4 Essential Benefits of Socializing in Old Age - And, the Ways to Find Your Tribe

Having a lifelong connection and meaningful relationships is a virtue in life. It helps us in having a better perspective on life, our character development and having a life full of good moments and memories.

Socialization is an important aspect of life, and one should work on developing and maintaining it throughout the life. This is the very reason why parents encourage children to have friends.

However, there is one generation where social life is neglected - senior hood. People fail to nurture their social relationships as they advance in age.

Being a part of a community and having the sense of belonging is extremely important post retirement. Having a good conversation, sharing a laugh and having some light moments keep seniors young at heart and bright at mind.

There will be many who remind you as a child about the importance of socialization. It is actually elders who need to be reminded of.

There is a plethora of physical and mental health benefits of healthy socialization episodes in elders' lives. Here are 6 of them.

Fosters Emotional Health

• Connecting with your friends or family members boosts brain health and its functionality.
• There is enough evidence to prove that having strong social connections in life means the individual’s chances of getting dementia is pretty low.
• Memory loss in older adults has always been a condition that gives enough reasons to worry about.
• Spending time with friends and your favorite people will improve your brain’s ability to remember better and stay sharp even in matured adulthood.
• Active social interactions keep seniors away from almost all sorts of mental conditions and illnesses like stress, anxiety and even depression in seniors.

Strengthens Physical Health

• When a senior is involved in social activities, they are maintaining a strong physical regimen.
• It is safe to say that people who are active socially are safe from chronic medical conditions such as lower blood pressure, cardiovascular conditions, and hypertension.
• Many researches have proven that active social life reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and also boosts blood circulation to the brain.
• By keeping the seniors active, social life improves cardiovascular strength, reduces the risk of diabetes, and helps in maintaining a healthy weight.

Better Quality of Life

• Seniors who have healthy social connections always find ways to have a better quality of life.
• They are motivated and look forward to each day with child-like enthusiasm and spend their time in a productive manner.
• They are better organized and avoid dependency by always exploring ways to keep themselves and people around them happy.
• When a person retires, all they have is time. And people with better connections just know how to have a quality time without even wasting a minute.

Better Decision Makers 

• People with an active social life are much more engaged with the ways of life than people who are not.
• This gives them better clarity and perspective to make the right decisions. They are also experts in giving better advice to their children and friends.
• Lack of social life is linked to declining cognitive health. Seniors with an active social life don’t have to worry about it.

If socialization is what you sow, better connections and an active life is what you reap even in your retired life. If you are an elder who is finding it difficult to maintain a better social life, here are a few ways you can try.

Joining Social Communities -

• If you are new to the city or to the locality, joining in institutions that gather people together is the way to go.
• Becoming a member in volunteering communities, gyms, groups that organize community services, and spiritual communities help you find likeminded people

Social Media -

• Relying on social media for new friends and connections is the funda of millennials. It is your time to break this stereotype.
• Start your hunt for your connections today by staying active on social media. Icing on the cake is, having good followers on social media makes you cool!

Alternative Senior Living Communities -

• Probably the best option to stay active socially. Alternative senior living communities like assisted living facilities help you find the right connections.
• You get to share the same environment not only with likeminded people but with people who belong to the same age bracket.

It is never too late to explore your life to churn the moments of joy. Trust us, you need it. Retired life doesn’t have to be boring or compete your day with a snail’s pace.

Make it as colorful and as exciting as the rainbow by being on your feet. And, staying socially active is your trump card for a vibrant retired life.

Athulya assisted living an all-round luxury senior living community that fosters a holistic living experience for the elders. Find your tribe at Athulya today by booking an appointment and witness how exciting a retired life can get!