They say with age comes wisdom, but what they don’t tell you is that there will also be a whole new set of challenges to face in the later years of being an adult. That could mean altering living arrangements, experiencing the loss of friends and family members or even struggling to maintain one’s own health and well-being.
As this time approaches, it’s best to find ways to make the most of the good times – especially those spent with loved ones. Freedom Home Care, an in home care agency, found that staying social is probably one of the most important things you can do as a senior for several reasons.
Benefits of Sociability:
- Decreases the risk of developing depression and dementia
- Helps promote physical and emotional health
- Boosts immune system and nutrition
- Reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and more
- Lowers blood pressure
- Keeps you connected to the outside world
The most obvious benefit of being more social is having a better social life. So just what does sociability look like for seniors today when you’re limited on transportation options and places to go? Even if you find receiving personalized elder care or in-home care limiting to your situation, there are still a number of ways that you can maintain an active, healthy social life:
Start with The Things You Love To Do – Maybe you enjoy knitting or you really like bowling. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to start a stamp collection but could never find the time to do it.
Pick-Up a New Hobby – Many seniors find that the perfect time to pick up a new hobby is when they retire. There are a number of activities your local senior community center hosts and even online classes you can take to help build up your skill set from the comfort of your own home.
Join a Club or Start Your Own – Joining or starting your own book club is another way to both enjoy doing what you love and meeting new people, too.
Invite Your Neighbors Over – What better way to enjoy a meal and great company at the same time? Learn more about your neighbors by having them over for lunch, or something similar. You might find that you have some of the same interests as your neighbor’s, which in turn could lead to more social event options in the future.
Join the Nearest Health Club – Being surrounded by a group of people with similar health goals can help motivate you to get fit and stay healthy.
Get Involved with a Retirement Community – If you reside in a senior care center, there are probably a number of scheduled monthly events planned for your community. These activities are designed to encourage social interaction among seniors while helping to minimize isolation.
Many Retirees find Themselves just Wanting to Give Back – One way to do that is through fundraising and volunteering. Seek out organizations that share your same interests and find out ways that you can donate your time to a great cause.
