15. Volunteerism
While the "retirement" years are traditionally viewed as a time for recreation and leisure, it also offers the opportunity to actively engage in the community. Volunteerism provides opportunities for individuals to be productive, while serving to strengthen and improve communities. As an ATW focus area, volunteerism is defined as meaningful unpaid service within a wide range of civic and educational settings. Such services may include participation in formal programs (e.g., Foster Grandparents) to informal activity such as providing a ride for a neighbor.
Between 70 to 80 percent of older Texans responding to the survey have volunteered in some capacity at some time. About half are currently volunteering, and others have volunteered in the past.
Table 15.1 Participation in Volunteer Activities
| Do you currently perform volunteer work…or have you in the past? |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Never volunteered |
19% |
26% |
| Volunteer currently |
42% |
53% |
| Volunteered in the past, but not now |
39% |
20% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
Respondents were asked about two kinds of volunteering:
- "an organized volunteer program run by a group or organization" and
- "volunteer work without being a member of an organized program by helping others on a recurring basis (monthly); such as cooking for a neighbor or taking someone to a medical appointment"
Most of those who ever volunteered had worked in organized and unorganized settings at one time or another. Current volunteers were most likely to be serving in unorganized settings, although there was a statistically significant increase in the number working in both settings in 2008. Former volunteers were also most like to have served in both settings. See tables on the next page.
Table 15.2 Organized and Informal Volunteering
| Organized program or helping others |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| All who ever volunteered |
|
|
| Only ever volunteered in organized program |
12% |
18% |
| Only ever volunteered informally [21] |
24% |
20% |
| Volunteered both ways, at some time |
64% |
62% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
| Current Volunteers |
|
|
| Organized program only |
20% |
21% |
| Informally only |
48% |
40% |
| Volunteer both ways |
31% |
39% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
| Former Volunteers |
|
|
| Volunteered in organized program only |
13% |
33% |
| Volunteered informally only |
22% |
22% |
| Previously volunteered both ways |
65% |
45% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
Current Volunteers
Current volunteers participate in a variety of activities and services.
Table 15.3 Types of Volunteer Activities
| What is the primary type of volunteer activity or service you currently perform? |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Provide a service directly to individuals |
81% |
53% |
| Clerical services |
4% |
8% |
| Professional services |
14% |
16% |
| Other – specify [22] |
2% |
22% |
| Total |
10% |
100% |
Some older volunteers in Texas have only been participating in activities for a few years, while more than one-third are veteran volunteers who report serving for more than 20 years.
Table 15.4 Time as a Volunteer
| How long have you been volunteering? |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Less than 6 months |
6% |
2% |
| Less than 1 year |
5% |
4% |
| 1 to 5 years |
33% |
31% |
| 6 to 10 years |
14% |
13% |
| 11 to 20 years |
8% |
13% |
| More than 20 years |
33% |
37% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
Older volunteers vary with respect to the amount of time they spend in volunteer activities and programs.
Table 15.5 Volunteer Hours per Month
| About how many hours do you volunteer per month? |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Less than 5 hours |
25% |
26% |
| 5-10 hours |
35% |
35% |
| 10-20 hours |
20% |
17% |
| 20-40 hours |
12% |
13% |
| More than 40 hours |
9% |
10% |
| (*) Total |
100% |
100% |
Individuals choose to volunteer their time in the community for a variety of reasons. Almost half reported the desire to help others. Other reasons for volunteering are shown in the next table.
Table 15.6 Reasons for Volunteering
| What was the primary influence on your decision to become a volunteer? |
Percent of correspondents 2004 |
Percent of correspondents 2008 |
| I was looking for something to do |
3% |
6% |
| I just want to help people [23] |
65% |
52% |
| Someone asked me |
11% |
7% |
| I wanted to put my knowledge/skills to good use in community |
8% |
10% |
| It helps me feel needed |
6% |
7% |
| Wanted to contribute to solution of social/health/cultural problem |
5% |
7% |
| Other, specify |
2% |
11% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
Current volunteers learn of opportunities from many sources, especially from friends, or actively seek activities to participate in organizations that they have a personal interest or connection with. Some may help others through specific organizations (e.g., Alzheimer's Association) after personal experience (e.g., loved ones who have lived with the disease).
Table 15.7 Learning about Volunteer Opportunities
| What was the primary influence on your decision to become a volunteer? |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Formal presentation |
5% |
3% |
| Advertisement |
5% |
4% |
| Internet |
0% |
1% |
| Mail |
0% |
0% |
| Sought out a volunteer opportunity at specific organization |
17% |
20% |
| Word-of-mouth, friend [24] |
73% |
57% |
| Other, specify |
0% |
15% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
Previous Volunteers
People stop volunteering for a number of reasons. Among the one-third of older Texans who are not currently volunteers, but who have volunteered in the past, personal health and time commitments were the primary reasons for termination of volunteerism.
Respondents gave various reasons for the decision to stop volunteering
Table 15.8 Deciding to Stop Volunteering
| What is the primary reason you stopped volunteering? |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Travel related issues (distance, traffic) |
10% |
12% |
| Unhappy with management of volunteer program |
2% |
3% |
| Too much time required |
15% |
19% |
| Out-of-pocket cost |
0% |
3% |
| Disappointed with the volunteer assignment |
3% |
1% |
| Personal health |
38% |
29% |
| Personal age |
16% |
10% |
| Not interested / doesn't have time to volunteer |
8% |
4% |
| Other, specify [25] |
8% |
21% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
Not a Volunteer
There are several reasons that people did not volunteer. Among the almost 40 percent of older Texans who report not volunteering in organized activities, or helping on an informal basis, personal health and time commitments were the primary reasons for not volunteering.
Table 15.9 Choosing not to Volunteer
| What was the primary reason you choose not to volunteer? |
Percent of respondents 2004 |
Percent of respondents 2008 |
| Just do not feel inclined to give my time as a volunteer |
27% |
22% |
| Travel related issues (distance, traffic, no transportation) |
14% |
9% |
| Lack of volunteer options I am interested in |
6% |
3% |
| Orientation and training requirements |
1% |
0% |
| Out-of-pocket cost |
2% |
2% |
| Personal health |
23% |
27% |
| Personal age |
7% |
16% |
| Don't have time to volunteer |
20% |
13% |
| Other, specify |
0% |
9% |
| Total |
100% |
100% |
Some non-volunteers would be interested in becoming a volunteer at some point in the future—26 percent in 2004 and 16 percent in 2008.
When the time came, most respondents felt they would know how to get involved. More than 69 percent in 2008 and 64 percent in 2004 of non-volunteers reported knowing how to find out about volunteer opportunities when they were ready to participate.
Footnotes
- Statistically Significant: Respondents in 2008 were less likely to have only participated in unorganized volunteer activities in the past compared those who responded in 2004.
- Statistically Significant: Respondents in 2008 who had volunteered were more likely to have performed service activities other than
the ones mentioned compared those who responded in 2004.
- Statistically Significant: Respondents in 2008 were less likely to report that their primary influence in deciding to volunteer was that they wanted to help compared to those who responded in 2004.
- Statistically Significant: Respondents in 2008 were more likely to report that they became aware of their volunteer opportunity
through a friend compared to those who responded in 2004.
- Statistically Significant: Respondents in 2008 who no longer volunteered were more likely to say that they stopped volunteering because of other reasons those who listed, compared to those who responded in 2004.
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Updated:
April 11, 2012
