You've spent a lifetime learning skills and developing talents, and you're free to choose what you want to do and when you want to do it. Your community needs you!

Volunteering -- in any capacity for any task or responsibility -- can be a rewarding way for seniors to fill time that used to be consumed with work or childbearing. Volunteering is a way to tap your wealth of experience and wisdom and channel it into new directions, especially to areas in need. And volunteering has rewards for the helper as well as those helped: it keeps you connected to the community.

There are a number of ways you can lend a hand, and a number of organizations eager for you to sign on. One of these is the National Senior Service Corps, a national network that places older volunteers in assignments in their communities. Over half a million seniors have shared their time and talents through its three national programs. The Foster Grandparent Program links senior volunteers to children who need their help. The Senior Companion Program places its volunteers with adults needing assistance to live in the community. And the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is "one stop shopping," with endless options for service.  For information on local volunteer opportunities call the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at (513) 721-4330.

There are numerous opportunities to get involved -- look around your neighborhood churches or synagogues, hospitals, and nearby schools. Many organizations already have volunteer programs in place, just waiting for slots to be filled by people like you. Whether you volunteer once a day, a week, or a month, you're helping others as well as yourself.

There are a number of volunteer opportunities available at all the Health Alliance locations; some of these include:

• Assisting with mailings
• Visiting patients -- to deliver flowers or mail, or to be a patient advocate
• Doing computer work
• Making phone calls or answering phone calls
• Insurance counseling