A colleague just shared the Washington Post article: “Taking steps to establish a National Volunteer Care Corps to help older adults” with me and I am just thrilled to see this happening. Creating a sustainable volunteer force is badly needed.
The National Volunteer Care Corps is a great beginning!
I think that this is an excellent beginning. I think the stats in the article are a bit understated, however. By 2046 the first of Millennials will begin turning 65 just as the first of the Boomers begin turning 85. This means that by 2050 the numbers of older adults in the U.S. will be approaching 100 million. In other words, we are just at the foot of the Mt Everest.
Every possible resource will be needed to support an ever-aging population. Now is time to start exploring and exploiting every possible resource to include what I call “super” volunteers, i.e., highly committed, self-starters looking for ways to give back to their community. I’ve been training volunteers at this level for about 25 years.
The time for creating a sustainable volunteer force is now!
Without a doubt creating a sustainable volunteer force is hard work and requires expert leadership. Yes, recruiting is tough but setting the bar low only leads to failure. Set the bar high and you will find people that can jump that high. Yes, there will be a fair amount of attrition right up front, but the people that make it through the vetting and training process do not quit. I know this from experience.
Shifting paradigms
Shifting the mentality about volunteers in the U.S. will not be easy but it is necessary if we are to have even a fighting chance for addressing the needs of 100 million older adults.
Recruiting too…
And to finish, how many people started in long-term care support services as volunteers? I haven’t found any research exploring this question but after 25 years, my guess would be a majority of them. I’m one of them. So, in addition to meeting the needs of older adults wherever they may be living, volunteer programs become a great recruiting tool as well.
As for the “nay-sayers,” my attitude is that there is always going to be that cohort of negative people telling us it can’t be done. I know, they told me that for 25 years. I recruited and trained over 700 volunteers for nursing homes in the meanwhile.
Your comments are welcome…
I welcome your comments and I would encourage you to read my book, “Creating a Volun-Cheer Force” If you’re looking for a keynote speaker or workshop presentation addressing volunteering, working with older adults or the aging well, please contact me.
