How to Make New Friends in Your Senior Years

People of any age thrive on friendships and social connections with others. This is particularly true for senior friendships, and can have a direct bearing on the physical and cognitive well being of older adults. In fact, lonely individuals may be far more likely to develop dementia than those who socialize regularly. In addition, when you keep and make new friends in your senior years, you may experience less stress, and be less susceptible to depression.

Socialization, for many, also translates into better physical health, including lower blood pressure, more resilient immune systems, better nutritional choices, and fewer aches and pains because of increased activity.

We lose friends as we age–as friends move or pass away, our social networks dwindle. In most cases, retirees do not try to meet new people, and let’s face it, connecting with someone you don’t know can be hard to do.

However, there are ways for you to find new acquaintances and make new friends in your senior years.

Social Media

Find like minded people on Facebook, Instagram, or a social media site that you may have used. If you are not sure how to do this, Silversneakers provides “The Beginner’s Guide to Social Media.”

Volunteering

One way to meet people who share your interests is to volunteer.

AmeriCorps is connected to a U.S. government website. Its volunteers serve in communities across the nation.

Habitat for Humanity is a global housing organization that works in more than 70 countries and nearly 1,400 communities throughout the U.S.

The United Way can help you find volunteer opportunities near you.

Continuing Education Classes

Many community colleges offer a wide array of community education classes–history, art, literature, gardening, or photography, for example. Going to class with other individuals who have similar interests is a great way to make new friends in your senior years.

Sports and Senior Fitness Classes

Being a member of a team is a great way to connect and form friendships. The National Senior Games Association provides information on 25 senior sports and other athletic activities.

Exercise classes involve a group of people working toward a common goal, which helps promote conversations. They provide opportunities for talking with others about fitness and diet tips, and discovering other topics of mutual interest.

Thumbtack is a site that can assist in locating a senior fitness trainer in your area.

Trips for Seniors

Guided tours for seniors provide an opportunity for seniors to explore together. The details are handled by the tour company, allowing time and energy to focus on the sites and your fellow travelers.

The AARP lists top senior travel tours.

Meeting Future Friends

Once you find a group, cause or event that interests you, use the opportunity to engage with others.

Maybe it’s been awhile since you have struck up a conversation with someone you don’t know. Here are a few reminders to help the conversation go well:

• Listen to the other person with the intent to learn. Sometimes we are so concerned about how we are going to reply that we don’t really hear what the other person has to say.
• Let them complete a thought, then echo back the last few words that they spoke as a summation. You may want to form it into a question: “So, you are saying . . .” This tells the other person you were really listening and are interested in what they have to say. Ask follow-up questions and stay positive.
• Ask for their opinion or advice on a topic.
• Give them a compliment (if it’s genuine): “Your ideas are very interesting.”
• Ask open-ended questions. These are especially good at a shared event. “Why did you choose to attend this seminar?”
• Lean slightly towards the person who is speaking, and maintain eye contact.  Body language such as leaning away or crossing your arms could be interpreted as being defensive or dismissive.
• Talk about shared interests. If you are in an exercise class, discuss fitness challenges. If you are on a senior tour, ask them about other destinations they have visited, and share some of your experiences with them.
• Be mindful of the person’s time. If he or she seems restless and ready to end the conversation, thank them and move on.

While beginning a conversation with a stranger may seem a bit awkward at first, you will feel more comfortable the more times that you try. Good luck!

Find more on healthy relationships for seniors in our Senior Living blog.