Best Social Activities for Seniors

• As adults age, there can be less of an opportunity to remain connected and social with their peers.
• Social activity and engagement are shown to have positive health benefits, including longer life spans, fewer diseases, and greater satisfaction of quality of life.
• There are plenty of activities seniors can become involved in that contribute to their physical and mental health, including events at senior centers and senior living communities.

As people age, the opportunities for social activities and participation in social engagements often become less available. For older adults who live alone or don’t have close connections to family, it becomes easy for them to become socially isolated which has an impact on their emotional well being and overall health. Luckily, there are a wide variety of ways for seniors to get socially involved in ways that feel organic to them and their lifestyle.

Participating in social activities has multiple benefits for older adults, including mental and physical health benefits, as well as a stronger sense of involvement in their own life. Here is a closer look at ways staying socially active benefits seniors.

Less Likely To Develop Diseases

Studies have shown that seniors who stay socially active are less likely to develop certain diseases, most notably dementia, strokes, and even heart disease.

Potentially Longer Lifespan

Studies have also shown that older adults with more social ties and who remain socially engaged have longer life spans as opposed to those who do not. Being social, especially if the nature of the social activities aligns with someone’s interest, may help them live longer.

Improves Cognitive Skills

Participating in certain activities while interacting with others can help prevent or lessen cognitive decline. Some studies have shown social engagement can help prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Better Overall Mental Health

Seniors who have plenty of social activity have been known to experience lower levels of depression and an overall improvement in their mental well-being. Emotional health and a sense of purpose also seem to increase in active seniors.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult for seniors to socialize or remain socially active. There are many difficult situations and different limits that a person may face when engaging in social and other activities.

Poor Health

Older adults may be diagnosed with health issues or be limited in both physical and mental capacities, making it harder to participate in social activities. Fortunately, there are ways to be social, boost overall well being, and engage with others in enjoyable ways, even for those with limited mobility. A person who struggles to physically move, for example, may spend their time listening to favorite music with friends or attending lectures on topics of interest to them. These activities present lower risks than other social activities, such as volunteering at an animal shelter or doing yard work with a neighborhood group.

Family Barriers

In some cases, a lack of family engagement or support from a caretaker could hinder seniors from engaging in social situations, especially for older adults who struggle with decision capabilities. Families or caretakers who aren’t actively involved in or willing to help older adults often provide a barrier for seniors, even if unintentionally.

Fatigue/​Tiredness

It’s not uncommon for older adults to experience higher levels of fatigue, and for many, this can contribute to a lack of staying socially engaged.

Not Enough Opportunities/​Lack of Facilities

Some older adults may live in areas where social activities for seniors aren’t a high priority, and therefore have fewer opportunities to find events. Others may simply be unaware of activities they can engage in, or they live in a space where there aren’t proper facilities for social activities to thrive.
 

Create Easy, Attainable Options

For seniors who experience health problems or have limited access to travel, it’s important to have easy, attainable options available for socializing. Some great examples of places to look into include:

• Senior living communities

• Senior centers

• Libraries

• YMCA

• Volunteer organizations

• Retirement communities

• Community choral groups

Encourage Family Involvement

While not all senior adults may have close family connections, for the ones that do, family involvement can play a significant role in encouraging social involvement. Whether it’s through regular visits with family members, going to the park with young kids, or simply accompanying seniors on outings, they are more likely to be involved when surrounded by people they know and trust.

Have a Trusted Health Professional Suggest Options

Speaking of people they know and trust, if a senior has a trusted healthcare professional who has been involved in their care for years, having them suggest socialization could potentially play a positive role in their involvement.

Take Things One Step At a Time

In some cases, older adults are often too tired to regularly engage in certain social activities. Working out a consistent, yet reasonable, schedule can help ease the burden of feeling overwhelmed. Planning to attend two events each month or engage in a short activity once a week can be a way to start small and build up excitement for the activity without completely draining them.
 

There are plenty of fun activities that seniors can participate in that also promote healthy habits, including:

Taking an Educational Class

Plenty of community centers, local colleges, and senior living communities offer educational programs and classes that older adults can participate in. Learning new skills is not only beneficial for mental stimulation but can connect them with other like-minded people to spend time with.

Joining a Book Club

Joining a book club can help facilitate discussions and allow older adults to experience new perspectives as opposed to reading a book on their own. Additionally, plenty of books come in larger prints or have audiobook options for those who have trouble seeing/​hearing, yet still want to participate.

Joining Exercise Class

Physical exercise at any age is often easier when participating in a group—it’s no different for seniors. Physical fitness is incredibly important as we age and joining group exercise classes not only increases these physical health benefits but can also provide support and accountability to keep going.

Taking a Gardening Class

Gardening is a great way for seniors to relax, though gardening sessions still involve physical activity and may be part of an active lifestyle. Some senior centers and assisted living communities have gardening classes that can promote older adults to remain socially engaged and physically active while participating in their favorite hobby.

Going to Music/​Art Events

Music and art have both been shown to have positive effects on older adults—adding a social component can potentially have a greater impact. Whether touring an art museum, joining a local choir, or taking an art class, there are plenty of creative activities to work with that also provide opportunities to engage with others.

Trying Pet Therapy

Pet therapy and ownership have been shown to have great outcomes and effects on older adults, including:

• lower blood pressure
• less loneliness and more social support
• overall higher quality of life satisfaction
• lower rates of depression

Playing Board Games/​Puzzles

Board games and puzzles can be mentally stimulating and low-impact activities that allow seniors to interact with each other without too much pressure. Playing games can also help sharpen thinking abilities and promote positive feelings, which can help in managing stress. Board game nights can help foster a sense of community without too much hassle involved. Some board game cafes and community centers offer free board game groups for older people.