why are senior citisens expected to do voluntary work instead of retired people?

Question

being allowed to take on a job for a proper full wage. I have always done jobs I enjoy and been paid well. I have no plans to retire I enjoy working but would not do it for free. I did my five years voluntery work when my childeren were small in a period when I was unable to work due to the high cost of chilcare that was when I could find it?

Answer 1

I don't think they are "Expected" to do voluntary work, they CHOOSE to do it that's why it's called VOLUNTARY!

Answer 2

Retired people are generally senior citizens and a lot of them choose to do volunteer work.

Some people will never really understand voluntarism. My family doesn't. Thinks I should get paid for the volunteer work I do; but the thing is that there just isn't money out there to pay for some of the things that need doing in this world.

So I volunteer and that brings its own special kind of reward that only giving can bring.

Answer 3

Here's how I look at it.. I work full time, I get paid full time, and I do not work for peanuts as a greeter at Wal Mart. Seniors are very valuable, they have great work ethic, know one hell of a lot, and are often best suited to handle jobs that require brains, not brawn, but not a rule here. I have a right to my job, have no plans on retiring. Show me a younger person who can do my job as well as I do, will be responsible with it, put in as many hours as I do, look forward to going to work, and I will hire them to do it for me! I will make money on them and go off and do another job! Sounds good to me...unfortunately, I find so damned few people who are willing to work at any capacity, I have all but given up...seems they expect to be hired in as boss of the company, set their own hours, show up when they want to....hmmmmmmm ...
I also volunteer to work for the ACS on committees, running a huge event once a year as a fund raiser. I end up spending 5-10 hours a week in volunteer work.
Love and peace, Goldwing

Answer 4

It is not a case of wanting to earn money. As a retired person , which also means a senior citizen, I have enough money to live comfortably, so whether I am paid or not is immaterial... But I do need something to do,, so as not to get bored, to help people, to give them the benefit of my experience,, I don't want paying. Nobody expects me to do all this voluntarily... I choose to. There is a world of difference... No don't get tied down to a job ,,do what you want to ,,when you want to... Makes a change in life... not bothering about money...

Answer 5

Lucky you I only ever went to work to earn a living and whilst I did not hate it in fact I developed some enthusiasum I was glad to retire.
In some ways (I have nearly always been involved in volutary work ) my voluntary work hhas given me more satisfaction than my paid job ever did

Answer 6

I know seniors who still work at well paying careers, seniors who only do volunteer work, seniors who work part-time and volunteer part-time, and seniors who neither volunteer nor work for any type of pay.

It seems to me that it's the needs, desires, and opportunities that dictate what people do. Perhaps volunteer work is offered because there is an assumption that a senior has time and talent to contribute.....it's offering a choice and not an expectation.

Answer 7

Well dear, as far as I can
understand Senior citizens and
"retired" people are both the
same category...unless they
retired really early.
But to answer your question,
I used to have a lady from the
city volunteer Assn. harass
me almost daily to do a
volunteer job.
I asked her,"How much does
it pay?" She said,"It is volunteer, there's no pay."
I said,"I have never worked
for free in my life and I don't
intend to start now."
Of course there are nicer
people than me that like to
work for free.

Answer 8

I have done volunteer work all my life, even at work without pay at times. From Scout Leader to Battered Women's Shelter, Writer's Clubs to Sierra Club, the local zoo to civil rights, from Church groups to Ombudsman. You name it and I've probably enjoyed it and been rewarded far more for it than any paycheck.

Answer 9

I became a Red Cross volunteer before I became a senior-now 62. No one twisted my arm to do this-was a US Coast Guard Aux. member before that-all volunteer work.
I also work, & as of yesterday, full time with my art work & it's my own business.
Get S.S. & at this time need it to make ends meet.
No one will twist your arm to be a volunteer at anything. It is a personal choice. But oh, the warm & fuzzy feelings you get to experience when you have helped someone(s) are priceless.

Answer 10

I, for one, understand your question in that often when seniors/retired folk ask about things to keep them busy folk always tell them to volunteer...they never suggest going back to work, even part time. It's as if folk think they can volunteer OK but are not 'fit' to work

Answer 11

senior citizens usually are retired

sometimes they get so bored at home they will do anything -
in our county in Florida - we have millionaires who make 7.50/hr as school crossing guards to keep the kids safe

others volunteer at the Hospital and that helps keep costs down

others become greeters at a WalMart for some bucks, if they have to work

all the best