How Seniors Can Stay in Touch with Friends and Family
April 13, 2022 | Resources
When Mary first moved to an Independent Living apartment home after her husband passed away, she had trouble connecting with other community members.
She also lost touch with friends she had in her old neighborhood, and wasn’t as good as she had been about calling family members out-of-state.
Mary used to walk a mile every morning with her neighbor before her move to a Life Plan community, but she hasn’t walked since she moved. Now her knees and hips feel stiff, and she’s having trouble motivating to do much of anything besides watch TV.
When, after a month, Mary still didn’t seem to be engaging with her new community—or her family and friends— Kate, Activity Director for Mary’s Life Plan community, took note—and took action.
Social engagement is now recognized as being essential to wellness, particularly for seniors who can be at risk for both loneliness and social isolation. According to the National Institute on Aging, seniors who do not engage socially are at greater risk for cardiac problems, cognitive decline, and mood disorders, including depression. And Mary has many risk factors: widowed, living alone, not engaging in activities, not exercising, and communicating less frequently with friends and family.
The Global Council on Brain Health, in conjunction with the AARP, published a study called The Brain and Social Connectedness. One goal of the study was to define what makes social connection so essential and identify its key components, such as fun, joy, and a sense of belonging, meaning, wellbeing, and purpose.
The group of independent scientists, health professionals, scholars, and policy experts also included specific recommendations on how seniors can optimize and promote social connection:
- Have a set schedule of communicating with family and friends
- Seek out opportunities for learning and engagement
- Ask for help in getting to activities
- Stay in touch with friends and family of various ages; seek out intergenerational connections
- Help others by volunteering to foster a sense of purpose
Other ideas for creating and maintaining connection include using social media, having video chats, creating a program around a common interest with other community members, and adopting a pet.
Maintaining physical and mental health also helps seniors avoid social isolation by identifying any underlying issues that may be keeping a senior from engaging. Also, getting regular exercise and managing stress are important components of good health.
So as not to overwhelm Mary, Kate began with small steps, first stopping by to have afternoon tea. Kate learned from their conversation over tea that Mary used to have a cat. Kate told Mary about the Cat’s Meow community group whose members volunteer at a local cat shelter on Tuesday mornings and then go to lunch.
Kate noticed that Mary seemed stiff when getting up from the sofa, and told Mary about the water aerobics program at the indoor pool. She suggested Mary meet with one of the Fitness Center professionals to see what type of exercise might be a good fit and follow up with a doctor for any additional concerns.
Kate also took Mary to the Community Center on campus one afternoon and showed her the user-friendly video chat computer set up for use by residents. Together, they were able to reach Mary’s granddaughter, Krissy, via Facetime.
Six weeks have passed since Kate first had tea with Mary, and Mary has seen positive change in her life since. She is now on a regular schedule of chatting with her out-of-state relatives, and has gotten so much stronger from her water aerobics classes that she now walks with her neighbor every other afternoon. She is also fostering a cat, and enjoys her Tuesday outings with the Cat’s Meow.
Mary is grateful to Kate and her new friends for helping her rediscover a life of meaning, purpose, and connection!
At the Robin Run Village retirement community, you’ll feel immediately welcome and excited to begin a fulfilling lifestyle with a secure future. Connect with your true purpose in pursuits that bring you joy — from trying a yoga class to painting a masterpiece to taking in the sunset from our lakeside dock.
