Studies have shown that having an active social life delays the development of memory loss and preserves the state of our brain health as we get older. So needless to say, it’s important for our seniors in Ohio to get out and mingle. If you’re looking to meet new people and live in an Ohio retirement community, but you’re not quite sure where to meet them, then follow this great list of ideas below.
Join an Interest Group
Joining an interest group is a great way to meet new people who have or share common interest as you. You can join a group for gardening, traveling, and crocheting just to name a few. Quite often places such as high schools, junior colleges, and community centers offer these types of group activities for the elderly to engage in.
Take Classes
Do you enjoy exercising, staying active, or need to lose a few pounds? Then join one of your local gyms and enroll in a few classes that are geared towards seniors. You can also meet other seniors by taking some enrichment classes at a nearby high school, college, or library. Look for classes with topics that interest you such as computers, history, literature and travel. No sense in enrolling in classes that are going to bore you. This is supposed to be engaging and fun, so pick what you like as well as what you feel will enable you to learn something.
Volunteer at Your Local Theatre
Sometimes local theatre groups are in search of elderly people to volunteer to play the roles of older characters. If you love acting and the arts, this too can be a great way to interact with people your age and to flex your creative muscles as well.
Volunteer at Other Places as Well
Places such as hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and hospice love having senior volunteers and are greatly needed. Once you’ve been attending these places on a consistent basis, you’re sure to find another elderly person with common interests to become buddies with.
Participate in Activities at a Retirement Community
If your part of a retirement community, then how about participating in some activities that are going on there. In the activities room, they often have games such as bingo and cards, as well as arts and crafts.
Cultural and Community Events
Try searching the internet for dates of events to attend to such as book signings and art gallery openings. Many local galleries may offer a tour of their studio while showcasing a plethora of local artist’s drawings. These are for seniors who appreciate the arts and enjoy being active in the community.
One of the main things to keep in mind when becoming socially active is to always choose things to participate in that you have some interest in. If you always follow and stay true to that rule, then you’ll always meet people who share in the same interests and likes as you which makes being social so much more enjoyable.
Ryan Weaver is a senior care professional with over 25 years of industry experience. In his free time, Ryan enjoys blogging about various senior activities and social events.
Originally posted 2013-11-18 18:50:51.