Retirement is a major milestone. This is a time of excitement, exploration, and freedom. However, it can also come with a few unexpected challenges. One prevalent issue that some seniors experience is the shrinking of social groups. Many don’t see their friends and colleagues as often which can lead to loneliness.
How can you expand your social network and make new friends in retirement? A good number of active older adults are opting to move to senior living communities for an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.
Senior Living Communities Help Older Adults to Socialize
Below are some of the ways that senior living communities help aging adults to make new friends and socialize.
Clubs & Groups
What better way to meet other seniors who share your passion for a certain hobby than by joining a club? Many senior living communities have clubs dedicated to hobbies such as:
- Golfing
- Quilting
- Cooking
- Playing cards
- Reading books
Joining a book club can encourage you to catch up on the books you have always wanted to read and also provide thought-provoking discussion. A book club can also help you keep the mind active and imagination flowing, which is vital at any age.
Volunteer Opportunities
Participating in a cause close to your heart can introduce you to other civic-minded people within your senior living community, and the greater neighborhood in which it resides.
Volunteering not only promotes social interaction and helps us make new friends, but it also helps us rediscover the feeling of purpose that we occasionally lose when we leave behind our careers.
Educational Programs
Have you always wanted to take a cooking or dancing class or learn a foreign language? You can make new friends while doing it in a senior living community. Join an educational group and learn new skills, which can also help improve your cognitive health.
Exercise and Fitness Groups
According to the World Health Organization, seniors should do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.
Group fitness classes, tai chi, yoga, and water aerobics all allow seniors to joke, laugh, and socialize while exercising. It is much easier to miss gym sessions when you are doing it alone. However, when you join a group, it is easier to flex those muscles.
Walking Clubs
If you enjoy spending time outside, lace up your sneakers and join a walking group. Walking works wonders for your mental and physical well-being. Most importantly, it can become a social activity with friends and neighbors.
Many retirement communities have clubs of dedicated walkers who love going for walks. They have many beautiful indoor pathways and outdoor trails that unite the community. This way, seniors can always stay active, rain or shine.
Arts and Craft Club
If you enjoy expressing yourself, an arts and crafts group can be a perfect club for you. Whether you love painting, knitting, crafting, or sketching, there are endless artistic opportunities to explore.
Meet Seniors Like You
Retirement is not about aging and slowing down. It is about having additional freedom and time to do the things we love while connecting with others. If you are looking to connect with other active seniors like you, consider joining a senior living community.