According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, nearly a quarter of Georgia’s senior population feels socially isolated.
Social activity is essential for seniors, as it promotes physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When your loved one can engage in social interactions, they can stabilize their cognitive function, reduce the risk of depression, and improve their overall happiness and self-esteem.
To avoid social isolation, which has hugely detrimental effects on senior mental health, your loved one needs interaction. The problem is that it can be difficult for seniors to meet seniors.
In today’s post, we’ll tell you 7 of the best spots for seniors to meet people and forge new friendships. Keep reading, and you’ll know what senior community events are available to reduce the risk of isolation and bring happiness to your loved one’s life.
1. Senior Living Communities
Firstly, senior communities are likely the best setting for seniors to meet other seniors. In addition to caring for your loved one with assisted living or memory care services, these communities are centers for social activity and well-being.
The best communities offer in-house amenities and activity programming to help residents get to know one another. These activities also help seniors maintain their physical and mental health. It could be Tai Chi one day and a walking club the next – each day brings something new to the table.
When choosing a community for your loved one, viewing the daily activity calendar is important. This will give you a sense of how the community views social interaction. If they offer activities your loved one is interested in, they’ll be that much more likely to meet like-minded seniors.
2. Community-Based Classes and Workshops
Whether inside a senior living community or outside, classes and workshops are great for seniors to meet peers. Community-based classes, like cooking, painting, or technology workshops, allow seniors to socialize with peers while learning new skills.
These kinds of settings tend to foster natural conversations. Seniors can bond over shared interests, which will lead to lasting friendships and increased confidence.
3. Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteering is a great way for seniors to engage in meaningful activities while meeting fellow seniors. It could be helping at the local food bank around the holidays, supporting community events, or tutoring.
Even if it’s just a few hours per week, this is often enough to help your loved one avoid those feelings of isolation that can be so detrimental. Volunteering creates a sense of purpose while introducing seniors to others who value giving back to the community.
4. Religious or Spiritual Groups
If your loved one has religious leanings, their church, synagogue, mosque, or temple will always be a great for meeting like-minded people. In addition to giving seniors spiritual fulfillment, they often provide a very strong sense of community.
When your loved one integrates themselves into a religious group, they’ll find multiple things to do throughout the week. It could start with weekly social events, but these groups often host study and worship groups as well.
There may also be opportunities to volunteer. Religious centers are often funded by donations, so they need help with upkeep. It’s another great way for seniors to feel like they’re contributing to their community while building social connections around their beliefs.
5. Clubs and Senior Meetups
Check your city’s directory for clubs and senior social activities. Most cities have senior-run groups and clubs specifically for older adults. They might include things like book clubs, hiking groups, or games/bingo nights.
As with senior community activities, these allow seniors who are either living at home or in communities to pursue their hobbies. Doing so in a group setting encourages social interaction and the growth of new friendships in a welcoming and comfortable environment.
Your loved one can easily fill their schedule with social clubs on different nights of the week. Over time, they’ll make new friends based entirely on things they’re interested in
6. Fitness and/or Wellness Centers
Seniors need at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Getting the requisite amount of exercise can be difficult for most seniors. It’s especially hard for those who deal with age-related health problems.
It’s all about having the motivation to get out of the house and do the activity. This motivation is a lot easier to generate when you’re exercising with your friends.
By enrolling in a local fitness center, your loved one can build relationships with other active seniors. It doesn’t have to be a high-impact workout, either. You’ll often see activities like yoga and water aerobics offered through local fitness centers.
Bonding over shared health goals is a great way to build lasting friendships. It also gives your loved one a support network to boost their physical activity and stave off things like osteoporosis, arthritis, and heart disease.
7. Travel Groups
Traveling with a senior tour group can be a game-changer for your loved one. These tour groups are designed for older adults to explore new destinations in a safe manner surrounded by their peers.
The excursions are often guided by an experienced traveler. They’ll take care of a lot of the logistics and planning so the seniors don’t have to. If your loved one has always talked about traveling but hasn’t had the time or resources to do it, this is a great way to do it.
Traveling to some of the world’s most unforgettable destinations tends to forge camaraderie among seniors. After some of these one-of-a-kind experiences, they’ll be able to reconnect with their travel buddies to reminisce about their trips.
Meet Seniors in Roswell
If you’re looking to help your loved one meet seniors in Roswell, a great senior living community can help build friendships. With welcoming accommodations, amazing amenities, and a long list of daily activities, your loved one will have no shortage of ways to find new friends.
TerraBella Roswell is one of Georgia’s best communities to find friends for seniors. To learn more about our community and everything that we give our residents, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an in-person tour.
