Retirement comes with pros and cons. It means the freedom to do whatever you want. However, retirement also means spending more time alone or being cooped up at home due to mobility issues which often leads to loneliness and depression. Older adults in senior housing must maintain social interaction for their emotional and mental health.
Keeping relationships and spending adequate time with family and friends keep the senior adults’ minds active. Spending quality time is good for the heart and brain.
How Social Interaction Affects Us
Research shows that spending time with your support group fosters mental and emotional well-being. Social interaction is also an important aspect of adult life and as people age with the following benefits.
- Social engagement can help boost memory formation. In addition, it protects the brain from neurodegenerative diseases.
- Social interaction develops better and healthy habits, particularly when doing something difficult because of the encouragement from others. It can lighten the mood and make people happier.
- Enjoying constant communication with family members, friends, or colleagues can make people happy. Aside from diet and lifestyle, the research found that SuperAgers appeared to be socially active. When constantly surrounded by the people dear to you, being socially connected is one important element to a longer life.
- Social interaction fosters the feeling of belonging, safety, and security.
Why Social Interaction is Critical for Residents in Senior Housing
Older adults in senior housing should spend a few hours of social interaction each week to brighten up their mood and overall health. Family members should encourage their loved ones even those with limited mobility.
Boosts Brain Health
- Social interaction can keep seniors mentally stimulated and be aware of their surroundings. Being socially active can also improve seniors’ communication skills while preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disease. Constant communication will also enhance senior adults’ networks that they can rely upon in the future.
Lowers Risks of Isolation and Depression
- Residents in senior housing must maintain relationships with their fellow residents, friends, or family members so they can openly discuss how they are feeling or the things that are going on with their lives. Having no one to talk to or a strong support group often leads to loneliness, isolation, boredom, and poor decision makings.
- Limited or failing to interact with the people around can lead to increased stress levels resulting in the development of serious illnesses. Also, having a strong support group promotes healthier habits like mental engagement, eating on time and hearty food, regular excise, and other important lifestyle choices.
Ways to Stay Engaged from Afar
Despite the challenges brought by the COVID19 pandemic, staying socially active should not be hindered. In today’s digital age, there are numerous ways to stay connected to your network from afar.
Video calling and messaging are easily available to keep in touch. Regardless of time zone differences, senior housing residents can still nurture relationships and carry on with meaningful conversations.
Even not so techy adults can still take advantage of the virtual world through emails and social media messaging. But if these are too much, seniors can always resort to phone calls.
Ready to make the move into assisted living? Get in contact with us at Fallbrook Assisted Living by clicking here!
Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper