Since the beginning of time, humans have been social creatures. In other words, people rely on the connections and relationships in their lives to bring more meaning, emotional development, and other amazing benefits to their general well-being.
However, it can be difficult for older adults to stay social as they get older, whether this is due to living a greater distance from their loved ones or they face age-related health conditions that make it difficult to meet new people.
With senior living communities throughout Alabama, Community Senior Life promotes environments where residents enjoy plenty of opportunities to increase their social wellness. Our team is sharing the many benefits of socialization for seniors and explaining how senior living communities can help bring new friends and meaningful connections into your life or the life of someone you love.
The Importance of Social Wellness
Social wellness refers to each of the many relationships that a person has in their life, how these connections are cultivated, and how an individual interacts with other people on a daily basis. This could involve calling a loved one on the phone for a regular phone call or making small talk with somebody that they don’t know. It’s important to nurture these relationships and build them up as much as we can so that we have a supportive system of people that add meaning to our lives.
Think for a moment about your current social life: what does it bring to your wellness, and how do your relationships lift you up? How do your friendships affect your self-esteem? How often do you see your friends and family members?
Carefully thinking about these questions can help you gauge your current level of social wellness and determine whether or not you should be making any changes or improvements to stave away social isolation and feelings of loneliness.
What is Social Isolation?
According to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, nearly one-fourth of adults over the age of 65 are considered socially isolated.
Social isolation, or having a lack of meaningful social connections, is a significant concern for older adults – more so than any other age group. It’s crucial to understand that any person can become socially isolated at any age or experience feelings of severe loneliness. Still, seniors are at a higher risk due to specific factors that they are more likely to face.
These risk factors include the loss of loved ones, living at a distance from family or relatives, or living with age-related health changes that can make it difficult to socialize and get out of the house. That being said, there are many other detrimental factors that come along with social isolation. For example, studies have shown that severe social isolation has been associated with a 50% increased risk of developing dementia.
How Can Senior Living Help?
It makes sense that many older adults assume that aging in place seems like the perfect option for their future. Nobody wants to move away from their home, especially if it’s the place where they’ve spent decades making wonderful memories. However, aging in place can drastically limit the amount of social interaction that an older adult receives on a daily basis, especially taking the risk factors into consideration.
Our senior living communities in Alabama offer the perfect solution to help stave off social isolation. With the wide variety of amenities, planned activities, and apartment-style living, the senior living lifestyle offers a wonderful way to get to know surrounding neighbors and develop friendships.
Additionally, the restaurant-style dining experiences offered in many senior living communities allow residents to enjoy their meals in the company of their fellow residents. In other words, there’s never a dull moment in a senior living community, and there’s always an opportunity to get involved in the community and meet new, friendly faces.
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At Community Senior Life, our goal is to provide residents with the perfect environment to enjoy their lifestyle and thrive by reaching their goals and embracing their full potential. That means exploring new opportunities for social connections and fostering meaningful relationships as often as possible.
To learn more about senior living options in Alabama, contact our team today!