Volunteer Programs for Older Americans

There are three programs designed specifically for older American volunteers that are sponsored by ACTION, an independent agency of the Federal Governments. They are the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), the Senior Companion Program (SCP), and the Retired Senior Volunteer/Program (SVP).

To be eligible to participate in both the Foster Grandparent and the Senior Companion programs, people must be 60 years of age or older, retired, and have a low family income. The participants volunteer 4 hours per day, 5 days a week, receive a small stipend, transportation, and other assistance. Foster Grandparents work with children who have special needs, such as a physical handicap. Volunteers in the Senior Companion program work with the, elderly, who may live either in their own homes or in institutions. The volunteers help with shopping, meal preparation, errands, and, generally offer companionship.

The third volunteer program, RSVP, is for all older, retired people. The volunteers do not receive a stipend, but are reimbursed for expenses directly associated with their volunteer activity and some volunteers receive meals as well. Unlike the other two ACTION programs, Federal money for RSVP goes largely to establish community offices that act as clearinghouses for volunteers. The range of volunteer activities “varies among localities, depending upon community needs.

Close to 17,000 older Americans participate in the Foster Grandparent program and another 3,000 to 4,000 are in the Senior Companion Program. The volunteers in these two programs have very similar characteristics: in both cases, 85 percent are women, about two-thirds are not married, and about two-thirds live alone.

Approximately 300,000 volunteers are in the RSVP program. Close to 80 percent are volunteerism among older women, about two-thirds of these women are not married and close to 60 percent live alone. Taken altogether, volunteers in these three ACTION programs are approximately 1 percent of the population 60 years or older.

This overview of participation in volunteer activities in America provides a backdrop to the question—why do some people volunteer while others do not? The next section presents a framework for addressing these questions.