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By Caryn Bruyere,
Statistician, ACL Office of Performance and Evaluation
We know that every year, ACL-funded programs provide
essential services and supports to millions of Americans to
help them remain independent in their homes and maintain
their health and well-being. But one fact that may be
overlooked is that many programs rely heavily on the
contribution of volunteers—individuals who give their time
without pay to activities performed through an organization
outside their own household.
For example, in some jurisdictions, nutrition programs
(home-delivered meals and congregate meal sites) may
actually be run by volunteers who perform the same tasks
that paid staff members do in other areas. Also, senior
centers or adult day programs with one or two paid staff members
often rely on unpaid volunteers who provide important
social activities, such as music or arts and crafts.
Volunteers also often provide transportation to medical
appointments.
In fact, without volunteers, many tribal, state, and local
service programs could not provide nearly as many services,
nor reach as many individuals in the community, as they
currently do. Findings from a study conducted by ACL showed
that in 2019, volunteers contributed about:
- 56% of the total annual labor for
Older Americans Act Title III area agencies on aging,
for an estimated annual value of $1.7 billion;
- 28.2% of the total annual labor for
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, or roughly
$28 million in total estimated annual value; and
- About 15.9% of the total certified
ombudsmen annual labor for long-term care ombudsman
programs, or roughly $14 million in total estimated
annual value.
Recognizing the
contribution of volunteers to ACL-funded programs is
critical, especially in light of the challenges the U.S. is
facing in supporting the independence and successful aging
of older adults and adults with disabilities. For example,
the U.S. aging population is expected to increase
substantially over the next 40 years, with the population
age 65 and older projected to reach 80.8 million by 2040
and 94.7 million by 2060. As a result, we will likely also
see an increasing demand for ACL-funded program services
and supports over the next several decades.
The question will be: can we ensure that the volunteer
labor force these programs rely on can continue to meet the
growing demand for services and supports in the future?
With this question in mind, we need to continue to invest
in efforts to support existing volunteers and recruit new
volunteers. ACL-funded programs have already shown their
ability to adapt—finding new, innovative strategies to use
volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic. ACL is committed
to supporting programs in these efforts!
For more details on ACL’s study on the use of volunteers,
see the final study report, a
report documenting examples
of effective volunteer practices, stories from volunteers
that highlight their value to ACL programming, and a short
infographic highlighting key findings.
ACL will host a webinar on Tuesday, March 15, 1:00 –
2:30 pm ET, to present the study findings and hear program
grantees discuss innovative strategies for harnessing the skills
of volunteers. Register here.
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