At every age and stage of our lives, having and enjoying a vibrant social life is essential for both our emotional and physical health. As the poet Edward Young once observed, “Friendship’s the wine of life.” Or, in the words of the author Linda Grayson, “There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”
Residents at San Marino Retirement Community have endless opportunities for events and adventures to enjoy socializing and experience the best of senior living. Located in Westminster, CO, with easy access to Arvada, Broomfield and Thornton, our community enjoys a beautiful park-like campus filled with raised garden beds, walking paths, and plenty of social activities for seniors both on- and off-campus.
Why is social interaction important for seniors? Continue reading to find out! We’ll also tell you our favorite social activities for seniors at San Marino.
Improved Emotional Health
Engaging in regular social activities has demonstrated benefits in reducing the risk and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders among seniors. Spending time with friends, family, and loved ones, whether face-to-face or through phone calls, is beneficial to both your emotional and overall health. An active social life stimulates the amygdala, the brain region governing emotions and memories. Thus, retirement communities offering engaging social activities for their residents help foster positive mood regulation and emotional well-being, emphasizing the importance of social connections for seniors.
Better Memory and Cognitive Function
There are many benefits of social activities for seniors. An active social life helps strengthen both your memory and overall brain function. Like working out a muscle, interpersonal relationships with friends and family helps build and maintain the neural networks in our brains, helping with both short- and long-term memory retention.
Stronger Physical Health
In addition to the mental benefits of social activities for seniors, socializing can also help lower the risk of certain physical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Along with the therapeutic and relaxing benefits of friendship and bonding with others, communal activities like walking, biking, and exercise classes keep our bodies moving and help maintain healthy habits as part of a larger peer group.
Ways to Get Started
Looking to bolster your social life as a senior? Here are a few ways to start:
- Enjoy communal meals with friends and family. Breakfast, lunch, and dinnertime are all perfect times to share, connect, and make plans for the day.
- Volunteer at local organizations. When you give back to your community, not only do you help others, you also get to meet like-minded people who share your passions.
- Explore group activities and clubs. From crafting classes to exercise programs or sports teams, group activities are the perfect way to meet new people and make lasting friendships based on common interests.
A Rich Social Life at San Marino Retirement Community
Living in a senior living community opens the doors to countless social opportunities to enjoy old friendships and make new ones. From clubs and sports to restaurant-style meals and fitness groups, retirement communities like San Marino help you share, laugh, and socialize with those around you. Contact us to learn if our friendly retirement community is right for you.