Why being kind to others is good for your health

Newspapers started writing about Betty Lowe when she was 96 years old. Despite being long past retirement age, she was still volunteering at a cafe at Salford Royal Hospital in Greater Manchester, UK, serving coffee, washing dishes and chatting to patients. 

Then Lowe turned 100. “Still volunteers at hospital”, the headlines ran.

 Then she reached 102 and the headlines declared: “Still volunteering”. 

The same again when she turned 104. Even at 106, Lowe would work at the cafe once a week, despite her failing eyesight.

 Lowe told the reporters who interviewed her that the reason she kept working at the cafe long after most people would have chosen to put their feet up was because she believed volunteering kept her healthy. And she was probably right.

 Science reveals that altruistic behaviours, from formal volunteering and monetary donations to random acts of everyday kindness, promote wellbeing and longevity. 

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