Submitted to : Kerala Social Security Mission on 14 December 2011 during the conference conducted by KSSM on this subject at Corporation Conference Hall, Ernakulam.
Introduction
"Older persons should be able to seek and develop opportunities for service to the community and to serve as volunteers in positions appropriate to their interests and capabilities" (United Nations Principles for Older Persons, UN General Assembly Resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991)
· Volunteering – upholds the principles of Right of an older person to equality, social inclusion, dignity, continued development and opportunities for service to communities. The quantum of informal volunteering done by older persons within family and community is often not obviously visible and hence not recognized.
· Volunteering by older persons is considered as an important policy principle in care for older persons internationally. (Refer to volunteer programs implemented in other developed countries for older persons as well as the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing of United Nations (2002), outcome document of the June 2000 special session of the UN General Assembly on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development etc)
· Volunteering should be seen as part of welfare and developmental activity for older persons and NOT merely as a means for development of the sector where their voluntary service is utilized. Older persons are resourceful and it has to be fairly utilized for the betterment of the society. But however, programs should give priority to development and welfare of the volunteering older persons while organizations, institutions and society at large are benefitted.
· Volunteering options are not just continuing working in the same system after retirement without a financial gain. Volunteering should be seen as a first line defense against poverty and vulnerability especially for the marginalized and women. Even if it does not earn an income, several intangible benefits are seen that helps them in managing their risks, creating useful networks, promoting developmental capabilities, staying integrated and useful in society and family, mutual aid and self help. Currently, volunteering activities are taken up mostly by retirees and the financially better off. This “insurance effect” of volunteering should be identified by government and civil society. Hence an effort has to be taken to ensure that poor and marginalized are excluded from such opportunities.
· Care has to be taken to prevent exploitation and cheap-labor of older persons while formalizing volunteering.
Benefits of Volunteer Program
· Keep older persons integrated to the current society and prevent social exclusion and isolation.
· Organize older persons
· Promote active ageing with dignity.
· Prevent elder abuse
· Raise social position of older persons from being seen as passive receivers, out-dated and exploiters of scarce available resources to active promoters and contributors to the society.
· The insurance effect: Improve social networks, access to healthcare and information.
· Recognition of efforts by society and Government
· A therapeutic effect: Better physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing.
· A firm step towards an income generating activity.
Barriers to Volunteering
· Prevalence of ageism in society that may take a long time to correct. It is correctable only through such activities taken forward today.
· Relations between volunteers and formal employees when older persons volunteer in formal institutions manned by paid employees.
· Lack of opportunities for developing/enhancement of skills
· Restricted access to information
What Kerala Social Security Mission or Government can do –
· KSSM can take the role of a facilitator and promoter
· Create awareness among older persons about the importance and benefits of being a volunteer in community.
· Identify volunteering options for different strata of older persons such as rural/urban, BPL/APL, Skilled/unskilled etc.
· Registry for aspiring and existing volunteers with complete individual profile indicating areas of interests and expertise.
· Registry of NGOs and organizations requiring senior volunteers. Categorize into Home-based, part-time/Full-time, with/without incentive/allowance etc.
· Training Programs: Skill enhancement programs, Skill development programs (eg. Computer training), Regular refresher training programs.
· Identity cards: This helps in mainstreaming and formalizing volunteering among older persons. This will encourage existing volunteers to register with the system and help government and society to understand the value added through volunteering towards development of the society by the older persons. Such quantification would give valuable inputs for planning and policy making. There should be regular renewal of the cards registering their activities.
· Travel incentives: Travel incentives or concessions for registered volunteers.
· Insurance Schemes: Social insurance schemes such as for accidents and health.
· Committee for older persons: to coordinate and manage developmental activities for older persons including job and volunteering opportunities.
· Appreciations and Recognitions: Annual recognitions / awards for outstanding performances and contributions to the society.
Some of the possible Volunteering options include -
· Promotion, evaluation and monitoring of volunteers services by older persons and maintain network of volunteer organizations
· Teaching / Tuition for students who cannot afford otherwise
· Career Guidance
· Promotion and management of Universities of 3rd Age
· Community leadership: Persons with a background of personal and organizational achievements can be role models. They can share their experiences through media and programs influencing the younger generations making them aware of the efforts taken by the older generation.
· Trainers of volunteer training and other training programs
· Professional consultancy especially for young and older persons running small enterprise and who cannot afford expensive consultancy services such as accounting, project development, business development etc.
· Financial and Legal consultations
· Monitoring of Government programs
· Advocacy: Role of an advocate or activist such as in domestic violence, elder abuse, health issues, environmental issues, peace, and human rights issues etc.
· Mentoring in academic, business development and career development
· Counseling services- personal, career, business, marital, pre-marital, adolescent, care-giver etc.
· Value education for younger generation
· Preservation of culture, heritage and ethnic cuisines
· Child care
· Peer care
· Palliative care, End-of-life care
· Organizing and conducting Senior citizens forums, old-age homes, day-care centers, microenterprises for older persons, self-help groups etc.
· Regular visits to persons who are home-bound and alone needing social support
· Regular visits to old-age homes and day-care centers
· Participating in NGOs of varying interests
· Continuing in the institution of last service after retirement
· Event management: such as marriages, parties, functions, funerals etc
· Assistance with accessing health care such as scheduling appointments, transportation, nursing care, assistance as by-stander during hospital stay etc.
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