Civic Engagement Advantages

Before considering the potential benefits of civic engagement among elderly, it is critical to operationally define civic engagement as active citizen engagement in a community to shape the community 's future or to help and improve individuals’ lives within a community (Adler and Goggin, 2005). Psychologists and critics are particularly interested in civic engagement among older adults due to numerous studies of how low-income older adults refrain from those advantageous opportunities (Zedlewski and Butrica, 2007). With increased life expectancy, ‘‘boomers will enter later life with many healthy, productive years ahead’’ and ‘‘have the potential to become a social resource of unprecedented proportions by contributing to the civic life of their communities’’ (Harvard School of Public Health/MetLife Foundation, 2004). Furthermore, studies documented the positive links between volunteer work and improved cognitive abilities and enhanced social status (Zedlewski and Butrica, 2007). …show more content…
Even more affirming are the studies of how remaining in the workforce longer will lead to a high retirement income, greater tax revenue, and increased social security benefits (Zedlewski and Butrica, 2007). These studied exhibit the undeniability of economical benefits in civic engagement for older adults. Especially for those who had a lower income or provide the only source of income to support a large family. Another, significant factor in civic engagement among elderly, which has been argued forcefully and at length by Zedlewski and Butrica, is the increased supply and demand for civic engagement. For example, nonprofit organizations need volunteers to save money in order to deliver public services (Zedlewski and Butrica,