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In 2014, I began volunteering at a retirement home. I was excited to have the opportunity to give back to my community and to help make a difference in the lives of older adults.

Before I started volunteering, I completed a 6 hours training session on communication with retired people in 2014, 9 hours in 2015 and 9 hours training session on communication with orphan kids in 2016. This training was essential, as it taught me how to communicate effectively with older adults and how to build rapport with them.

Once I started volunteering, I was assigned to work in the activities room. My job was to help plan and facilitate activities for the residents. I also spent time talking to the residents and getting to know them.

No matter what their interests were, all of the residents were kind and welcoming. They were always happy to talk to me and to share their stories. I learned a lot from the residents, and I enjoyed listening to their stories and their perspectives on life.

I volunteered at the retirement home for 21 hours the first year and other 20 hours the second then I volunteered at an orphan house for 30 hours. During that time, I helped to plan and facilitate a variety of activities for the residents, including bingo, arts and crafts, and social gatherings. I also spent a lot of time talking to the residents and getting to know them.

I had the satisfaction of knowing that I was making a difference in their lives.

Here are some tips if you wanna volunteering at a retirement home:

• Be patient and understanding. Older adults may need more time to process information and to complete tasks.
• Be respectful. Remember that older adults have a wealth of life experience. Treat them with respect and dignity.
• Be open-minded. Older adults may have different values and beliefs than you do. Be open-minded and respectful of their differences.
• Be positive. A positive attitude can make a big difference in the lives of older adults. Strive to be positive and upbeat when interacting with the residents.
• Have fun! Volunteering at a retirement home should be enjoyable for both you and the residents. Try to have fun and to make the most of your experience.