Building Social Connections in Your Senior Years
Healthy relationships are vital at any age, but seniors especially are vulnerable to the adverse effects of an isolated social life. Close, supportive relationships are very important to the physical health of seniors, as well as their mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Without a supportive social network, seniors can experience severe loneliness. Loneliness can then lead to depression, as well as a wealth of other declining health conditions. In fact, according to a recent study, the lack of social connections amongst seniors is equivalent to having diabetes, in terms of increasing hypertension.
Building social connections as a senior can pose its challenges. Some seniors find themselves experiencing feelings of loneliness, even when they are surrounded by friends and family. Their adult children are busy raising their own children and visit less frequently. Their children may live locally, but because they can’t stop by for dinner every evening, the senior feels disappointed. Seniors with friends who are also in their senior years find it more and more challenging to find time to get together. Their friends may be declining in health more rapidly than themselves. Mobility can limit frequency of meeting for lunch. Sadly, seniors often experience the loss of close friends to either a move or death. 
It’s no wonder that many seniors report feeling lonely and isolated as they continue to add years to their lives. However, without social connection, our minds and bodies fall apart. If you are a senior who has experienced a decline in your social life, here are a few tips to help you rebuild your social connections.
Join a Senior Group
Looking to meet new friends but don’t know where to start? Try joining a senior group that shares a common interest of yours. Whether it’s a senior fitness class at your local gym, a senior Bible study at a nearby church, or a support group geared towards seniors, knowing that you’ll be amongst your peers can give you confidence to try something new. Conversation typically flows more naturally when there’s a common activity you’re all participating in together, relieving you of the pressure to make conversation blindly. Be sure to stick it out too. Dropping the class or activity early only limits your ability to make new connections and find friends to add to your social network.
Volunteer
Another great way to rebuild your social connections is to volunteer. Volunteering not only gives you a purpose, something to get up for each day or week, but it can make meeting other people less intimidating. The most intimidating part of volunteering is often just saying “yes” to a need. Rarely are volunteers turned away and there are a variety of opportunities with a variety of time commitments. Look for volunteer opportunities in your community, such as the library, your church, charities, schools, animal shelters, nursing homes, or hospitals. If you’re still hesitant to volunteer, ask another friend to join you so that the two of you can meet new people to befriend.
Draw Upon Social Media
Social media is a wonderful tool to reconnect with former friends or find new friends that share common interests. If you haven’t already created a social media account, join one that suits your lifestyle. If you are on social media, utilize it to its maximum potential. Search for long lost friends and “friend” them. Look for virtual groups that you can join, such as a senior-specific group or neighborhood group. Choose to follow local businesses, museums, towns, and/or libraries so that you don’t miss social opportunities. While social media should never replace face-to-face contact and should always be used with caution, it is a great resource to help you take that first step in connecting with others.
Look Beyond Your Generation
Finally, consider befriending individuals who do not fall within your generation’s cohort. Who says all of your friends need to be your age? Invite the new family with young children that moved in next door over for dinner. Join an intergenerational book club at the library. Plan your morning walk for when the school bus is picking up children so you can say hello to the parents at the bus stop. Offer to mentor a young adult. Surrounding yourself with intergenerational friendships not only will add years to your life but will also add life to your years.
Visiting Angels Fort Worth understands the importance of staying connected with friends and family, especially in your senior years. That’s why we offer a holistic approach that entails care for the individual, both inside and outside of the home. Our Social Care Program helps seniors stay connected with their families through the use of technology. Not only do our companion caregivers provide another social connection for you throughout the week, they can also assist you as you learn explore technology to connect with others. We have taught many of our clients how to FaceTime, create and manage a social media account, how to text their grandchildren, and even how to shop online or browse the internet. Contact us today by calling 817-877-1616 and learn more about our Social Care Program, as well as our other in-home care services that we provide to seniors.