Building Communities of Strength

Most of us thrive when we have a community of people surrounding us and giving us strength. But finding that community may not be as easy as it once was as we get older. May is Older Americans Month, making it the perfect time to assess your needs and brainstorm ways to build your community of strength.

What is Older Americans Month?

Older Americans Month was established in 1963 after a meeting with President John F. Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens. Historically, Older Americans Month was a way to honor the contributions of older Americans, specifically those who had served in the war.

Nowadays, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation to observe Older Americans Month every May. A theme is designated each year that revolves around celebrating seniors' contributions and keeping the senior population healthy and feeling supported. This year, the theme is "Communities of Strength," which focuses on the power of connection and building community for seniors.

The Importance of Community

Humans are social creatures. For most of our lives, we're in situations where we're encouraged to interact with others. As young children, we begin to learn socialization through daycare and playdates. As we grow older, we build community through school and social clubs. As we enter adulthood, we begin to form relationships at work and network with people from similar career fields.

Every person we meet who we decide to connect with brings value to our life. Our friends bring us companionship and encourage us to have fun. Our coworkers share work advice and mentorship. Our families show us love and compassion. Even our neighbors and the people we regularly see within our living community can bring joy to our lives.

However, as we grow older, we start to lose touch with a lot of our communities. We're no longer in school or work, and it becomes challenging to stay connected with friends and colleagues. And with less community interaction can come social isolation and a decrease in emotional well-being. To keep your mental and emotional well-being high, you need to find ways to build communities of strength.

Ways to Build Community as an Older Adult

Building community as an older adult comes with challenges, but there are tons of places you can go to start connecting and building relationships with others.

Get involved with your church- If you're a religious person, find ways to get involved with your church beyond attending services. Many churches have community work programs and mentorships to help you connect with people who share the same beliefs as you.
Take a class at a local community college- You're never too old to learn, and there are no age restrictions on attending college. Contact your local community college and ask if there are any courses you can audit. Not only will you learn a new skill and keep your mind sharp, but you'll also be able to connect with other people with similar interests.
Join a community service program- What better way to build a community of strength than to serve your community. Volunteering is a great way to meet and connect with people while also doing something good for others. Community service programs help local food pantries get food to those in need, work with animal shelters to find pets homes, plant trees, remove garbage from local parks, and so much more.
Find a meetup for a hobby you enjoy- Whatever you enjoy doing, chances are there's an organized club dedicated to your hobby. You can contact your local community center or go online and lookup meetups for your favorite activity. If you're not comfortable meeting strangers in person, many hobbyists have online groups where you can connect with others through your computer without leaving home.

How Visiting Angels Can Help

If you're looking to build a community of strength, Visiting Angels is a great place to start. Our caregivers take pride in the relationships they build with clients. Plus, they're able to help you create additional community, whether showing you how to find an online meetup or providing transportation to your community service program. Our Daphne office serves those in all of Baldwin County and the greater Mobile area. If you'd like to learn more about Visiting Angels Daphne, Alabama and our services, you can fill out this form online or give us a call at 251-517-9700.