According to the 2023 University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), 34% of U.S. adults aged 50 to 80 reported feeling isolated. Over a third also said they experienced a lack of companionship, while 33% had infrequent contact with people outside their homes.
If left unaddressed, those issues can lead to chronic loneliness. Unfortunately, chronic loneliness can have adverse effects on older adults’ physical, mental, and cognitive health.
For those reasons, older adults should take the time to explore senior events in their area to help them connect and interact with others.
In this guide, our caring staff at GreenTree at Westwood will share the top options for senior socialization. Read on to discover what they are and where to find them.
Explore Your Local Senior Citizen Center
Senior citizens’ centers are focal hubs for physical, recreational, and social community events for seniors. They provide many programming and services tailored for older adults, including:
- Educational courses
- Arts and crafts classes
- Music and dancing lessons
- Social networking for seniors
- Physical fitness classes
- Games like bingo, billiards, Scrabble
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) says that older adults who attend senior center events and programming experience better psychological well-being. They also have increased social connections, which can contribute to greater life satisfaction and higher levels of health.
For those looking for events for seniors in Columbus, IN, the Mill Race Center is one of the area’s non-profit senior citizen centers.
Find Socialization Opportunities Through Volunteering
Community service or volunteering also makes for excellent senior social activities. It allows older adults to connect with other people of all ages while giving back to their community. It can give them a stronger sense of purpose and a feeling of joy and fulfillment for doing something that can benefit others.
The Mayo Clinic Health System says that research backs up the mental and physical health benefits of volunteering, especially for adults 60 and over. For instance, it can help boost seniors’ physical health. Giving back to the community may also help lower rates of depression and anxiety in elderly adults.
Here are some options for older adults seeking to volunteer their time to community service in Columbus, IN.
Landmark Columbus Foundation
Landmark Columbus Foundation is a non-profit that cares for, protects, and advances Columbus, Indiana’s architectural and cultural heritage. It hosts senior volunteer opportunities for its Exhibit Columbus program.
Mill Race Center
Columbus, Indiana’s senior citizen’s center, Mill Race Center, not only organizes and offers social events for elderly adults but also welcomes them as volunteers. Seniors can meet people of all ages when they serve as Welcoming Volunteers at the center’s lobby information desk. They can also volunteer their time as task force/committee members to help the center develop new programs.
Columbus Animal Control Shelter
The Columbus Animal Control Shelter offers opportunities for volunteers to meet new people of other ages and interact with animals. According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), the human-animal bond can positively contribute to healthy aging and better mental and physical health.
When you volunteer at the Columbus Animal Control Shelter, you may be able to play with the resident pets, feed them, and take them out for walks.
Consider Moving to a Senior Living Community
Senior living communities cater to the specific living needs of older adults, allowing them to lead maintenance-free lifestyles. However, that’s only one of their benefits. For instance, our independent living community, GreenTree at WestWood, makes social activities and events for seniors easier to access.
Here’s how our community meets our seniors’ social needs.
Celebrations Activities and Events Program
GreenTree at WestWood residents can access our exclusive Celebrations program. It’s our carefully curated calendar full of daily social events and opportunities. Many are recreational, while others are educational.
Here are some of the things our residents do for fun, learning, and community interaction:
- Book clubs
- Arts and crafts
- Gardening
- Music and film
- Exciting games like bingo
- Educational endeavours
- Themed parties
Dimensions Health and Fitness Program
GreenTree at WestWood’s Dimension Health and Fitness program allows our residents to enjoy state-of-the-art exercise and gym equipment. We also have fitness professionals who can guide and help them with their health and well-being goals.
Under this program, our residents can attend various activities, such as gym classes and meditation sessions. They can also opt for guided senior-friendly dancing activities.
Sensations Dining Program
Here at GreenTree at WestWood, meals are among the highlights of our residents’ days. After all, our expert culinary team serves them three delicious, nutritious meals daily.
As experts, our kitchen staff creates a menu of delectable items that change daily. We do this to ensure our residents don’t experience food boredom.
Our Sensations Dining program also meets our residents’ social needs by letting them break bread with others. They can enjoy their meals in our community’s warm and welcoming dining room, only a few steps away from their apartment homes.
Our culinary team and kitchen staff also handle everything, from meal prep to food service and clean-up. So, our residents can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy eating in the presence of their neighbors and friends.
Expressions Concierge
GreenTree at WestWood aims to help our residents thrive in their golden years, and we know that assisting them in organizing their day is one way to achieve this goal. As such, we offer them Expressions Concierge services, which they can think of as having “personal assistants.”
Our concierge team is happy to be there if residents simply want someone to talk to or need assistance finding social events. They’re also glad to help with home management tasks, online ordering, or personal deliveries.
Stay Active and Social With Fun Senior Events
Senior events for socialization can help older adults avoid isolation and loneliness. They can also give seniors ways to keep learning (e.g., educational programs) and give back to the community (e.g., volunteering).
If you or an older loved one is looking for an enriching environment that promotes healthy socialization, look no further than GreenTree at Westwood in Columbus, IN. Our senior living community looks forward to having you and helping you have quick access to social, recreational, and physical activities and events.
Call us today to schedule your tour! We’d love to show you around our lovely, pet-friendly community.
