Here are some tips to help you make friends at your community. Go to group activities: Most senior living communities have a robust social life with plenty of activities for seniors to choose from: yoga or morning stretch activities, arts and crafts, happy hours, educational seminars, outings to museums and more.
Check out Meetup.com, which helps you find local groups that get together for a range of activities, from bridge to bird-watching. Your local senior or community center, as well as churches and volunteer groups, are also excellent places to meet new people who might become friends, Cormier says.
Connect with activity groups
Activity groups around the country center on common interests. Many are for older adults seeking community and friendship. Check community centers, churches and senior centers around you. Online, look into AARP communities, Facebook Groups or Meetup.com.
Research tells us that, for both men and women, the age of 25 is when most of us start losing friends. “Suddenly, your friends disappear, or you all start taking new life directions as you graduate from college,” Jackson says. “You adopt new values. And so, you look up, and you think, 'Where did all my people go?
Friendships are meant to evolve over time. So if you've noticed that your circle of friends has shrunk in the last few years, don't worry – it's normal!
Senior Chatters is an online forum specifically designed for older adults looking for friendship or companionship online. With almost 10,000 members, it's one of the most popular senior friendship sites out there.
Industry leader Ratan Tata, on Tuesday, announced a undisclosed amount of investment in Goodfellows, a startup that offers companionship to senior citizens as a service. The startup was founded by Shantanu Naidu, a close mentee of Tata and a general manager in his office.
Indeed, the number of friends people have peaks around age 25, but then substantially drops around age 30, when work and the nuclear family take over. Americans, especially those who are highly educated and high-earning, work longer hours and are more likely to move for work than ever before.
Some research suggests that loneliness can increase stress. It's also associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems.
Friendships are made on Meetup
Since 2002, members have used Meetup to make new friends, meet like-minded people, spend time on hobbies, and connect with locals over shared interests.
In-home caregivers help the elderly stay in their homes. In-home services for seniors is a great option for aging adults who need regular assistance with activities of daily living (ADL). These ADLs include bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, transfers, medication reminders, meal prep, transportation, etc.
Amintro is the best social platform for adults 50+ looking for new and meaningful friendships. We believe in the old-fashioned power of simple friendship.
FriendMatch is just what is sounds like - a matchmaking service for friends. Similar to online dating, but for friends. Our international community of friend-seekers allows for making friends from in your neighbourhood or from around the world. Website http://www.friendmatch.com.
The effects of not having friends may depend on your perspective. If you are happy and still have social support, you are likely fine with your social situation. If you feel lonely or isolated, however, it may be time to think about expanding your social circle.
Aside from changes in the brain that impact inhibitory control and social cognition, it could simply be that as we get older, we care less about what others think. Compared to younger adults, older adults are less self-conscious, reporting fewer experiences of emotions such as shame, guilt, and embarrassment.
Find local groups that have the same interests you do. Look for groups that meet at your library with the same hobbies. Take classes in subjects that interest you at your local art museum or community college. By getting out in the community, you'll find people with similar interests who could become friends.