Bethesda Terrace Residents Celebrate National Friendship Day

Over the past four years, Bethesda Terrace residents Joan Howarth and Milt and Aldy Herrick have developed a strong bond that has made each other’s lives more fun and fulfilling.

Joan is from the St. Louis area, while Milt and Aldy spent most of their lives in the wide-open spaces of the Dakotas. But fate brought them together at Bethesda Terrace, an independent retirement living community located in Oakville, MO. A matching wry sense of humor made them all fast friends. Now they couldn’t imagine life without each other.

“Our backgrounds couldn’t have been more different,” Aldy said. “But right after Joan moved in, we were placed at the same table in the dining room and we clicked right away. We started talking and have never had a problem starting a conversation since – and we’re laughing all of the time!”

Bethesda Terrace Residents Joan, Aldy, and Milt celebrate National Friendship Day.

The three have a standing date to eat all their meals together. They also enjoy adventures to area casinos, shopping centers, parks, and occasional trips during the summer to a swimming pool.

Joan, Milt, and Aldy were counting on the security, simplicity, and ease of independent living. But when they moved to the Bethesda Terrace retirement community, they weren’t counting on finding a new best friend that made their lives more fun and fulfilling.

“We feel so lucky that we found each other,” said Aldy. “We have a lot of fun together. But there are also days when things aren’t going right, and it’s nice to have a person you can confide in. We look out for each other through the good times and the bad.”

Benefits of Making Friends for Seniors

National Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. On this day, people spend time with their friends and celebrate the bond of friendship. Regardless of age, a friend can be one of life’s greatest gifts.

Companionship is much more than having someone to spend time with. Research shows that having a strong network of friends and companions have a significant impact on a senior’s health, including:

• Improved sense of purpose and importance
• Increased self-esteem and confidence
• Improved mental health

In addition, seniors who socialize are typically healthier because they get more physical activity and eat regular meals

Making Friends at an Independent Living Community

Seniors make the move to senior living communities for a variety of reasons, but they may not expect the newfound friendships. Joan said that after a couple of falls in her home, she knew it was time for a move to an independent retirement living community, where she could live a simpler and safer life. But she was still apprehensive.

“I needed to be someplace without stairs,” Joan said. “I was prepared. I looked at several communities s and did my homework, but I still didn’t feel ready to move.”

Meeting Aldy and Milt took the fear away. Suddenly, instead of worrying about the future, Joan found herself looking forward to it. Instead of being isolated in a single-family home, worrying about maintenance and upkeep, she was looking forward to adventures with her new buddies.

“It’s nice to have someone you can count on. We’re so glad we were able to become friends. It feels like our life here was meant to be.”

Spending time with people of similar ages who are at a similar time in their lives makes it easy to find new friends.

How to Make Friends as a Senior

Moving to an independent living community can be stressful, and many seniors are unsure about making new friends. Seniors are surprised just how easy making friends at a senior living community can be.

• Join clubs or volunteer at your retirement community to meet people with similar interests
• Attend religious services
• Join an exercise program
• Eat in your community’s dining room (as opposed to staying in your apartment)

Here at Bethesda, we recognize the importance of senior companionship and socialization. Independent retirement living communities, like Bethesda Terrace, offer a full calendar of social events and activities for our residents to stay active and make new friends. Tour an independent living community near you to learn more.

Happy National Friendship Day from Bethesda!