SENIORS: A VITAL RESOURCE

By James Scheibel

The aging of the United States population could present a great challenge if senior citizens were drains on society taking resources away from younger Americans. That is how seniors have been portrayed on occasion. In fact, however, the aging of the nation is providing a remarkable opportunity for engaging the best-educated and most vigorous group of retirees in U.S. history to help wrestle with the challenges contemporary U.S. society poses. The number of people in the United States over 65 has doubled in the past four decades, and is expected to double again by 2030. Today's retirees are finding that after leaving the job market they now have the time, the energy and the will to devote themselves to volunteer activities they had little time for while working. They are joining organizations such as the National Senior Service Corps, a network of more than a half-million older citizens. In the Corps, part of the Corporation for National Service, 24,000 foster grandparents spend 20 hours a week in detention centers, group homes, classrooms, homeless shelters and other facilities, aiding youngsters who have been victimized by abuse and neglect, and caring for premature infants and children with disabilities. Some 13,000 "senior companions" assist other senior citizens who reside in independent living units. Still other senior volunteers tutor students, construct homes, patrol neighborhoods and deliver meals to the homebound. Men and women over 55 are also increasingly putting their experience, skills, talents, interests and creativity to work helping local nonprofit organizations, service agencies and corporate volunteer programs. They are applying their skills in activities ranging from education and health care to public safety and the environment. Seniors appear to be particularly well-suited to working on the problems of children and youth. For instance, the Corporation for National Service's five Experience Corps demonstration projects are tapping senior volunteers not only to serve one-on-one in the classroom, but also to start after-school programs, recruit parents for the parent-teacher-student associations and bring new resources from the community into schools. As more and more seniors and retirees seek to become involved in community service, the challenge to policymakers is to provide more opportunities for older citizens to serve -- both part-time and full-time. Harnessing the potential of the United States' 50 million seniors could go far in building a better U.S. society for all Americans. The noted U.S. psychologist Erik Erikson once said that the final challenge in life is coming to terms with the notion, "I am what survives of me." If he is correct, then volunteerism -- especially that form of service having an impact on young people -- is critical to enjoying a fruitful and beneficial old age. ---------- James Scheibel is vice president of the Corporation for National Service in Washington, D.C.