Making Friends as a Senior – How to Develop Friendships as We Age
When we were kids, making friends was easy! We would play together in the morning, and be best friends by the end of the day. As we age, making friends becomes more challenging, not to mention social distancing from the COVID Pandemic. Here are some tips to making friends as a senior.
Maintaining Old Friendships
The easiest way to make friends is to reach out to old connections that you may not have spoken to for years. Give them a call just to “catch up” and find out how life has changed for them over the years. You may be surprised at how much your life parallels theirs. You will both undoubtedly have some good stories to share of your time together too. It may be awkward at first, but it will be well worth your time if you can get past those first few moments.
If you’re vaccinated and ready to head back out into the world post-covid, You can invite your old friend to do some of the following low-key activities to get reacquainted and ease social jitters:
-Invite them out for a cup of coffee or tea
-Make plans to exercise together by going for a walk outside
-Invite them to check out a local attraction like a nearby museum
You’re never too old to make new friends
Making new friends, while more challenging, can also be very rewarding for seniors. Some of the best ways to make new friends are to get involved in social groups that interest you, and enjoy the activities of the season
Here are some tips for making those new friends once you find them:
Show up
Sometimes the hardest part of doing anything is just showing up. Once you can commit yourself you to being there, you’ve done most of the work
Strike Up Friendly Conversation
This might be the most awkward part, but it could be as simple as saying “hello” or complementing someone on hair, clothes, or personality.
Ask Questions
Once you have the conversation started, ask questions to keep it going. Ask them about their likes and dislikes or what they think about a topic.
Keep reaching out
Once you’ve established communication, it’s important to keep putting energy into developing that friendship. Reach out to them regularly to see how they are doing or just to catch up.
Research shows that social isolation can lead to many health issues. And there’s good evidence that friendships can enhance not only quality of life, but also your mental and physical health.
Senior LIFE, a Friendly Team in Your Corner
At Senior LIFE, we treat our members with the same respect and care that we show to our own family members. Once a Senior LIFE member, meeting your healthcare needs is our priority. We will work with you and your family and caregivers to make a healthcare plan that’s centered around you.
Can we help you?
Let’s schedule a virtual or in-person visit to find out! Contact us today via our online contact form: https://seniorlifepa.com/contact
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