Staying Connected in the New Year
As we approach the new year at Mosaic Senior Living, we are enriching our residents’ lives.We plan on accomplishing this by helping seniors stay connected with friends, family, and other loved ones.
Connection is vital for everyone, but especially for seniors. According to certain health studies, loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of developing health issues like:
- Dementia
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Premature death
Humans are naturally highly social, and their connections with family and friends are vital to our mental and physical health. Whether it’s friendships that have lasted through the years or relationships with family members who have seen you grow and change throughout your life, being connected with our loved ones is vital.
To help seniors stay healthy this upcoming year, we’re here to help you find ways to maintain the connections you have and learn how to make even more!
Staying Connected With Family
Family is one of the most important groups in a person’s life, especially for seniors. When older adults become part of a senior living community, it’s easy to feel disconnected from family. Our team focuses on helping seniors stay connected with their families to improve mental health and enrich their lives.
Family can look different for each person – it can be the people you are related to by blood, or those close friends who feel more like family than anyone else. However, no matter what your family situation looks like, it’s important to know how to stay close with that family.
Simple Ways to Stay Connected With Family
Here are some ideas to help older adults, especially those living in a senior community, stay connected with their families.
Weekly Check-Ins
If you live near your loved ones, a great way to stay connected is to schedule weekly visits or check-ins. For many, this could mean a weekly dinner together, a movie, or a game night. No matter the format, intentionally scheduling time together is what helps maintain and strengthen those connections.
Scheduled Video or Telephone Calls
For those who are far away and can’t commit to regular in-person visits, you can easily schedule weekly phone or video calls! These options are great for strengthening long-distance relationships with your loved ones.
Letters & Cards
Occasionally, seniors and technology present compatibility issues. Our team can help those living in senior communities, but for older adults who live independently, managing video calls or even phones can be challenging. However, it’s easy for older adults to feel connected to loved ones when surrounded by handwritten letters and cards from family.
Staying Connected With Friends
Moving into a senior living community offers many chances to make new friends. However, keeping in touch with old friends can be hard. However, having a variety of friends with whom you feel deeply connected has been shown to reduce stress and fatigue among older adults.
Ways Seniors Can Stay Connected With Friends
Here are some great ideas to help seniors stay connected with friends who do not live within their senior living community.
Friendly Routines
Whether it’s scheduling a regular coffee chat, meeting for lunch at your favorite restaurant, or simply going to the park to walk and talk, creating routines with your friends helps you stay connected.
Social Hobbies
Finding hobbies you can enjoy together is a great way to connect. Many clubs host activities for seniors, who meet regularly to stay connected. You may find a common interest, become members of a group, and enjoy your time together while engaging in activities you appreciate.
Digital Communication
Whether via phone, text, email, or video, digital communication is an effective way for seniors to stay connected with their friends. At Mosaic Senior Living, our team bridges the gap between seniors and technology to keep them connected.
Forming New Connections
While maintaining existing connections is an excellent goal for the new year, we also encourage seniors to build new ones! Seniors who stay connected with old friends while building new connections create a well-rounded social circle full of deep, meaningful relationships, ensuring they can enjoy a fulfilling and enriching year!
Ideas for Making New Friendships
You can easily establish friendships in older adulthood with the right approach. Here are some ideas for building new relationships in the coming year.
Visiting Senior Centers or Joining Clubs
Joining group activities like craft clubs or book clubs is a great way to make new connections with people who share your interests! Since clubs already meet on a schedule, they help seniors stay connected with new friends throughout the year.
Volunteering or Mentoring
A great way to meet new people is to volunteer or join a mentorship program. Not only do you get the chance to help others, but you can also form deep, meaningful connections with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Joining a Faith Group
Faith is an essential part of many people’s lives, so joining a faith group or church is a great way to meet like-minded people who you know share the same values as you. Many senior living communities host faith groups that meet regularly, emphasizing connection and community for all participants.
A New Year Filled With Love and Connection
Connection isn’t just crucial for seniors – it’s crucial for everyone. While seniors can benefit most from building and maintaining relationships in the new year, the family and friends they connect with benefit as well.
From meeting up for morning coffee to joining a club, there are many opportunities to help seniors stay connected with loved ones in the new year. From our family to yours, we hope you have a new year filled with love, laughter, and joy from the relationships you enjoy throughout the year.
If you are interested in learning more about our Mosaic family, we encourage you to reach out! You can contact our team with questions you may have, or learn more about a specific community near you. We look forward to connecting with you in the coming year.