Growing older doesn’t mean retreating from an active life—in fact, it can be the perfect time to lean in, explore new interests, and reconnect with a sense of purpose. For those who may be feeling out of sync with the times or experiencing isolation, the Association of Healthcare and Assistance to Older People is there to lend a hand. One of its key initiatives, the Elderly Volunteer Group, offers meaningful opportunities for older adults to stay engaged through volunteering.
Margar Hakobyan
“For someone my age, volunteering is a way to bring meaning back into life,” says 77-year-old Margar Hakobyan, who volunteered during the Yerevan Spring Run on May 4. He was there on the sidelines, handing out water bottles and cheering on the runners. A former athlete and a retired physical education teacher, Margar once held the title of Armenia’s cross-country skiing champion. He also won a 15 km national running race and is credited with founding the sport of field hockey in Armenia. Volunteering at the marathon, he explains, felt like a return to his roots, a chance to relive the moments that shaped him and remember those who inspired him.
“Had I known about the marathon a month or two earlier, maybe I would have trained and participated. I know that I wouldn’t have come in with a good ranking , but for me at my age, being part of such a race would have been an important achievement,” he says, adding, “But I did participate but as a volunteer this time.”
It’s not easy, Margar says, to admit that your time has passed, that your prime years may be behind you. “But all people like us need is a small opportunity,” he says, “something to give us hope that life is not fully lived yet.”
Margar grew up in a large family, with ten siblings. “One by one, they got married and moved away. I was the one who stayed behind to care for our parents, to help them as they aged,” he reflects. “For someone who grew up in such a large family, loneliness hits especially hard. On one hand, it’s good that everyone has built their own life—they’re doing well—but you can’t help feeling left behind.”
Today, Margar says he is coping with the weight of loneliness “by helping others.”
Lyda Margaryan
“Music is the hope that my life is still useful,” says 86-year-old Lyda Margaryan. She arrives at the Aram Khachatryan Concert Hall an hour before each performance, carefully arranging programs and waiting to welcome the audience.” I greet strangers here now,” says Lyda, “but there was a time when I used to attend concerts at this hall with a nice hairdo, wearing an evening gown, arm in arm with my husband.”
When a former colleague suggested she volunteer, meet new people, and spend time meaningfully, she didn’t hesitate. It felt like just the thing she needed. “I used to buy concert tickets, not the good ones, I could not afford them but the most affordable seats. And now I get to volunteer and enjoy the concerts for free. This is a wonderful opportunity for someone like me.”
Once all the guests have arrived and the concert begins “we’re allowed to slip into the hall, find an empty seat, and enjoy the music,” Lyda says. “Music carries me far away. It reminds me of the joyful moments I’ve lived through and fills me with hope that maybe my life still has a purpose.”
Lyda knows that the future is unpredictable but says it is important to decide for oneself not to be left out of life: “It is never too late to start living anew and to start filling your life with your favorite things.”
