Senior friendships are crucial during the time in your life when you need to surround yourself with those who offer support. Friend date ideas include cooking a meal, crafting, and more, which can help stimulate social life in assisted living, independent living, or memory care communities.
Friendships matter more than ever as we grow older, according to the Healthcare Policy and Innovation Center at the University of Michigan. UMich reports a stunning 90% of respondents aged 50 and above have at least one close friend, highlighting the importance of trusted relationships in our senior years.
In this article, we will explore some of the best bonding activities for seniors, especially those in Fayetteville, GA, who reside in senior living communities.
You do not have to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy the benefits of spa treatments. Buy items online or from a local beauty store to engage in a spa day at home.
Put your feet up and watch a good movie while waiting for a mud mask to set, or paint each other's nails. Add to the ambience with amenities such as big, fluffy robes and salon-style snacks.
Getting outdoors is important for seniors to increase their vitamin D absorption. Time spent in the fresh air can also be a valuable mood booster. Why not bring your friend date outside, rather than spending the time indoors?
Consider joining an outdoor activity group, such as a walking or hiking club. See if your senior living community offers events geared toward seniors. Even taking a stroll around the grounds can do wonders for your mental and physical health.
While it can be easy to scroll on your phone for hours on end, picking up a book is a much more cognitively enriching activity. Whether you gravitate toward classics or bestsellers, any type of reading can help keep your mind sharp and boost your mood, among other benefits.
To add a social layer to reading, consider starting a book club. Attend a book club as a friend date, and discuss an assigned book or simply talk about your latest reads.
Food brings people together, and this adage is still true in old age. At Heartis Fayetteville, you do not have to leave the community to experience a gourmet meal with your friends. We have various options for residents all day long, such as:
Bonding later in life often means having missed out on decades of previous connections. Bring out old photo albums and share details about your lives, such as your family and where you went to school.
Perusing old pictures is a great cognitive exercise, too. Triggering happy memories and recalling vivid details can strengthen your brain and form new neural connections that contribute to increased cognitive abilities.
Doing chores can seem like a hassle, but completing tasks with a friend will lift the mood. If you plan on going to the same spots, consider doing it together. Schedule hair appointments for the same time frame or coordinate trips to the post office to avoid boredom.
Maintaining friendships and forming new ones in your senior years is more important than ever. As you age, it can be difficult to develop close relationships with new people in your life.
Many seniors struggle with socialization because they suffer from isolation and loneliness. Some are grieving the loss of a spouse or loved one, or simply miss seeing coworkers every day after retiring.
Senior friendships promote cognitive and emotional well-being. Finding engaging activities to do with those close to you can also give you something to look forward to, providing you with a sense of purpose.
Luckily, assisted living and other senior communities are designed to make it easier than ever for residents to socialize and build new relationships. There are plenty of activities offered throughout the week that cater to a variety of interests.
One of the keys to staying on top of your social life is commitment. Consistently commit to plans and do not back out of them, even if you feel like being alone. Intentionally meeting with others will help you feel less isolated and motivate you to leave the house more often.
For residents in memory care, it may seem more difficult to foster senior engagement. However, there are still many opportunities for social connection, even if cognitive abilities continue to decline.
Memory care residents can participate in crafting groups together or watch movies. Doing activities as a group that help to maintain cognitive health benefits residents on multiple levels, from the thrill of social engagement to sharpening the mind and retaining useful skills.
When it comes to friend date ideas, there are plenty of options that you can partake in without spending too much money or stressing out. With this guide, you can cultivate meaningful friendships at every stage of life, including your senior years.
At Heartis Fayetteville, we value the mental and emotional well-being of our residents. Our dedicated staff members work hard to provide an enriching environment that encourages bonding activities and connections amongst residents. With exclusive amenities such as chef-prepared dining and plenty of fitness options, there are endless opportunities for seniors to foster friendships.
Are you ready to bring your friendships to the next level? Reach out to us today at Heartis Fayetteville, or visit our beautiful location in Fayetteville, GA, to see it in person. We can't wait to hear from you!