From tennis to softball to bowling, sports clubs can connect you to senior sports leagues. A study in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B found that adults over 80 who connected with others through technology had better mental well-being than their peers who did not reach out digitally. Libraries, museums, thrift stores, and soup kitchens also rely on volunteers in order to operate. They may also host dances as well as mixers to meet other seniors in your area. Getting involved is as easy as simply expressing an interest. They may also host dances as well as mixers to meet other seniors in your area. You can get out of the house, meet new people, and make a difference in your community. It's an excellent way to stay connected and engaged without even having to leave your home. Start by checking out companies like Road Scholar, ElderTreks, and Adventures Abroad. You might also find clubs that center around sports like golf, tennis, or baseball. This reduces cognitive impairments by up to 50 percent! It can improve brain function, sleep and stress levels. Camp Chief Ouray and the City of Sacramento Senior Summer Camp are two options you may want to check out. Some specialized camps are specifically designed to give adults over 50 the chance to spend a few days doing things like swimming, kayaking, and sitting around the campfire with other people of a similar age. Check out the following sections for ideas on how you can maintain social connections and reap the rewards of doing so: With that in mind, here are 16 things you can do to boost your social well-being: This is a great way to find senior activities near you. Most centers have a wide range of offerings, including exercise classes, educational programs, and arts and crafts workshops. Working under the direction of activities coordinators, these assistants lead seniors in games, crafts, and exercise routines. The society reaches across the world and has received awards. Plus, many cities have foster grandparent programs in which you get to spend time with at-risk youth who need positive role models in their lives. You can learn new knowledge and skills while also having fun. Being physical and exercising are two major benefits to participating in sports. Sometimes it’s nice to have our own corner of the internet to connect with our peers. Knitting several times per week can help lower stress levels and improve a person’s mood. Getting involved in senior clubs near you is a fantastic way to stay socially active. Here are a few options worth checking out: Preventing social isolation in elderly people can be challenging, especially if they're less mobile than they used to be or can no longer drive. The founder gave the friend a red hat along with a poem that encouraged aging women to have fun and be themselves. They want to cut down on the loneliness many feel as they age, especially if seniors’ only in-person connection is their assisted home health aide. A lot of colleges and universities offer senior classes. Popular sites allow you to create personal profiles, connect with friends and family members of all ages, join groups of like-minded people, and engage in other social activities for seniors near you. Another benefit is what you do with what you knit. Reading is so much better for us than we often realize. According to the World Health Organization, an elderly person should do at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise every week. Joining new clubs and societies is a great way to get out there and meet new people, but if you live in a rural area with limited social opportunities or just find it hard to step out of your comfort zone, this can be rather tricky. When people get together to discuss books, those benefits multiply. You get to live among people of the same generation, and most places of that type are designed to meet the needs of active seniors. Social media allows seniors to see new photos of their grandchildren each day, reconnect with friends from high school and stay on top of local and international news. The main responsibility of activities assistants in nursing homes and retirement communities is to organize social groups for elderly residents and help them have fun. Many also serve a low- or no-cost breakfast or lunch, so it's possible that … Health issues, accessibility and motivation can all keep us from enjoying life the way we’d like. It's clear that maintaining your social well-being can come with a whole host of mental and physical rewards. Buzz50 – a social networking site for seniors over 50. Senior travel groups often provide guided tours of different areas depending on the location you choose. Senior centers are much more than resources! Make sure to check around your local senior center for more club ideas in your area. Or go on a longer in-state, out-of-state, or out-of-country excursion. You can also look into senior RV clubs or cruise lines that offer special rates for older adults. Seniors who spent two hours a week practicing soccer had improved oxygen levels. Sharing interesting information and anecdotes about landmarks, museums, and other attractions can be a great way to meet and mingle with people from all over the country or even the world. Stitch, a new social network, provides their site only to seniors. Social engagement is important for people's well-being, regardless of their age. These women gather online or in-person during local meetings to have fun and support each other. in 2006. Joining a club or group can help. When it comes to clubs for seniors, they’re a dime a dozen. Seniors who get together to critically discuss books have fewer dementia symptoms and improved memory skills. Some are general interest and offer a variety of activities, while others concentrate on specific interests. Senior centers are much more than resources! You can make new friends and even date other seniors you meet through the site and associated in-person groups. Other sports like golf can improve concentration, problem solving skills and limit the hold dementia can have on someone. Many positions are seasonal or temporary, so you'll still have plenty of time for other pursuits. You can take fitness classes together or even go on field trips! And if it's a for-credit class, you may have the option to audit it, which means you're not required to complete assignments or exams. Additionally, Senior Corps is a government agency that's dedicated to linking seniors with community volunteer opportunities. Tour guides strive to engage with travelers in order to help them enjoy their vacations as much as possible. Many seniors live near an institution that allows them to participate in courses as they age. Sorry guys, the Red Hat Society is for women only! Many groups come together to knit items for children, especially hats and blankets for babies in a neonatal intensive care unit. Here are a few of the benefits that come from staying socially engaged as an older adult: Are you looking for paid opportunities that provide lots of social interaction and allow you to help your fellow seniors connect with the people around them at the same time? From meet up groups to making the most of life, there should be something for everyone. So you could find all kinds of fun events and activities happening right in your own residential community. This group calls itself a playgroup for women. There are clubs for just about anything you can imagine. Joining up with senior groups near you can be an easy way to meet that target and bond with new people at the same time. Some towns and cities have activity or community centers, libraries, or houses of worship that host senior citizen friendship clubs that enable the 55-plus crowd to get together. Plus, swimming, water aerobics, dance, yoga, and tai chi classes offer low-impact ways to boost your strength and flexibility, improve your balance, and prevent falls. This keeps seniors in touch with each other while offering them unique experiences and learning opportunities. What practical tools can be used to simplify the role of the caregiver? Meeting on a schedule and knowing that you need to read certain parts of a book by a certain date can also keep seniors organized and social. 6. Volunteering can become one of the most fun and meaningful activities you do as a senior. The desire for romantic companionship certainly doesn't stop during your senior years. Waukesha County Technical College in Wisconsin provides a Learning in Retirement (LIR) community. You can find recommendations for elderly care services there as well. Senior centers vary in what they offer, so always check with the one closest to you. You might also provide transportation to appointments or accompany clients to senior social clubs. People over 55 can volunteer to help with things as simple as providing transportation for someone to get to the doctor or giving family caregivers a break before they’ve organized assisted home health. Organized social pursuits also provide a sense of purpose and give older adults something to look forward to regularly. Such social groups for older adults typically offer organized activities like bingo, pool, mahjong, and bridge. Working part-time can be an excellent way to socialize with other people, keep your mind stimulated, and earn a bit of extra cash at the same time. You can find r… Many shelters welcome volunteers who are willing to feed or groom the animals or take the dogs out for a walk. You can take fitness classes together or even go on field trips! You can pursue positions that draw on your existing skill set or go for something entirely different. Senior Chatters – a place to chat, create personal blogs and join group forums. A key part of the job is simply keeping your clients socially connected with the wider community. It can also motivate people to work towards goals. For example, volunteers at senior homes might play games, make crafts, or swap stories with the residents. OneFamily only supply advice on lifetime mortgage products. Building and maintaining social relationships can have a huge impact on seniors' overall wellness. So if you’re stuck in a rut or just fancy reaching out to like-minded people, try any of the above sites.