Socializing and connecting with others safely is possibly your best asset for a long, healthy life. The physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of even casual friendships are not only numerous, they are worth celebrating every day.
As the saying goes, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” At Clearwater Living, you’ll find a treasure trove of potential friends waiting for you.
The health benefits of staying social for seniors are many. Here are the top 5.
- Boosts self-esteem. Who’s often the first to congratulate you on a success? Many times, it’s your friend, or circle of friends. We draw strength and encouragement from those around us and in turn, they often are our biggest cheerleaders. They support our healthy choices, wipe away our tears, and show up for us when we need it most. And as a resident of a senior living community such as Clearwater Living, you’ll always be within easy reach of a potential friend.
- Improves coping skills and reduces stress. Having a friend nearby helps you get through the tough times in life which is so important at this stage of life. We go through losses of all kinds. But being able to share your thoughts with someone you like can help reduce the stress and make things more manageable. Having someone near us who can lower our stress is one of the most rewarding health benefits of staying social for seniors.
- Increases the sense of belonging and purpose. Living in a community like Clearwater Living creates a feeling of family. Just knowing there are people around who care about you and with whom you can share your thoughts and concerns is reassuring, even when safety protocols are in place. Relationships give our lives meaning. You are part of something. You are a member of a group. You have a purpose and that feels good.
- Encourages healthy habits. When you live around people who are doing their best to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it rubs off on you. Seeing someone else eat right, refrain from drinking too much, or stick to their exercise routine influences how you act. You’re more likely to lace up your athletic shoes and join them on that walk. Everything’s more fun—including exercise—with a friend!
- Keeps your brain sharp. Having friends and acquaintances around you helps keep your thinking and cognitive skills sharp. In addition, your friends may have common interests, which can stimulate your mental engagement, in turn keeping your brain active. And, according to The Alzheimer’s Association, remaining socially active may support brain health and possibly delay the onset of dementia. For those individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s, social activities can reduce agitation levels and improve a person’s quality of life.
Everyday contact is linked to higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.
Does it matter how often you are around others? Researchers say yes. A study from Journals of Gerontology focused on how daily contact with friends is linked to levels of happiness and satisfaction in later years. Compared to contact with romantic partners or family members throughout the day, the study found that contact with friends played a much stronger role in enhancing daily emotional well-being in older adults. And it did not matter if the contact was only acquaintances.
You can find this type of everyday contact at Clearwater Living, where we believe purposeful connections with others, shared experiences, and community involvement are integral to health and wellness. And as we move forward, we are committed to providing social experiences that keep resident safety and wellbeing as the first priority.
Whether you’re moving into a Clearwater Independent Living, Assisted Living, or Memory Care community, you can discover a world of options that enable choice and empower successful aging. Call the community nearest you today!