I know there's other places to post this but I specifically want to hear from people with a similar mindset.
My sister works in an elderly home and she often feels sad about elderly people feeling lonely. In addition, she also always complains about the lack of guys at her workplace.
I have my life in order: good job, home owner, fit, well-read, interesting (or so I've been told) but there's just this nagging feeling that I'm doing fuck all to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
I'm considering signing up to be a volunteer in an elderly home so I can serve lunch, talk with elderly people, take walks with them, apply my real job's knowledge to contribute to the nursing home etc. I have no family except for my sister so it seems like a win for both sides.
Also I'm keeping in mind the fact that I'm on the lookout for an LTR worthy woman, and girls that take care of the elderly might be a good choice.
Anyone here with some experience volunteering in nursing homes or volunteering in general?
drake 4y ago
Here are some things:
Just don't do it
CAPTAINSKINNYPENIS 4y ago
I used to volunteer for a brain damage charity, it involved going to meetings for people with brain damage and hanging out with them, playing board games and stuff. We had the full range there, from guys who were totally wrecked and could barely speak who were in wheelchairs to guys who you wouldn't even know had brain damage unless they told you, but nonetheless their lives had been wrecked because they couldn't hold down jobs and several of the men had been abandoned by their wives after getting brain damage. As I was the only young guy they paired me with this other troublesome young lad who'd got brain damage in a car accident, apparently me being there kept him from being disruptive as he had someone his own age to hang out with and he didn't feel like shit being surrounded by "old spastics" as he put it. Another volunteer was an old queen who taught me to play Go who was clearly kind of smitten with me and fancied me. I met a couple of hot trainee nurses too, one my own age, and we chatted a lot but it was back in my BP days so I didn't get anywhere with her. I did it for a while during a phase of unemployment but sadly had to give it up once I found a job because the meetings were weekday afternoons.
All in all a great experience, and another piece of the puzzle that made me the man I am happy to be today. Volunteer work is great.
mattyanon Admin 4y ago
If this works for you, then great.
Another way to contribute is to do/build you mission. What are you here for? Do that. But hell, try both.
If I read things correctly, your sister WORKS in a care home. She's paid to be there. It is not caring to be paid to do something, it's a transaction. You don't say that the men who take away your garbage "care about the neighbourhood and want to do their bit to keep it tidy". You don't say that the men who clean sewers "have a burning desire to see the sewerage removed safely and cleanly from the city to promote health". Yet when women do a "caring" job, we happily assume the woman herself is caring. Despite her being paid to do it.
If you want a caring woman, ask your sister how many girls volunteer rather than work there.
Only a tiny bit, but I felt somehow used and dirty. Basically I want to help, but I think bigger than this.
BPasFuck 4y ago
"used and dirty"
That's how I feel at the end of a lot of volunteer efforts. Lets face it, some organizations rely on volunteers to do work they should be fuckin' paying people for.
OP, I have to echo most everyone here, and strongly advise you to find your sense of purpose and fulfillment somewhere else. It sounds like you're searching, and that's good, but it wouldn't hurt to search somewhere with better odds of a worthwhile 'payday,' down the road.
"Big Brothers" is a thing in the US, that pairs older young men with young boys who could use a positive role model. A friend of mine basically wound up with a whole secondary family network that he could rely upon for all kinds of shit. They were so glad he was helping their son, they were willing to help him move twice.
As you go through life, personal networks are everything. You'd think you might get some decent networking in an old folks home. But, old folks friends are all dead or retired-- not so valuable.