The informal learning that older (age 50+) men experience in Australia has been the subject of a suite of recent, intensive, mixed methods research projects in community-based voluntary organizations. The purpose of the research was to examine where men are learning in these contexts beyond work and formal education rather than to assume and…

Describes 20 volunteer programs that are specifically designed for older adults. Points out that senior citizens can contribute to society long after they retire. (JOW)

The State employment service in Louisville specializes in finding jobs for people over 60 through its Retired Workers Job Service Center. (BP)

This paper examines the relationship between social class and both age-graded and non-age-graded voluntary association membership in a sample of 320 older people. Special attention is focused on one age-graded association with an examination of recruitments, participation, and attrition over a six-year period. Results are discussed. (Author)

Reports that aged individuals are more likely to identify with an ethnic group than are younger individuals, and that such identification is closely related to participation in voluntary groups. Concludes that ethnicity, rather than isolating members of society, provides an additional resource for interaction. (Author/ST)

Collaboration between a private home health agency and public volunteer agency (the Senior Companions Program) was evaluated through interviews, site visits and questions. Volunteers were highly valued and important to the organization despite additional administration and training burdens. It was a cost-effective way to expand community-based…

Birmingham Settlement has provided services to British older adults for over 100 years, including such innovations as adult day centers, meals on wheels, and transportation services. The participation of the clientele in research helped flesh out the history of the settlement through narratives that demonstrate its impact on the life of the…

Provides sources of information for older persons desiring to find employment. Describes Federal Volunteer Agency programs, the U.S. Small Business Administration program, and U.S. Department of Labor Programs. Lists several recreation programs developed for older adults. (RC)

Examines voluntary associations of the aged. A substantial majority of respondents were affiliated and more than one-half had multiple affiliations. Women were more active in voluntary groups than men. Those belonging to multiple associations were more active in each association than individuals with only one affiliation. (Author)

The RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) in E. St. Louis is described. How the program got started, guidelines, funding information, and testimony from the volunteers themselves are included. (CT)

Examines the relationship between older people's participation in voluntary associations and their sense of well-being. Findings reveal type of activity and reasons for participation had little relationship to life satisfaction, since they reflected health and socioeconomic status differences. (Author/BEF)

Two models of the senior center are examined: (1) the social agency model, which views senior centers as programs especially for the poor and the disengaged and (2) the voluntary organization model, which sees centers as for active elderly who have strong attachments to the community. Findings support the voluntary organization model. Paper…

This document is a transcript of oral and written testimony given by persons testifying about the Older American Volunteer Programs as reauthorization legislation is being considered. Oral or written testimony was presented by: the director of the voluntary agency, ACTION; the president of the National Association of Foster Grandparents; the…

Several trends are noted which may lead future cohorts of older persons to belong to voluntary associations to a greater extent than current cohorts. This study presents detailed age profiles of membership in 16 types of associations. Various patterns of age differences in belonging to associations are identified and discussed. (Author)

Explores the possibility that well-being of older persons may be related to membership only in certain types of associations. Among 16 types of voluntary associations in one analysis and 17 types in another, membership in church-affiliated groups alone emerges as a significant, but weak predictor of life satisfaction. (Author)