Live with Purpose - February 27, 2025
By Catie Ramos
At Goodwin Living, community volunteers play an essential role in enriching the lives of residents and assist in upholding our mission to support, honor and uplift older adults. At Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads (GHBC), we have opportunities for weekend volunteers to lead activities on higher levels of living (Assisted Living, Memory Care and Health Care), which supports engagement and quality of life.
To learn how you can spread your love and passion for volunteering by spending time with residents at GHBC, keep reading!
Volunteers enjoy participating in a variety of activities that bring joy and fun for both residents and volunteers of all ages on Saturdays and Sundays:
One of the simplest ways to volunteer is by socializing with residents over cookies, drinks, or even a favorite at GHBC: frozen yogurt! Goodwin Living residents have worked in a variety of professions, traveled throughout the world and have an abundance of experiences and knowledge to share. Socializing encourages making connections and provides the opportunity to learn from one another.
Volunteers who would like to lead a pre-created online activity have the option of leading a variety of games or themed trivia sessions. Our iN2L (“It’s Never Too Late”) device is a touchscreen TV that offers a library of games, music and publications that support wellness. Volunteers can engage residents in group settings through activities on the iN2L, including travel, word games, puzzles, trivia and more, based on the interests of the volunteer.
Residents enjoy learning and acquiring new knowledge about the culture and traditions of volunteers. This may include leading a discussion and sharing photos from the volunteer’s country of origin, sharing a special holiday or tradition, or leading a meaningful dialogue about the volunteer’s background and experiences.
An essential component of aging is supporting physical and mental wellness. Residents benefit from seated movement classes, allowing them to incorporate movement into their daily routine. This may include seated cardio movements, such as marching in place, hand weight exercises to build upper body strength and seated meditation. Volunteers who have an interest in wellness can collaborate with our team to develop programs that would best support residents.
Volunteers who enjoy fostering creativity are welcome to bring their vision of art to life. This may include art through painting, drawing, or even flower arranging! Volunteers who would like to lead residents in an artistic activity guide participants in the step-by-step process, allowing them to create something beautiful they can bring with them to their apartment once the activity ends.
A unique aspect of volunteering at Goodwin Living is that the activities our weekend volunteers lead can be tailored to the volunteer’s interests! For example, if you love gardening, you can showcase your garden through photos and tell residents about the flowers and plants that you have lovingly grown. If you love history, you can lead an engaging discussion about your favorite topics from the past.
Research has found that volunteering at various ages throughout each stage of life has unique benefits. Benefits for student volunteers, in particular, include an increased sense of social responsibility, which encompasses building awareness of people and society around them and building social skills. Additionally, volunteering expands students’ awareness of future career paths, including helping students to consider possible career options based on residents’ experiences. The opportunity for students to learn in a non-classroom setting allows them to develop academic skills within a different environment, in this case, a senior living community. Intergenerational connections created through volunteering at GHBC allow young people and older adults to come together, forming meaningful relationships.
For older adults, we can consider the benefits of volunteering through the lens of dimensions of wellness. At Goodwin Living, we have identified six areas of wellness that are most relevant to older adults. These areas are built off those identified by the International Council on Active Aging and resident input:
A literature review on volunteering after retirement conducted in England found that volunteering offered benefits that fit within several of these dimensions, including mental wellness, physical wellness and social wellness. Specific areas that were positively impacted include quality of life, pride, empowerment, motivation, social support, and a sense of community. Another systematic research review found that there is a potential connection between volunteering and enhancing cognitive performance among older adults. The benefits may include preventing cognitive deterioration and improving cognitive impairment through social interaction and intellectual stimulation.
And the best reason to volunteer at Goodwin Living?
Our welcoming and inclusive community will warmly embrace you as part of our team to lead fun and engaging activities!
We welcome families and all ages to spend part of their weekend at Goodwin Living to lead activities that support residents’ wellness and well-being. Volunteers can lead a 45 to 60-minute activity on a Saturday or Sunday between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The schedule can be set based on the volunteer’s availability. To learn more about volunteering at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, complete this 90-second form, and we would love to chat with you!
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Catie Ramos, LNHA, MHA has a background in education and transitioned to serving older adults at Goodwin Living in 2018. As the GHBC Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, she is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections with residents, families and team members, creating a positive and supportive environment. Committed to excellence in senior living and healthcare, she continues to expand her knowledge through ongoing education and professional growth. Catie is a GHBC volunteer who leads weekend activities in Assisted Living and teaches fitness classes for Independent Living residents as a Certified Group Fitness Instructor. She also enjoys spending time with her two nephews and niece, often incorporating them into her volunteer work at GHBC to foster intergenerational connections.
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