By Dr. Shirley Newell

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”

— Winston Churchill

There is no group who is more capable of internalizing this quote than those enjoying their senior years. Today, older Americans are more active in giving than ever, certainly something to celebrate this month, which is Older Americans Month, a month declared by the President as a month to celebrate all that older Americans have given and do give.

The fact of the matter is, Americans are staying in the workforce longer. They’re also trying new adventures well into “the twilight years,” and they are giving back to the community whether or not they are being paid for it. Both extending work life and helping others can be very beneficial to the process of healthy aging.

Giving Back: A Healthier Way to Age

Studies show having a sense of purpose and building a strong community can help alleviate depression, anxiety and loneliness. Whether volunteers assist disaster victims, work with at risk-youth or teach reading to youngsters, these activities show promise in delaying cognitive decline, which is why my organization, Aegis Living, which operates senior living communities across the Western U.S., encourages residents to stay involved in their community as much as they can.

Giving Back: A Desire that Increases with Age

In his well-described stages of psychosocial development, Erik Erickson suggests that during middle age, people begin struggling with a tension between wanting to withdrawal from society versus the urge to make a meaningful contribution to a world that will be inherited by the next generation. The concept of having a consequential legacy becomes paramount to many people and in many cases is what propels them to make significant contributions later in life.

Giving Back: Extending Relevance

Because we live in a society that values youth and innovation, as people age, they begin to feel a sense of wanting to make themselves relevant by transforming themselves. Sadly, the wisdom that comes from years of experience is often undervalued. As aging personnel are displaced, phased out of the workplace, or become a little more “invisible” as the years wear on, the most proactive and resourceful among them look for alternative ways to find meaning and relevance in pursuits that are open, such as volunteering. This point was illustrated by the finding of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which documented that more than 25 percent of older adults volunteered more than three billion hours of service per year between 2008 and 2010.

Giving Back: The Encore Act

While some older Americans turn to volunteerism in their golden years, others resist leaving the workplace — staying in the workplace into their 80s and even their 90s. During this period, people will often learn new trades in order to support others. Even if this motivation to continue working is borne of economic necessity, “encore careers” in which elders “repurpose” themselves are becoming more common, and many are quite dynamic.

So please join me in celebrating Older Americans Month, and thanking them for all the contributions that these individuals continue to make.

Dr. Shirley Newell is Aegis Living’s chief medical officer.