Tips for Encouraging Social Engagement in Seniors
A sense of community and companionship are important parts of every stage of life, but they can be harder to find as we age. To avoid isolation, it’s important to encourage social engagement in seniors by providing enriching and fun activities. At Fairlawn of Olympus Retirement Living, we’re committed to offering a safe place for seniors to thrive among their peers. Let’s look at ways to encourage your loved ones to get out and socialize with others.
How to encourage social engagement in seniors
One of the best ways to encourage social engagement is to provide social events and activities for them to attend. Regular classes like arts and crafts, book clubs, and game nights can bring like-minded people together to be creative while filling their social cups. Here are a few suggestions for encouraging social engagement among seniors:
- Use technology: Encourage seniors to learn and use technology to connect with their loved ones and friends.
- Provide opportunities to volunteer: Volunteering benefits others and gives people a chance to connect, serve, and feel a personal sense of accomplishment—no matter their age.
- Offer transportation to new places: Isolation is a major factor in preventing seniors from engaging with others. Offering transportation to places like parks, shopping, and local events allows them to get out in the community with their peers.
- Schedule educational events: Continuous education is an important part of life. Provide relevant lectures and classes on topics like health and wellness, finance, art, and other hobbies that seniors may enjoy.
- Create intergenerational events: Schedule events that include children, teens, and young adults at your independent living community. Annual Trick or Treating activities, Easter egg hunts, tutoring, and game nights can be fun events that benefit people of all ages.
Fun activities for social engagement
The best way to encourage social engagement is by creating a wide range of activities and events that are scheduled throughout the year. This gives seniors a chance to pick activities that are interesting to them and allows them to meet others who have similar interests. Some of these fun activities include:
- Arts and crafts classes
- Bingo nights
- Health and wellness programs
- Outdoor activities like walking and bird-watching
- Volunteering
- Shopping trips
- Educational classes
- Potlucks
- Gardening classes
- Coffee hour
- Chapel services
- Cooking classes
Why social engagement is so important for seniors
People are hard-wired to live in community with one another. Unfortunately, many seniors face unique challenges in finding and maintaining meaningful friendships. Health problems, isolation, and mobility issues can make it difficult to leave home, but the benefits of social engagement are far-reaching. Experts continue to tout the importance of senior friendship regarding a person’s psychological, cognitive, and physical health.
Seniors who are actively involved with their peers have higher self-esteem, are more confident, and are less likely to suffer from mental health issues like anxiety and depression. They’re also more likely to exercise in a group setting, leading to fewer health issues like cancer and heart disease. Having a solid community also impacts a person’s cognitive health. Seniors who socialize with their peers regularly receive more brain stimulation, and they are often less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Tour our retirement living home today
If you’re beginning to think about the future, check out Fairlawn of Olympus Retirement Living. Our community boasts a wide variety of activities, health and wellness programs, and enrichment opportunities for residents who live here. Feel free to use our Community Assistant to get quick answers to questions, or contact us anytime. We’d love to show you around our beautiful community.