6 Ways Older Adults Can Expand Social Circle and Make Friends in 2023

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Friendship is a crucial aspect of the human experience. It can even act as a potent medicine. Several studies demonstrate that strong social support can improve self-confidence, alleviate anxiety, and enhance overall health; some even refer to it as a proverbial "vaccine" for health improvement.

Loneliness affects more than a third of adults aged 45 and older, and almost a fourth of adults over age 65 are socially isolated. While mental health decline has always had ties to loneliness, it's also associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

Finding quality adult friends can be challenging at any stage in life, but the elderly can feel this more acutely. "Later in life, we may be less active in places where to make friends".

How to make friends as an adult?

#1 Make time for hobbies

Is there something that interests you or a skill you would like to learn? Was there an activity that once made you happy but you stopped? Sometimes hobbies are forgotten when our schedules get busy, but they can help us meet others who share similar interests.

According to Paige Harnish, a licensed independent social worker and owner of Lifetime Therapy Services, "Reconnecting with things you enjoy is important, and it is the easiest way to build new friendships naturally."

There are many opportunities to enrich your overall happiness and find an easy path to friendships: take an art class with the community to brush up on your skills, boost endorphins with a group exercise class, or join a book club – the possibilities are endless! Make time for hobbies that enhance your overall happiness.

#2 Attend religious services

Whether you attend in person or participate online, visiting a church, synagogue, or mosque is a wonderful way to connect with others who share your beliefs. Religion has a unifying power, and today's places of worship provide numerous virtual opportunities to engage with like-minded people. Even if you are not religious but are spiritually inclined, you can still find similar communities to join.

#3 Embrace the web

Over the COVID-19 pandemic, society has retreated to remote work and friendships. According to Nadia Charif, a wellness coach, and advisor at Coffeeble, online relationships can bring happiness to her clients. She says, “A significant amount of happiness induced by friends can surprisingly come from digital connections.” Charif advises searching for Facebook groups with people of common interest. She jokes, “My own grandmother is a Facebook maven and still quite vibrant socially and emotionally at 83.

But not only on Facebook you can find friends and make new acquaintances. If you are open to new and interesting acquaintances, then use Omegle on mobile. The Omegle service is a chat with strangers, which makes a record number of acquaintances. True, the service’s policy is quite strict, so accounts are often banned due to radical views, unflattering statements, complaints, etc. To bypass these bans, you need a powerful and fast VPN, such as VeePN. It is enough to switch to another IP address and your access will resume.

#4 Meet your neighbors

Begin with your current social network. Do you know your neighbors? Are there any old pals you'd like to reconnect with? Host a dinner party with your current friends and urge them to bring along unfamiliar faces.

#5 Join travel groups

Travel is often undertaken by older adults for various reasons like visiting family, exploring ancestral countries, and discovering new places. Senior-oriented travel agencies provide customized tours and travel packages suited for independent or guided tours, budgets for luxury trips, and both group and individual travel options. They offer various tours, like bicycle tours, overseas tours, land and cruise tours, and city exploration trips, that cater to a wide range of travelers. Traveling gives older adults an opportunity to meet new people, socialize, and make friends, while also traveling to new destinations and experiencing new adventures.

Just keep in mind that your elderly parents are not so well versed in technology and they are at increased risk. Do everything so that they use PCs and smartphones safely. One option is to install a VPN extension for Firefox or another browser. It will protect against many scammers and classic deception schemes.

#6 Community gardening

Do you love gardening? If you do, joining a community garden could be an excellent way for you. Community gardens are plots of land that are looked after collectively by a group of people. Even if seniors have mobility issues and other challenges, they shouldn't give up on their lifelong love of gardening.

This leisure activity delivers a variety of benefits that are advantageous for the mind and body, including exercise, stimulation, and accomplishment. Moreover, various gardening tools are available for seniors, and there are approaches to aid an aging gardener. If you have a knack for gardening, participating in community gardens would be a fantastic way to socialize with people. Make sure to keep at it and become a frequent participant.

Conclusion

Friendship and companionship are two of the most vital needs for elderly adults. The challenges of aging inevitably make this difficult, but luckily there are many ways to find friends as an older adult. Whether it's through hobbies, religious services, or online platforms, taking advantage of these opportunities can help seniors create a strong social circle in 2023 and beyond.