Purpose Doesn’t Retire: Finding Ways to Give Back and Create a More Meaningful Life

A quarter of Americans have formally volunteered in some capacity. Even more people volunteer casually by helping their neighbors, family, or friends, according to joint research by the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps.

These reports cover adults aged 16 and over. And unfortunately, the number remains consistent after retirement age.

The benefits of volunteering are particularly significant for those of retirement age, offering a powerful sense of purpose, boosting mental health, and increasing physical activity. 

Volunteering can give meaning to a time that many retirees find themselves needing routine and purpose.

That’s why at Sequoia Living, the chance to volunteer is baked into our mission.

One of the most meaningful ways older adults contribute is by sharing their experience and wisdom with younger generations.

Through Sequoia Living’s Community Services programs, older adults volunteer with children and families throughout the Bay Area through Empowering Children Bay Area (ECBA). By pairing volunteer tutors aged 50 and older with struggling readers in first through third grade, ECBA helps children build literacy skills, confidence, and trust during critical developmental years. In the 2024–25 school year alone, volunteers provided more than 11,000 tutoring sessions to hundreds of elementary school students.

Helping a child discover confidence in reading creates a sense of purpose that extends well beyond a single tutoring session.

Empowering Children Bay Area recently received a Program of Merit award from Generations United, a national distinction bestowed upon programs that excel beyond the standard of effectiveness.

Volunteering doesn’t always look traditional.

Sequoia Living’s Intergenerational Program brings older adults and young people together through shared experiences, conversations, and activities. 

Most notably, the “Welcome to My Kitchen” program invites seniors and youth to share family recipes and stories, creating opportunities for connection and learning across generations. 

Purpose often comes from sharing what we’ve learned and staying engaged with the world around us, no matter what age we are.

And, of course, “Welcome to My Kitchen” reminds us that the best way to our hearts is through our stomachs.

The Intergenerational Program earned a Program of Distinction from Generations United for meeting “a higher standard of innovation, leadership, and/or best practices.”

However you choose to give back, Sequoia Living’s communities are designed to support and sustain meaning and purpose after retirement. Schedule a visit to one of our four distinct communities or learn more about volunteering through Empowering Children Bay Area.