Even the most private people crave human connection. Our senior years can make this especially challenging if someone has primarily made friends based on who they were around at school or work. The image of the lonely senior wishing a family member or someone from their church would visit the home is a sad picture of how to spend our golden years.
Contrast that with an Assisted Living Community where seniors find others just as eager to make friends as they are. They discover a homelike environment without the constant craving to “get out of the house” instead of being tethered to a computer or a TV.
It can feel sometimes as if everyone else is already paired up, but it’s never too late to make or replenish our “stock” of friendships. Still, there’s no doubting that the process of making friends is awkward for everyone.
The key to making new friends is engaging with people. We do this earlier in life when we are thrust into interactions with schoolmates or work colleagues, but when we retire, we may be around others less often. Perhaps by joining a church or volunteering, we find reasons to speak to and work beside others.
Assisted Living is another way to forge such connections, with planned activities scheduled to keep fun and physical fitness in senior lives. When living alone, we might feel ashamed or embarrassed to admit that we feel lonely, but it’s impossible to not to interact with other residents in our community. Furthermore, there’s no risk in extending a hand in friendship only to be rejected because newcomers have their pick of residents who are in similar life circumstances. Here, everyone’s dance card is filled up with the same enjoyable outings and entertainment.
Experts say it is important to take things slowly and not expect too much too soon when making friends in our senior years. Someone who seems needy can be a turnoff. Friendships need time to blossom. We also have to show interest in other people rather than simply expecting them to care about us all of the time. Friendships are about making someone a priority to spend time with, sharing common interests, and nurturing acquaintances so real relationships have time to blossom.
When someone new moves to Regency, our activity directors make a point to audit their interests and determine what they find fun. They may take on the role of platonic matchmaker, pairing the newcomer with a resident whose interests or personality are a good fit. Small talk over meals can lead to deeper bonding. When two residents observe each other deriving the same enjoyment out of an activity, this leads to shared excitement whenever the activity is planned again.
If a couple move to Regency, they may find great joy in connecting with another couple, sitting together at meals or riding together on the bus for outings. Life at Regency can involve exercising together, worshipping together, growing together.
We can expand a circle of friends by seeking out people who are a little different, perhaps younger or older. Certainly, the staff at Regency count our residents among their dear friends.
The rewards of having close friendships are happiness and longevity.
To learn more about Regency, call us at (256) 852-0033.