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162 College Highway
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A wonderful way for older adults to add meaning and joy to life is to initiate new friendships in the New Year. Studies show that friendship provides vital social connections that support mental and physical health. As people are living longer, it’s important to establish habits and routines that add quality to the Golden Years. Studies show older adult friendship is vital to lowering risk for and reducing the impact of existing chronic illness, such as cognitive decline, loneliness, depression, and heart disease. It’s never too late in life to make a new friend…the tips below will help you get started!
Health Benefits of Friendship for Older Adults
Throughout our lives and particularly during older adult hood, friendship provides vital social connections that offer protective health benefits that bolsters mental and physical wellbeingprotective health benefits that bolsters mental and physical wellbeing. When we are more socially connected, we give ourselves a “biological edge” over chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and chronic pain. Studies also show that friendship in older adulthood protects against mental health issues such as stress, cognitive decline, loneliness, depression and anxiety.
Since we are living longer, into our 90’s, it’s important to establish habits and experiences that support quality of life. Forming new friendships, no matter how young or old creates a special connection because it is chosen and offers mutual caring and support established around shared interests or personalities, which enriches quality of life. Additionally, a friendship grounded in shared respect and interest is an essential part of romantic relationships—no matter how old we are.
Tips to Create New Friendships Older Adulthood
While it is true that our social circles change during older adulthood, you can take steps to create and maintain new social ties in the Golden Years.
Meaningful Connection Can Be Short or Long-Term
Just as it benefits our health to eat a colorful variety of foods and to move our bodies indifferent ways each day, socially the same is true: Try to meet a variety of people. Explore different settings in which you might encounter kindred spirits. At the same time, don’t discount the benefit of friendly interactions in temporary situations—encounters with people where we have a shared goal (e.g., volunteer work) also builds a sense of community even if the encounter does not evolve into a lasting friendship.
Be a Joiner: Clubs and Organizations
A special interest club (book, music, art, photography, bird watching, walking, Sierra or Audubon Club, etc.) is a great way to meet people with similar interest as you. Your local YMCA, JCC, Senior Center, library, or senior living community will have many options.
Initiating New Friendships in the New Year: Tips for Older Adults
Easy Ways Older Adults Can Initiate New Friendships in the New Year
Not a Joiner? Take a Bus Trip!
If joining a group isn’t your thing but you’d like to expand your social circle, consider going solo (or maybe invite a friend you already have) to do a group bus tour or day trip. Many local bus companies, libraries, senior centers, etc. will host bus trips that are open to the public.
Get Social Media but Don’t Rely on It
Joining social media groups for older adults in your area can be a great resource for learning about programs, events, and opportunities to connect. However, don’t rely on social media to develop friendship—in person connection is the heart of real friendship. If you not media-savvy, a local librarian can help you get started.
Keep Learning: Take A Class
Check out the non-credit course offerings at a local community college or community recreation center. Art, history, cooking, master gardening, flower arranging, photography…and so much more can be right at you fingertips.
Bridge the Generational Gap: Volunteer
Volunteering with organizations that serve young people can be a great way to feel more youthful while also being of service. Consider becoming a mentor, a literacy coach, a classroom or library reader, or tutor.
New Friendships Found Every Day at Everbrook Senior Living communities
Engaging in hobbies and leisure activities is vital to quality of life in the Golden Years. Doing those things with a friends adds to joy and fulfillment, which supports healthy, independent living for older adults. At Everbrook Senior Living, our best-in-class services focus on our resident’s unique interests and needs. Custom programs are designed to help our residents establish new social connections, explore activities that add meaning and redefine purpose. Our exceptionally talented and caring staff create environments that nurture an older adult’s physical, emotional and social well-being. We wouldn’t expect anything less for our own family members and you should expect no less for you and yours.
Need for intimacy does not diminish as we grow older. Whether romantic or platonic, maintaining close relationships helps older adults experience greater vitality, a sense of belonging, and deeper meaning in life. There are also many health benefits that come with maintaining healthy intimacy during one’s golden years.
Benefits of Intimate Relationships for Older Adults
Whether it’s the closeness between two friends or sparking romance, there are some very simple ways to older adults can enhance their intimate relationships.
Everyday Moments Matter. Physical touch in small, mindful doses throughout the day is an easy way to let someone know of your affection for them. From a spontaneous backrub or foot rub to a gentle touch on the hand or shoulder, these signal to the other person that they are important to you.
Laugh Together. This is a good excuse to go to a funny movie or a comedy club: Laughing eases stress, promotes social bonding, and lowers blood pressure. It may even boost your immune system. Whether with your romantic partner or a special friend, think of ways that the two of you can laugh together more often.
Share More Deeply. Conversation with your significant person is a great way to build intimacy. However, discussion should be about more than the weather or the latest tragic story of the day. Sharing more deeply means opening up your heart, revealing feelings and disclosing hopes, fears, or dreams.
Switch-up Your Routine. By the time we reach older adulthood, we can be pretty set in our ways and routines. To create intimacy, get adventurous by switching-up your routines. This could be as easy as trying a new restaurant, working on a project/ hobby or taking a class together, or planning travel to destinations more exotic than you would typically consider.
It’s Thoughtfulness That Counts. We can get so accustomed to a platonic or romantic partnership that we forget to show appreciation for the other person by simply doing something nice for the other person. Enhancing intimacy can be as easy as offering a compliment, buying a small bouquet of flowers, helping with chores that are typically “the other person’s job”, or cooking a meal for the other person.
Unplug. Just like younger generations, older adults can get sucked into the digital world. Socializing on fine and developing new technology skills are great, but technology should not replace or interfere with personal interaction. Unplug and be fully present, in person.
Get a Little Sexy. Sexual intimacy in older adulthood can boost self-esteem, help reduce stress, enhance immunity, improve sleep, and help you maintain overall good health. If you’ve still got mojo to share (and who doesn’t) then get a little sexy! This might mean buying tasteful intimate attire for your partner, sharing a bed rather than sleeping apart (as many older couples resort to), exploring different ways to experience touch (e.g., massage), or if needed, working with a therapist who specializes in intimacy in older adulthood.
Healthy physical and emotional connection in older adulthood enhances intimate relationships. It’s good for your physical and emotional health and can strengthen friendships or spice-up romantic relationships.
At Everbrook Senior Living, the Life-Enrichment Activities Program is just one of the many offerings that focus on helping our residents establish and maintain meaningful relationships throughout the golden years. To learn more about our programs and arrangements for independent or assisted living, get in touch with us, today.
Resources
National Institutes of Health: Sexuality in Older Adulthood
Why is Intimacy Important for Older Adults? National Council on Aging
