Resident’s Attain Social and Life Skills through Volunteering

Posted 18-10-2013

On a weekly basis our residents have unique opportunities to volunteer within the community, which can lead to the generalization of work skills, work ethics, social interactions, relationship building, community integration, community contribution, fulfillment, purpose, pride, structure and networking.  One of the volunteer opportunities for our clients is at the Orlando Health & Rehabilitation Center. The Orlando Health & Rehabilitation Center is a non-profit facility that has been serving Orange County for over 50 years providing short and long term care as well as post-acute, skilled nursing and rehabilitative services. While volunteering our Clients get the many benefits that volunteering has to offer while being able to connect with others and learn key social and life skills with the direct guidance of trained mental health professionals.

A Health and Volunteering Study released by Optum Institute and UnitedHealth Group explored the relationship between volunteerism and mental health.  The study revealed that volunteering is connected to improved mental and emotional health.  78 percent of the 3,351 adults 18 or older who participated reported that volunteering lowered levels of stress, compared to adults who do not volunteer. The benefits of volunteering are twofold.  The people who volunteer feel a sense of purpose while establishing profound connections to their community and to others. Additionally, volunteering builds health outside traditional clinical settings by engaging people in activities that support communities in a way that is sustainable and affordable.

The Villa Orlando and Pasadena Villa’s Smoky Mountain Lodge are adult intensive psychiatric residential treatment centers for clients with serious mental illnesses. We also provide other individualized therapy programs, step-down residential programs, and less intensive mental health services, such as Community Residential Homes, Supportive Housing, Day Treatment Programs and Life Skills training. Pasadena Villa’s Outpatient Center in Raleigh, North Carolina offers partial hospitalization (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (PHP). If you or someone you know may need mental health services, please complete our contact form or call us at 877-845-5235 for more information.

Sources:

• Crlandohealthandrehab.com
• Unitedhealthgroup.com