Formal Volunteering Among Economically Marginalized Older Americans: A Scoping Review

Volunteering in later life has been widely recognized as a pathway to support healthy aging. However, economically marginalized older adults often face barriers to participating in formal or organizational volunteering. We aimed to identify the associated factors and outcomes of formal volunteering among older adults with low income or wealth in the U.S. Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched five databases for peer-reviewed empirical studies published since 2005. Guided by the ecological framework of the antecedents and consequences of productive engagement in later life, we summarized factors and outcomes associated with formal volunteering at the individual, community, and societal levels. Older adults with lower economic status often experience disproportionately greater benefits from volunteering but face barriers to participation. Addressing these barriers could promote equitable access, enhance volunteer inclusion, and foster broader societal benefits.