Senior Living: How Social Are You?

Sephanie Clifford wrote an article for the International Herald Tribune (Paris: June 4, 2009) about the importance of social connections as we age.  One of the greatest challenges faced by older adults is the loss of their social network.   Spouses die, friends get sick or move away, children live in another part of the country, neighborhoods change, and soon you are finding yourself quite alone.  There may be days at a time when you don’t see another person.  This is what is known as social isolation.

 

The new future of old age is all about staying in society and staying socially connected.  Technology becomes a big part of this movement because it provides a way to stay connected with family and friends.  Snail mail never worked for my family.  It just didn’t seem to be in the genes, if you know what I mean.  Not one member of my immediate family could put a pen to paper in order to keep in touch.  It was gratifying to find that these same people, who couldn’t compose a snail letter to save themselves, can now tap out an electronic message with apparent ease.

 

More and more people are joining social networks and researchers are finding that these networks can provide the same benefits as a group of friends.  Technology has provided a new way to make new connections, make new friends, and feel a sense of purpose.

 

It has long been known that social connections are important and play a huge role in health and life satisfaction.  People with strong social relationships show less mental decline, live more active lives, have fewer physical limitations, and adapt to changes more easily… more so than people who are isolated.

 

Rosemary Bakker in her book “The AARP Guide to Revitalizing Your Home” provides some interesting tips for staying socially connected:

 

• Try something new that involves getting out of the house and interacting with new people.  For example: host a book club or start/join a crafting group.
• Get involved with a volunteer cause.  Not just busywork but get involved with a cause that you feel passionate about.
• Get connected to the Web; set up a computer station and e-mail your children, grandchildren and friends.  Join an on-line interest group.
• Throw a pot-luck dinner.  Go ahead, be the one to organize it….don’t wait for someone else to make the first move.
• Sign up for a free service that allows video chat or video calls from your computer so that you can visit friends and relatives who live far away.
•  This is not the time for you to mumble that you don’t need new fangled gadgets.  Technology plays a big part in the scheme of things now and you are cutting off your own nose, so to speak, if you refuse to become a part of the world today.  It is a pretty exciting place.

 

 

Comments

[firstSTREET]

You present some very interesting facts here. It is great to point out that social media is a huge hit for seniors, for many of the reasons you mentioned above.