Volunteering Gives Life Meaning
Maggie and her husband had planned well for their retirement. They had always been financially responsible. When they approached the age of 60, they took golf lessons to prepare themselves for all of the leisure time that they would spend on the links. They had looked into senior communities in some warm states where they could migrate as "snowbirds". Unfortunately, Maggie and her husband were never able to experience all of these wonderful things. Maggie lost her husband two months before his planned retirement. Suddenly, Maggie did not have the desire to follow through on their retirement plans. These were things that they wanted to do together, and Maggie did not want to do them alone. A friend suggested that she get involved in some sort of volunteer efforts, just to keep busy. Maggie decided that she'd really like to do something meaningful with seniors. Southwest 8 was able to match Maggie's interests and trained her to alert seniors in her community about frauds and scams that affect the elderly. Maggie visits the senior centers in her county and makes brief presentations or just has coffee and chats with seniors about how better to protect themselves. She is now training to become a SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) Counselor, which prepares her to assist seniors understand confusing insurance issues. Maggie realized that she is very needed, and she definitely keeps busy with her volunteer activities. It was not the retirement that she planned for, but Maggie finds herself very fulfilled in her service to others.
