Volunteering can significantly boost mental health and well-being in the middle aged and the elderly, a study found.
Mental and emotional well-being was best among those who were frequent volunteers and worst in those who never offered their help.
Researchers at Southampton and Birmingham universities questioned individuals from 5,000 households across the UK. Those who volunteered regularly scored an average of 6 per cent higher on wellbeing tests across every age group.
Volunteer Jenni Peach is pictured at Southampton Hospital with patient Lizzy earlier this month. So far 27,413 people have pledged a combined total of 1,551,528 hours to the NHS over six months
But when they broke the results down into different age groups they discovered the association between volunteering and well-being only became apparent in those over 40.
Lead author Dr Faiza Tabassum, of Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, said the findings showed it could help older adults to live longer and healthier lives.
She told the Mail: 'There are numerous beneficial effects of volunteering on mental well-being such as having a larger social network, more power and prestige and this in turn leads to better physical and mental health.
'Volunteering may also provide a sense of purpose, particularly for those people who have lost their earnings, because it regularly helps contribute to the maintenance of social networks and this is especially in the case of older people who often live in isolation.
Particularly, with the ageing of the population, it is imperative to develop effective health promotion for this last third of life, so that those living longer are healthier.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall gave their backing to the campaign – saying it would make a ‘real difference’. The pair are pictured visiting the Royal London Hospital in June last year
'Signing up for the Daily Mail's volunteering campaign might provide those groups with greater opportunities for beneficial activities and social contacts, which in turn may have protective effects on health status.'
The findings should come as good news to thousands of volunteers who have already pledged their time to the Daily Mail's campaign this Christmas.
So far 27,413 people have pledged a combined total of 1,551,528 hours to the NHS over six months.
Of these, 15,685 people have pledged three hours a week, while 11,728 have pledged one day a month.
The campaign has been backed by health leaders, unions, celebrities and the Prime Minister. TV presenters Claudia Winkleman and Kate Garraway have both stepped in to help at London hospitals.
The researchers based their analysis on the British Household Panel Survey, which ran every year from 1991 until 2008, before being incorporated into a much larger survey. Around one in five participants said they had volunteered.
Women tended to volunteer more than men, and while almost a quarter of those aged 60 to 74 said they volunteered, this proportion dropped to 17 per cent among the youngest age group.
The positive link between volunteering and mental health became apparent at around the age of 40 and peaked between the ages of 76 to 80, where those who gave their time to help others experienced a 12 per cent boost to mental health.
Sybil Kretzmer, wife of the Mail's legendary former TV critic, Herbert Kretzmer – who as lyricist was a key member of the team that created the global box office hit musical Les Miserables – is a long-time NHS volunteer. Here she urges readers to join her.
The trolley dolly
The Mail's marvellous campaign to boost the numbers of volunteers in the NHS is showing thousands of people what I've been lucky enough to know my whole life – that volunteering is a joyous experience, full of fun and a sense of fulfilment.
Today, I'm a proud Trolley Dolly, wheeling my little mobile 'shop' around the wards.
I've been doing this for more than 25 years at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in Chelsea – but I started volunteering long before that.
My first job was as a 'Candy Striper', which is what they called junior hospital volunteers back in America where I grew up. I wore the traditional pink-and-white striped pinafore and worked at the children's hospital where my mother was a paediatrician.
Sybil Ktretzmerat, a volunteer at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea with patient Noreen Bradley. Ktretzmerat has been a Trolley Dolly for more than 25 years
Ever since, I've been signing up for volunteering duties in one form or another. So it was inevitable that, when I married and moved to London in 1988, I would want to keep on doing it.
The Marsden, a world-renowned institution, was within walking distance from my home. But it was dedicated to cancer, and the very word struck terror in my heart.
When I enquired, I was sent to meet a wonderful lady of the old school, Doryne Castle-Cleary, who took me under her wing. After a few weeks, I was given a weekly slot and paired with a fabulous partner who became my best friend. I was now an official Trolley Dolly. I also joined the gift shop rota.
Over the years I have knelt and prayed with patients, hugged them, listened to them, and cried with them.
We volunteers are sometimes the only non-medical visitors some patients have. They appreciate the opportunity to chat with someone about anything and nothing, especially non-medical topics. I've also been lucky enough to meet many dedicated nurses and doctors at the Royal Marsden.
Sometimes people ask me if it's depressing to be a volunteer in a cancer hospital. Absolutely not! I always say the patients do more for me than I do for them.
Their courage, grace and gratitude is uplifting and contagious. They also help remind me to count my blessings. So join the Mail's campaign, sign up today – and I can guarantee that you will receive more back than you can ever imagine.
Shop ladies
Join the hospital helpforce
Whatever your skills or experience, you can make a valued and lasting impact.
You will join the volunteers working in hospitals or with organisations that support the NHS, such as the Royal Voluntary Service, Marie Curie, British Red Cross, and others.
Join us by pledging your time in 2019 at www.hospitalhelpforce.com and clicking on the ‘pledge now’ box.
Thank you – and welcome aboard!
Maureen Young, 74, has volunteered at South Shields Hospital for 28 years. With fellow volunteer Sue Goddard she runs the hospital's League of Friends shop. Maureen, lives in Cleadon, Tyne and Wear, with husband Alan, 76. She says:
One of the hospital managers recently said they couldn't do without us, which was nice. I started volunteering after we returned from eight years' overseas.
I was lonely and bored, then a friend suggested I take over her slot at the hospital shop. I jumped at the idea.
I'm in at 3pm- 5pm on Mondays to check the stock and see what needs ordering and then back at 7am on Wednesdays and Fridays for two more three-hour stints.
The shop is very well-used and we bank around £3,000 a week. It is entirely staffed by volunteers.
Sue Goddard, 64, a retired accountant, who lives with her husband Ken, 68, a retired chief engineer, in Cleadon, has volunteered there for 12 years. Sue says:
Initially, I started off doing two hours' volunteering a week, but once the League of Friends Committee heard about my accountancy skills they asked me to become treasurer. I'm very proud that the shop made £67,000 last year, all of which was spent on hospital equipment.
I've made some very good friends here including Maureen. We're very proud of our contribution to the NHS.
We could chat all day
Lorraine Pegg, 65, a retired customer services manager, lives in Glamorgan, Wales, and began volunteering as a trolley lady at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital three months ago. Both she and late husband Clive were treated there. She says:
The Royal Glam, as I call it, is a really special hospital for me – the care we received there was outstanding.
I go in on a Monday morning for four hours – my friend Paul and I go to the wards selling newspapers, magazines, puzzle books, cold drinks, toiletries and healthy snacks.
We must cover several miles a day. I think it's chatting to the patients I like the most – I could stand there and talk all day, whether it's about Strictly or families and holidays.
Volunteering has done wonders for my confidence and it puts life in perspective – when I think 'poor me', I realise there are lots of people worse off; and I go home wondering what I was whingeing about.
Interviews: Jo Waters
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/28/study-reveals-increase-in-wellbeing-for-people-who-donate-their-time/
Main photo article Volunteering can significantly boost mental health and well-being in the middle aged and the elderly, a study found.
Mental and emotional well-being was best among those who were frequent volunteers and worst in those who never offered their help.
Researchers at Southampton and Birmingham ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/28/02/7157856-6534311-Volunteer_Jenni_Peach_is_pictured_at_Southampton_Hospital_with_p-a-12_1545962619621.jpg
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