Socializing with others and making friends is enjoyable and important for people of any age. But particularly in one’s golden years, developing meaningful relationships is particularly important. During your lifetime, your workplace was likely where much of your social interaction took place. Through time, you continued to strike up new friendships. You experienced social connections that felt fulfilling.
The relationships you’ve made through time are important but forming new relationships and solidifying them makes for healthier, happier individuals. In an assisted living community, retirement community, etc., it’s easy to make friends. Ordinarily, there are numerous programs, events, celebrations, and more during which to socialize. Even eating three meals a day in the dining room can be an opportunity for socialization.
Let’s see why making friends is beneficial.
The Benefits of Friendships
Keep your old friends close, but never pass up an opportunity to make new friends. Here are some of the benefits of socialization and forming relationships in a retirement community:
- Friends who are similar in age can better understand the life experiences of one another.
- For mental support, physical support, and more, retirement age people can rely on each other.
- Human touch makes you feel connected and stimulates the mind. There are very few things that can take the place of someone’s hand on yours.
- Walking with friends is particularly beneficial whether it’s to the park, a mall, or just up and down the halls. Physical activity improves heart health, balance, and muscle tone. It also helps you maintain a healthy weight.
- One’s overall mood can be improved by socializing with friends who have a positive outlook on life.
Ways to Make Friends
Especially in a retirement community, there are numerous ways to make friends. Here are some general suggestions:
- Put together a walking group. As suggested earlier, walking helps keep you healthier and happier. Walk with friends at the mall, around the grounds, through the park, or wherever you feel safe.
- Organize a game night. Get together with friends and play the same game every time you meet, a different game every time you meet, or organize a tournament (don’t forget to give a prize to the winner).
- Form a book club. For people of all ages, reading expands the mind. Once everyone’s read the book, have stimulating conversations about it.
- Whether it’s crafting canes for vets, knitting blankets for the homeless, or some other charitable cause, volunteer for the nonprofit or charity of your choice.
Make New Friends and Enjoy Life In Our Assisted Living Community
When you reside in Morada Grand Prairie – an assisted living community – you can be as busy and/or socially active as you desire. We have regularly scheduled celebrations, events, activities, and more. Some of these include movies and TV, live music performances, exercise classes, visiting local restaurants, informative lectures, shopping trips, and diverse recreation including arts and crafts, games, and more. Each of these provides an opportunity for socialization and making friends. It also helps enjoy relationships you’ve already developed by doing things together or pursuing activities that you have in common.
