Why It’s Important for Seniors to Maintain Friendships

Having a healthy social life and strong friendships aren’t just important in a person’s younger years, but it’s just as important in the later years as well. Between adult children having their own lives, living alone, or widowed, it’s very important for seniors to maintain friendships because of the positive impact it has on their everyday lives. Here are 7 reasons why it’s important for seniors to maintain friendships:

1. More sociable and less boredom
   They are not just sitting at home wasting their last years away. Friendships give them a zest for life and they look forward to social activities. Since most seniors are retired, they don’t have a job to go to. And because their kids are all grown up, they don’t have a family to raise. They are left with several hours of free time to do whatever they want. Instead of waiting at home for their grandkids or adult kids to visit them, they can live their life to the fullest with their friends.
2. Increase in physical activities
   Seniors who maintain friendships not only benefit socially but physically as well. They are more active in their daily lives. Older adults who meet with their friends regularly are more fit because they are not as sedentary as those who isolate themselves. From going window shopping, going to lunch, taking a walk around the neighborhood, or a trip to the local museum, seniors can find several ways to spend quality time with their friends.
3. Decreases depression and isolation
   Seniors who have strong ties with their friends decrease their chances of depression and isolation because they have someone they can trust to talk to. Even if they can’t physically see each other as often as they’d like, regular phone calls, FaceTime, or Zoom allows seniors to maintain friendships. Having a good friend to talk to allows some venting, sharing stories, and a listening ear.
4. Maintain an individual life
   Seniors who maintain strong friendships and an active social life are able to maintain their own life. They are looked at and treated as an individual by their friends rather than a frail, helpless, elderly person. Those who have maintained friendships from their childhood or younger adult life often have a better understanding of self.
5. Healthy friendships and healthy minds
   Friendships aren’t always kept within the same age range. There are many instances when someone in their 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s establishes a friendship with someone in their 60’s or 70’s because friendships aren’t solely based on age. It’s based on connections and compatibility. When two individuals of different age groups become friends, they often introduce something new to the other. Learning and trying new things is a good way to keep the mind healthy among seniors.
6. A sense of security and support
   Adult children feel more secure when they know their aging parent has a longtime friend that they can trust. The friends that live nearby regularly checks-in whether it’s via telephone or a home visit and this gives adult kids a sigh of relief knowing their parent is being checked on. The more friends a senior has, the stronger their support team becomes. Regular communication and interaction with reliable and trustworthy friends are especially beneficial for aging adults who live alone in their homes.
7. Good friends help create good memories
   Having good friendships help create better days for seniors, especially if they lost their spouse or are battling a chronic illness. Friends can help uplift their elderly friends when they are feeling down or when they are going through a traumatic life event. When seniors start to decline in their mobility or overall health, social outings may decrease, but with the help of a professional caregiver, strong friendships can be maintained throughout the golden years.

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