de Investigación Rotman de Canadá mostró que unas dos horas a la semana de voluntariado parece ser el ‘punto óptimo’ para obtener beneficios…”
Otro problema interesante: parece haber un punto de inflexión después del cual ya no se obtienen mayores beneficios. Un estudio dirigido por el Instituto de Investigación Rotman de Canadá mostró que unas dos horas a la semana de voluntariado parece ser el “punto óptimo” para obtener beneficios como una mejor salud general, menos limitaciones funcionales, menos síntomas de depresión, mayor longevidad… y hay incluso menos fracturas de cadera entre los adultos mayores que se ofrecen como voluntarios.
Cómo ser voluntario
Encontrar oportunidades de voluntariado es tan fácil como ingresar “Oportunidades de voluntariado cerca de ____” con el nombre de su ciudad o pueblo. Incluso los pueblos con poblaciones de menos de 6000 habitantes ofrecen oportunidades.
No se deje abrumar por las opciones. El desafío es alinear sus intereses, habilidades, tiempo disponible y preferencias. Pregúntese:
- ¿Quiero trabajar con adultos, niños o animales?
- ¿Qué causa me importa más?
- ¿Qué habilidades tengo que me gusta utilizar?
- ¿Cuánto tiempo, energía y esfuerzo estoy dispuesto a gastar? ¿Necesitaré un coche? ¿Trabajar de noche?
- ¿Quiero estar “detrás de escena” o al frente?
Voluntariado remoto – con nosotros!
Algo nuevo: el voluntariado a distancia se ha convertido en algo habitual. Cathy Lonas y Bob O’Neill de Senior Planet son ejemplos.
Cathy Lonas
Cuando las ubicaciones comenzaron a reabrir, Cathy Lonas (a la izquierda) se unió a los voluntarios que hicieron llamadas de buenas noticias desde casa para informar a los demás participantes de que las clases de Senior Planet en persona se estaban reiniciando. Fue un trabajo gratificante. “¡Tuve unas conversaciónes maravillosa con los participantes!” dice Lonas.
Bob O’Neill
Después de retirarse de una carrera de 45 años en Wall Street, Bob O’Neill (a la derecha) literalmente tropezó con un centro de Senior Planet, entró para averiguar de qué se trataba y se inscribió en una clase. “Era sobre geneaología, y fue maravilloso”, dice.
Siguieron más clases y cuando hubo un llamado para voluntarios, O’Neill se ofreció a ayudar en el centro para asegurarse de que todo transcurriera sin problemas.
Luego vinieron los confinamientos. Senior Planet se volvió remoto, al igual que O’Neill.
Como coanfitrión remoto, O’Neill es una parte vital de las clases de ejercicio y meditación de Senior Planet. Le gusta el trabajo. Lo que lo hace tan especial es la comparación con su experiencia laboral anterior.
“En Wall Street, su título, el dinero que ganes y a quién conoces es lo que más importa, usted no importas”. ¿Y en Senior Planet? “Es al revés. No hay títulos, el dinero es irrelevante y usted importas. De hecho, eso es todo lo que importa: ¡Usted! él dice.
“No había comunidad en el piso de operaciones de Wall Street”, añade. “Ninguno. Su posición en el orden jerárquico importaba; usted no importaba. ¿Y en Senior Planet? “Es al revés. Usted importa. Realmente llegamos a conocernos y cada persona importa. Es una comunidad real”.
“Debido a que el 75 % de los asistentes son habituales, somos una comunidad que realmente se llega a conocer…”
O’Neill señala que lo que era cierto cuando las personas se reunían en persona en Senior Planet, un sentido de comunidad, sigue siendo cierto en las clases remotas. “Debido a que el 75 % de los asistentes son habituales, somos una comunidad que realmente se llega a conocer”, dice. “Esperamos las conversaciones antes y después de la clase tanto como esperamos las clases”.
Algunos también se conocen en persona. O’Neill disfruta contando que dos asistentes en Hawái se enteraron de que vivían a pocas cuadras de distancia, lo que provocó planes para una reunión en persona.
O’Neill también ha disfrutado de cenas con amigos de Senior Planet que conoció en clases, todas experiencias inmensamente gratificantes. Así que no sorprende que, consciente de sus décadas en Wall Street, repita el mantra de los voluntarios, pero con un giro adicional. “Recibo mucho más de lo que doy: recupero mi propia humanidad”.
Si está interesado en ser voluntario en persona en uno de nuestros Centros, ¡puede presentar su solicitud aquí!
Si está interesado en oportunidades de voluntariado virtual, puede convertirse en un Partidario de Senior Planet haciendo una donación de cualquier cantidad. Una vez que sea un Partidario, se le enviarán oportunidades de voluntariado virtual durante todo el año (mínimo una vez por trimestre). ¡Haga clic aquí para donar y profundizar en la experiencia Senior Planet!
Nona Aguilar es una escritora premiada de numerosos artículos de revistas y dos libros. También ha editado cuatro publicaciones especializadas en boletines comerciales. Su trabajo ha aparecido en Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Family Circle y Cosmopolitan, y en The Business Owner.
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