When it comes to the golden years, there are many positive things to look forward to. However, there are a few difficulties, and one of the more common ones is loneliness in seniors. Sadly, as seniors age, it can become challenging to maintain relationships. It becomes harder to make time for old friends with busy schedules, and some friends simply aren’t available anymore for one reason or another. Additionally, favored activities sometimes become harder for seniors, causing them to lose interest.
When that happens, loneliness can become a major concern. In the post-COVID era, social isolation has become an even greater issue for seniors, as people are now more reluctant to gather in public spaces and form new friendships. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, one in four seniors faces some form of loneliness, and a lack of social connections can exacerbate the risk of dementia and depression.
How Can Senior Living Help Combat Loneliness in Seniors?
Joining a senior living community in Alpharetta can be an excellent way for seniors to start building new relationships with others in the same situation. That’s because assisted living centers such as Inspired Living offer a wide range of activities that cater to several different interests. Maybe you’ve never really had time to take up painting, and you really want to develop your skills now that you have some free time on your hands. Arts and crafts classes can be a great way to both build those skills and enjoy some fun with other residents in the community.
Or maybe you’ve always had an interest in certain authors and want to discuss their works with others who share your interest. Book clubs are just one example of how shared interests bring people together. Living in a senior community naturally encourages these kinds of relationships because people will gravitate toward the things that interest them. As you start to see familiar people on a regular basis, you can start to form new relationships and friendships, giving you something to look forward to every day.
How Can Activities and Relationships Fight Depression?
One of the toughest things about loneliness in seniors is that it hits at a time when seniors have more free time to discover a newfound purpose. For decades, people spend the majority of their time focused on their careers and their families, neither of which take up as much time as seniors enter full-fledged retirement.
Giving the brain a purpose each day can help release feel-good chemicals that keep the brain stimulated, active, and healthy. These kinds of actions can help ward off the need for memory care assistance because you’re keeping your brain engaged on a daily basis and encouraging it to make new connections.
If you’re ready to explore senior living and how it can help you forge new connections, it’s a great time to get information and schedule a tour. Moving into a community can be the first step toward ending loneliness in seniors.
