Key Takeaways
- Independent community living for seniors can provide social connections, which are proven to improve health, safety, happiness, and quality of life.
- Activities that involve giving back to others can provide a sense of purpose in a senior community, and all you need is a willingness to give.
- Our independent living and affordable housing communities provide social engagement opportunities that can help you realize all of the benefits of friendship and community.
Table of Contents
1. Measurable Health and Longevity
2. The Built-in Safety Net a Senior Community Provides
3. The Happiness Benefits of Friendship
5. Purposeful Living from Giving Back
Ready to Find Your People? Schedule a Tour Today
Friendships during the senior years do more than just pass the time. They promote meaning, happiness, and even a longer life. If your loved one lives alone, an independent living community can provide that crucial social network without sacrificing their independence.
Aging can bring about changes that make it harder to socialize with others. Lack of transportation, physical limitations, and health challenges often keep older adults isolated, especially if they live alone. Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of health problems, including heart disease, dementia, and depression.
The good news is that something as simple as friendship can change everything. We see the top five benefits of friendship in our communities every day. If your loved one is living alone, we’d love to visit with you and let you see for yourself what independent community living for seniors could do for your loved one.
1. Measurable Health and Longevity Benefits
An analysis of 148 studies confirms that older adults have a 50% greater survival rate when they have stronger social bonds compared to when they don’t. According to the University of Florida Health, positive social relationships improve health at the cellular level, which can affect the entire body and mind. Researchers found marked improvements in overall health, including multiple measurable improvements, such as:
- Reduced stress hormones
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved sleep
- Longer life span
- Younger appearance
- Reductions in cognitive decline
Even a phone call just once a week produced some of these benefits. Just imagine what an active, vibrant social life could do. According to the research, social connection is as important as sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
This is something we’ve long known at Sholom, and it’s why we make social engagement a priority in all of our communities. Our Welcome Home program means your loved one will meet one of our resident ambassadors on Day One, who will make them feel at home. They’ll meet other residents and learn how to get involved with the many activities we offer to keep those connections vibrant.
2. The Built-In Safety Net a Senior Community Provides
Living in a senior community means building relationships with people who care. As your loved one gets to know others, they will also be known by others. When residents in a close-knit senior community care about one another, they are often the first to notice when something is wrong. They’ll notice subtle changes like:
- Someone not coming out of their apartment like they usually do
- Sudden confusion or behavioral changes that could point to a UTI, low blood sugar, or other urgent health needs
- Lower energy or vitality than usual
- Colds or flus that last too long or seem severe enough to warrant medical attention
No matter how attentive you are, you can’t be there every minute. Knowing your loved one is in a community of people who care about them can give you added peace of mind, knowing that they are never truly alone.
3. The Happiness Benefits of Friendship
Not every day is easy when you get older. Aches and pains can make it harder to get out of bed. Knowing there are people to see and activities to enjoy gives people a reason to stay active, show up for meals, get dressed, come outside, and exercise. They often feel better once they do.
Social friendships provide benefits beyond what a romantic partner or family member can provide. According to The Journals of Gerontology, older adults reported more pleasant experiences around friends compared to family members and partners, especially friends that weren’t close. They reported:
- Better moods
- More fun
- More companionship
- Fewer stressful experiences
Chai Wellness at Sholom is our holistic wellness program, and we support an active social life through activities and events that provide new experiences and help residents get to know each other.
Friendships can never replace the love you and your loved one share. Social relationships meet different needs. Having both you and those social connections gives your loved one access to a life that’s truly fulfilling and joyful.
4. A Peer Group That Gets It
Meeting up with peers from childhood or high school can bring up nostalgic feelings. The older you get, the fewer opportunities you have to talk to people who grew up in your generation. Talking to your children about what it was like when you were growing up isn’t quite the same as sharing those experiences with people who have been there. Your kids may not like the music you like. They may not get your humor or the phrases you use.
Living in a senior community lets your loved one mingle with people from their generation. They can listen to that 50s music with others who like it as much as they do. They can enjoy sock hops and other events that have gone by the wayside. They can talk about where they were during major historical events. They might enjoy talking about their favorite television shows and other moments that define their generation.
Being around someone with shared values, shared tastes, and shared memories can increase camaraderie and make your loved one feel like they have a place where they still fit in somewhere in this world.
5. Purposeful Living from Giving Back
Purpose is a powerful force that can take your loved one’s focus off personal difficulties because of a greater good. Helping others is one of the most effective ways to create meaningfulness, and it doesn’t have to be complex. Simply sitting with someone who needs moral support is often enough. Helping someone cook a meal or giving someone a card are simple gestures that can create a sense of purpose.
Our Ambassador Program makes it even easier for residents to find purpose through giving. We offer multiple opportunities for residents to shine through meaningful activities, like:
- Welcome newcomers
- Help with event setup
- Volunteer their talents
- Participate in community tours
- Tell their stories
- Create homemade gifts
- And more!
It doesn’t take any special talents to be an Ambassador at Sholom. It just takes a desire to give.
Ready to Find Your People? Schedule a Tour Today
If your loved one lives alone and you would like to see them experience the benefits of friendship in a senior community, reach out to us. Our independent living communities provide light assistance with housekeeping, community meals, and a supportive community ready to welcome your entire family.
We’d love to give you a tour and help you find a community that will give your loved one all of the benefits of friendship and community. Schedule your tour today.
