Breaking Myths: The Vibrant Social Life at Assisted Living
How often do you get to socialize with your favorite people? According to the National Institute on Aging, many people above the age of 65 frequently feel isolated or lonely.
With so many seniors feeling like their social life is lacking, it's important to understand the benefits of senior social activities. But what sort of myths are permeating the subject, and how can you ensure good assisted living engagement?
If you're curious about active living for seniors, we're here to help. Read on for a brief rundown of what makes socializing important. We'll also go into some of the most common myths and dispel them.
Why Is Socializing Important?
What is it that makes socializing so important? Making friends in senior care can't be that hard, and there isn't any real benefit to it, right?
Having an active social life comes with dozens of benefits, including improvements to health. Here are some of the most important benefits of keeping an active social life.
Battle Isolation and Loneliness
One of the first things to consider is how socializing helps to battle isolation and loneliness. Unfortunately, these feelings are exceptionally common in seniors.
Isolation does more than just bum you out. According to the Cleveland Clinic, isolation can have negative effects on your health. It can impact your blood pressure, worsen your cholesterol, and more.
Socialization helps to remove these issues. The same source claims that socialization improves cognition and physical health.
Encourage Connection
Another way to end isolation and loneliness is to encourage connection. Socializing is one of the best ways to do so.
Making friends in senior care through socializing will help keep the days interesting. You'll have someone to speak with on days when others aren't able to visit, or on the days where you need someone to be with.
Battling Social Life Myths
Now that we know some of the benefits of socializing, what sort of myths are there to keep in mind? Social life in an assisted living community is unfortunately fraught with misinformation. Here are some of the most common myths, as well as the truth around them.
Myth: Socializing in Assisted Living Communities Is Difficult
Many people believe that making friends in senior care or meeting new people isn't possible. While inaccurate, this belief is one of the most prevalent.
That myth stems from social media often depicting senior care inaccurately. The reality is that these communities often have a more upbeat and energetic atmosphere.
That isn't just for comfort. Communities try to encourage socialization as much as they can for the health benefits we mentioned above.
Instead of socializing being difficult, communities are actively making it easy. It sometimes requires some work at the end of the senior, though. Spending some time socializing by joining clubs or groups is one way to do so.
Myth: Communities Limit Socialization and Visiting
Have you heard the myth about strict limits on visiting hours? The belief is that assisted living communities will only allow members to socialize at certain times.
The myth comes from the fact that there are often organized events. Over time, this became misconstrued as people believing those elderly community events were the only socialization.
But there are plenty of other times, such as:
- Meals
- Clubs and exercise
- Outdoor exercises
- Common areas
Another common belief is that visitation is restricted. It's true that most communities have visitation hours at certain times.
The reason for this is that it stops there from being a constant, steady stream of people coming and going. While it sounds restrictive, this massive traffic flow would be disruptive and troublesome to community members.
You can look for communities that have visitation hours that fit your needs. However, most of them have rather similar visitation hours.
These hours also aren't that restrictive in most cases. If you feel that a community has restrictive hours, you may want to go for a different one.
Myth: Communities Have Very Few Ways to Socialize
For most, this belief comes from seeing communities that don't have many elderly community events or senior social activities. They feel that socialization isn't a core feature of assisted living communities, leading to a limited "selection" of options.
Rest assured that this is not the case for the vast majority of assisted living communities. These groups try exceptionally hard to give as many avenues of socialization as possible for the residents.
Look into what sort of assisted living engagement opportunities a community may offer before signing up. They may have hobbyist groups or learning opportunities that can help you socialize. Some of the many options include:
- Cooking classes
- Educational classes for learning languages or skills
- Gardening groups
- Art, writing, or book club groups
Think of your hobbies and interests and search accordingly. That way, you know you're signing up for something you're passionate about.
Myth: Communities Focus on Isolation for Safety
The misguided belief that communities purposefully isolate seniors is one of the most inaccurate. The belief is that a community member is safest when they're locked in their room.
Simply put, this is a ludicrous claim. Seniors are not safer while locked in their rooms. According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults experience falls inside their homes, most often in the bathroom.
Isolating them doesn't lead to a safer experience and instead only worsens their mental state. Communities do not isolate their residents and instead work hard to make sure they don't feel isolated.
Understanding Social Life as a Senior
Having a healthy social life as a senior can feel daunting, but with the nerve to put yourself out of your comfort zone, it's simple and easy. Look for senior social activities that can help you with making friends in senior care.
At Addington Place of Shoal Creek, we're proud to prioritize the well-being and independence of our residents. We strive to provide a nurturing retirement community in Kansas City, MO, where our residents enjoy a fulfilling, enriching lifestyle. Contact us today to see how we can help enhance your golden years.