Almost 64 million people volunteer in the United States every year. Despite the large number of those who take time to help others, the needs of communities are far greater. But if Charles Sharpe, author of The Senior Volunteer, is right, help is on the horizon. An estimated 77 to 80 million baby boomers will retire in the coming decades, and 80 percent of them plan to volunteer. Sharpe uses findings such as these, from the National Council on Aging, to promote older Americans as the new U.S. Dream Team — — "senior capital" that is largely untapped. Many are skilled, enthusiastic, financially comfortable, talented, and unwilling to be pigeon-holed by age.

Sharpe is an ideal author to write about this subject. He is a retired clinical nurse specialist and nursing educator, and has recently written two other books regarding older Americans: Frauds Against the Elderly (2004) and Online Resources for Senior Citizens (2003). The Senior Volunteer is more scholarly in style than its cover of a smiling, savvy fifty-something woman would lead the reader to believe. In the first half of the book —— which contains an overview of volunteerism and details its scope for seniors —— Sharpe has included at least one, and often several, references to a recent study, report, or article. This material could have been dry except the content is very well-woven and interesting. For instance, people volunteer for many reasons, including feeling needed, empowered, fulfilled, and connected to their community (AARP); favorite volunteer activities include teaching or coaching, campaigning or fundraising, and collecting or delivering goods (Bureau of Labor Statistics); 44 percent of those age 65 and older describe the present as "the best years of my life" (National Council on Aging); and people who have a positive perception of aging tend to live seven and a half years longer than those who don't (Yale study).

The Senior Volunteer is well laid out; the first half of the book covers the tradition and benefits of volunteerism, how to choose a volunteer activity, and redefining aging and retirement; it also details how many seniors volunteer, where they do it, and why; and contains questions and lists that help the reader consider different types of volunteer activities and locations — those that seem logical and local and others that are farther afield, such as learning a new skill through volunteering or going abroad to volunteer. The second half of the book, free of the many references to data in the beginning, describes myriad volunteer opportunities, including programs offered through the government (such as the Foster Grandparent Program, the Senior Companion Program, and America Reads), national organizations (including Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Experience Corps; Faith in Action; Habitat for Humanity), international (such as Earth Elders, Earthwatch Institute, Global Volunteers, World Teach), clearinghouses (such as VolunteerMatch), and the Internet, for those with a penchant for virtual volunteering (AARP and SeniorNet need you). Three appendices provide a profile of older Americans in 2003, volunteering in the United States in 2003, and links to Internet tutorials, with a glossary of Internet terms.

This book is a rich resource for people who would like to explore the world of volunteering and find a good fit. Volunteer administrators will find the book can stimulate their thinking about ways to attract and use older volunteers most effectively. It may come as a surprise, but today's elderly have the lowest volunteer rate of any demographic group in the country —— and the highest rate of depression, though it has been proven that even limited amounts of time volunteering can improve one's sense of well-being. Retiring baby boomers beginning to burst on the scene have the opportunity and the ability to change that.

To quote Charles Sharpe, in his own words this time: "When a value is placed on the service that a volunteer gives, the value to that individual person's life is endless."

For citations to additional materials on this topic refer to the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject headings "Voluntarism-analysis" or "Voluntarism-management."