It’s reported that half of individuals over the age of 60 face a risk of social isolation. Another third of adults over 60 years old may find themselves lonely later in life (BMC Public Health). Thankfully, assisted living communities make it easy for seniors to connect with other residents, forming friendships that combat loneliness.

Enhancing senior living isn’t a one-size-fits-all, however. Building friendships is often based on common interests as seniors bond with other residents as they engage in activities they mutually enjoy. This article explains some of the best senior community activities designed to engage all residents in assisted living homes and independent living communities.

Shared Interests

Since each senior living community boasts a wide array of activities, there’s no shortage of ways for residents to bond over shared interests. This might include any of the following activities:

Gardening
Cooking
Painting
Crafting
Games
Reading
Exercise

By joining in different social activities, seniors can meet new people and make friends, engaging socially and enjoying the world around them.

If there are opportunities for group classes, such as exercise groups, book clubs, or crafting circles, residents in assisted living are encouraged to join. They’ll not only learn new skills but will enjoy the benefits of exercise, for example. This includes:

Better sleep
Improved bone health
Increased flexibility
Pain reduction
Immunity boost

There are many more benefits, but these are just some of the reasons why seniors should join exercise groups while cultivating new friendships. This includes opportunities for strength training as a group event.

Volunteer Work

Seniors in assisted living can come together through various volunteering opportunities. This might be making crafts for the less fortunate or for local children’s hospitals, letter writing, or helping out in town at local food pantries.

As older adults connect through volunteer work, they’ll have opportunities to engage socially while giving back to the community.

Other ways seniors can volunteer include:

Helping out at animal shelters
Working in community gardens
Working as museum docents
Teaching children in the community and mentoring local youth
Assisting Habitat for Humanity

By volunteering, seniors are connecting with peers and meeting new friends in the community while bettering the world around them.

Benefits of Social Interaction

Active senior lifestyles can decrease a person’s cognitive decline. This leads to a reduction in disability, allowing seniors to live independently longer.

Senior living tips that include active lifestyles work to keep residents physically active. This works to empower seniors, providing them with more energy. From there, they’re better equipped to interact with other community members, enjoying the world around them.

Even better, staying physically active can boost a person’s immune system and may even improve brain health.

Social interaction also allows older adults to feel a sense of belonging. They’ll feel cared for and as they’re included in different activities, will have a confidence boost and understand just how important they are to so many people and that they matter.

By engaging seniors socially, they may also find that social interaction improves their mental health while decreasing the risk of depression. They may also find that it encourages healthier habits and lifestyle choices while assisting older adults with gaining a sense of independence.

Parties and Celebrations

This might be a birthday party, anniversary, or holiday event. Regardless of the reason behind the celebration, these activities provide plenty of opportunities for seniors to come together and connect with other older adults in their adult community.

When seniors come together for different parties, they create new memories while looking forward to each event. Festive parties work to make everyone feel included and can even provide opportunities for seniors to craft different decorations for each special occasion. They can even work together on custom invitations, party planning, menu preparation, and more.

Gardening

Gardening provides seniors with a means of reducing stress while connecting with other older adults. Even better, when growing fruits and vegetables, they can later use their crops for cooking.

When seniors participate in community gardens, they can meet other residents in assisted living that they might not otherwise connect with. They can bond over a shared interest in gardening and watch what they plant come to life and thrive. Gardening may even reduce dementia, making it an ideal activity for seniors.

Group Meals

Not every senior in assisted living has the opportunity to enjoy a meal with others. But group meals provide opportunities for all residents to come together to break bread and enjoy one another over a delicious meal.

If there is a cooking class residents can take together, they can even use these newfound cooking skills to cook meals for other residents. Even better, they can use items from their community garden to create nutritious and delicious meals for everyone to enjoy.

Adopt a Pet

Although adopting a pet is a lot of work, seniors looking for companionship should consider bringing home an animal in need of love. They can let others in their assisted living community come and visit their pet, providing hours of conversation and discussion. Plus, pets can work to combat depression, making them ideal for older adults.

There may be times when older adults don’t have anyone to socialize with, especially if they miss their families and need companionship. But pets can offer someone for them to snuggle up to and talk to when they’re feeling lonely and need some love. They can even take their pets to visit residents who can’t leave their beds and need socialization and who would benefit from pet therapy.