3 Ways to Stay Happy and Social in Retirement
Your retirement years are ready to be the best ones of your life -- that’s what we’re always told. And while it’s true, there are several factors that go into making your golden years fully enjoyable. The most important is staying social.
Social isolation is a serious condition that affects too many seniors. The Canadian National Seniors Council found in its eye-opening 2014 report that as many as four in 10 seniors living in residential care, meaning not in their own house or apartment, have been diagnosed with or show symptoms of depression.
That’s a statistic that should shock us all. So too should research finding a link between social isolation and an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
These findings and more underline how important maintaining a social network is throughout our life, and even moreso in our older years.
Thankfully, there are no shortage of ways to stay socially happy and, yes, physically healthy, whether you live on your own or at a retirement residence. Here are some great ones, including opportunities available right here at Sundial Lakeview Retirement Residence.
Social occasions like birthday parties
You should always have a social event or party on the calendar. At Sundial, we make sure our monthly schedule features fun social occasions for our residents to enjoy themselves and make new friends through.
For example, we celebrate our residents’ birthdays every month with a group birthday party. This summer, we celebrated our six August birthday babies in a party with music, plenty of laughs and of course some birthday cupcakes. No matter your age, you can always have a fun birthday bash and get-together.
Classes, including exercise classes
Taking a class with others is a surefire way to have fun and keep socially active. In your community you can look at organizations like your local community centre to discover a world of options, ranging from cooking to arts to fitness, that connect you with a group of people who share your interests. At Sundial, we regularly put on fun workshops such as arts and crafts, and also keep our residents moving together with regular fitness classes that focus on having fun while exercising.
Group outings
Another option to stay social and change your perspective are group outings. Look for guided tours available in your area provided by local seniors centres. These can include outdoor festivities like a trip to a park, or seasonal activities. These trips bring people together and create lots of opportunities to strike up a conversation! We make sure to plan seasonal-specific group trips for our residents, such as a fall colours tour on a comfortable minibus, or even something as simply enjoyable as a shopping trip to the mall.
There’s no shortage of ways to stay social in retirement. At Sundial Lakeview Retirement Residence, we make sure you can always find a fun activity or event to do and make new friends. We pride ourselves on putting our residents’ social happiness first and foremost to make sure everyone has the best Orillia retirement home experience. You can view our September events calendar here for a look at how much Sundial has to offer. If you have any questions about staying socially active in retirement, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and if you are curious about a tour please get in touch with us today