The Health Benefits of Older Adult Socialization
“Good friends are like quilts. They age with you yet never lose their warmth.” — Unknown
Building relationships and staying socially active are important at every stage of life. Not only are the people you choose to spend time with a large part of your life, but these relationships can have a significantly positive impact on your overall health. That means it’s important to stay socially active, including in your senior years.
What Are the Health Benefits of Socializing?
- Reduced Risk of Mental Health Problems Such as Depression. When you’re socially active, you lower your chance of developing various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and even Alzheimer’s. However, if you have a history of any of these issues, you should still continue to consult with your doctor.
- Decreased Feelings of Loneliness. When you spend time around others in truly authentic relationships, you’re less likely to experience feelings of loneliness. However, when you spend more time in isolation, you put yourself at higher risk for long-term illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease, obesity, cognitive decline and even death.
- Increased Life Expectancy. According to research , people who are more socially active tend to live longer compared to their more isolated counterparts.
- Greater Sense of Belonging. With the feelings of loneliness decreasing, the sense of belonging and connectivity will increase. When you move to a senior living community, this connection to others can be critical to adjusting to your new surroundings.
Ways to Help Seniors Socialize and Avoid Isolation
As you age, it can become more difficult to form new bonds with others and build connections. Social activities, however, can help to resolve this issue and offer a way to make new friends. Life Plan Communities like Springpoint often offer a calendar filled with activities for you to make connections like those below.
- Get Involved in a Hobby. If you enjoy art or woodwork, many senior living communities like Springpoint offer studios and classes for you to pursue these passions. Stop in to find some like-minded people and strike up a conversation!
- Get Involved in a Local Religious Group. Not everyone attends church or other religious services, but for those who do, services and other religious events are a great way to meet others. They’ll also typically have smaller groups and activities you can join in. If you can’t make it to a service, many senior communities will have Bible studies and services right on campus.
- Volunteer. Offering your time to your community or another deserving cause is a wonderful way to give back while building relationships. Not sure where you should give your time? AARP’s Create the Good connects you with opportunities near you.
Discover a Life Full of Social Wellness at Springpoint
At Springpoint, we believe every aspect of your health and wellness is important — including your social health. That’s why each of our communities prioritizes your health through daily activities from our LivWell program. This award-winning program is much more than calisthenics and bingo games. Each day, you can choose from a variety of enriching activities and events like happy hours, fitness classes, card games and karaoke. Or, step off campus and explore the surrounding communities.
If you’d like to learn more about a vibrant life full of social opportunities in one of our Life Plan Communities, please contact us for more information.
