Ask a handful of volunteers about their motivation for donating their time and energy, and you'll likely get a slew of different answers. Whatever their reasons for volunteering, it's clear that the process of giving back to their community is a rewarding one. Even aside from the satisfaction of making a positive difference in the world, it turns out that volunteering comes with a host of other benefits, some of which are a lot more tangible and long-lasting than you might initially think.
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There are a lot of benefits to making your home more energy efficient. First and foremost, an energy efficient home will save you money, both in terms of the cash you'll save on utility bills and the increased resale value of your home. Moreover, energy efficient buildings are more environmentally friendly, as they tend to use less power and resources. Further, in the event that you're ever without power—such as during a blackout caused by a storm or natural disaster—energy efficient houses will stay comfortable for longer.
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Read more: How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient and Comfortable
Good mental health is an essential part of being able to live a fulfilled, functional life. This is true for seniors as much as it is for anyone else. However, as they age, many individuals are at an increased risk for mental health issues due to changes in their lives and situations. Factors such as reduced mobility, health conditions and chronic pain, grief, and financial troubles can result in isolation and depression in senior citizens.
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Imagine your parents or grandparents standing in the supermarket and trying to make a decision: do they buy groceries for the week, or pay for a prescription medication? It's an impossible choice—whichever option they choose, their health and well-being will suffer.
And yet, millions of seniors are faced with this choice on a regular basis. 63% of seniors who visit food banks reported not being able to afford both food and medical care. In 2019, a total of 5.2 million seniors (or 7.1% of the 60+ population) dealt with hunger, and some estimates predict that that number will increase in the coming years.
What Causes Hunger Among Senior Citizens?
There are a variety of factors at play when it comes to the issue of food access for seniors. And while each individual's situation is different, the following circumstances are frequently tied to food insecurity and hunger among senior citizens:
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Read more: Food Access for Seniors: What You Need to Know to Help Your Loved Ones
Unless you own a toilet paper factory, you'd be hard pressed to find someone whose finances and/or livelihood weren't negatively impacted by COVID-19. Now, two years after the first wave of lockdowns in the United States, the economic effects of the pandemic are still being felt by families and individuals across the country in spite of the significant strides made toward recovery.
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