How Community Connection Shapes Daily Life at Morada North Richland Hills
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Neglecting community connection during your retirement in North Richland Hills, TX, may compromise your health. Socializing, whether in exercise groups or a shared meal, can improve your longevity and quality of life.
According to a study titled Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults, 24% of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are socially isolated. Another 43% of seniors feel lonely. Social isolation and loneliness are associated with a significantly increased risk of premature mortality from all causes.
Prioritizing community connection while living in North Richland Hills, TX, may benefit your overall health and longevity. You can build strong social bonds in assisted living to gain a sense of community and belonging.
Why are resident relationships important, and how can you add socializing to your community life? Read on to learn more about engagement in care settings!
Why Is Community Connection Important?
According to the American Psychological Association, loneliness levels in the US have reached an all-time high. Nearly half of 20,000 American adults surveyed reported feeling alone. Another 40% said their relationships are either not meaningful or that they feel isolated.
Connecting with members of your Northland Richland Hills community may help:
- Extend your longevity
- Reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease
- Improve your mental health
- Reduce the risk of stroke or heart disease
- Improve memory and thinking skills
- Reduce the risk of some cancers
- Foster a sense of purpose and belonging
- Reduce the risk of depression and anxiety
- Improve life satisfaction and quality of life
Who Is at Risk of Social Isolation?
Individual risk factors for loneliness and social isolation can include:
- Having limited access to transportation
- Living in a hard-to-reach area
- Language barriers
- Facing divorce, the loss of a loved one, or living alone
- Being marginalized or discriminated against
- Having a psychiatric or depressive condition
- Having a long-term disability
- Limited mobility/being unable to leave home without help
- Separation from family
- Caring for a loved one who is unwell
- Major life changes
- Feeling a lack of purpose
- Financial struggles
- Lacking social support
Loneliness affects some groups more than others, including older adults and people who live alone. If you're facing these risk factors, explore community life in North Richland Hills, TX. Moving into a senior living community may help reduce your risk of social isolation and loneliness.
How to Foster Resident Relationships
Fostering resident relationships can give you a sense of belonging within your North Richland Hills community. Here are a few ways you can experience engagement in care settings.
Enjoy Meals Together
Ask friends to join you for your morning cup of coffee or meals. Dining together may help:
- Improve your overall well-being
- Strengthen relationships
- Improve nutrition
- Improve mobility
- Reduce your risk of social isolation and loneliness
- Encourage you to open up (leading to stronger social connections)
- Reduce the risk of chronic conditions
- Reduce anxiety and depression symptoms
Make sharing meals part of your regular community life. You can explore your community's dining program for nutritious meals.
Join an Exercise Group
Consider starting your day with a morning walk. Joining a walking group will give you the chance to talk to other seniors, leading to stronger friendships. Walking with a group may help:
- Ensure your safety
- Increase your motivation and accountability
- Keep you on a schedule (routine offers stability to your life)
- Reduce the risk of social isolation and loneliness
- Exercise the brain (strengthening thinking skills and memory)
- Reduce stress and anxiety
You can meet new friends during exercise classes through your senior living community's fitness program.These may include:
- Hiking and walking groups
- Pilates
- Barre
- Tai chi
- Aerobics classes
- Weight lifting
- Resistance band training
Consult your doctor or a trainer before engaging in new physical activities. They can help you develop an exercise plan based on your health and goals. Try exercising for 150 minutes weekly (30 minutes a day).
Volunteer Together
Consider volunteering to give back to your North Richland Hills community. You can find volunteer groups through:
- Schools looking for tutors
- Libraries
- Local theater groups
- Community choral groups
- Animal shelters
- Museums
- Places of worship
- Community gardens or parks
Encourage Shared Experiences
You can strengthen resident relationships through shared experiences. Check your senior living community's events and activities calendar for opportunities. For example, you can meet seniors who share your interests and passions, such as:
- Arts and crafts (painting, sculpting, etc.)
- Bingo
- Card games and poker tournaments
- Board games
- Birdwatching
- Visiting museums in North Richland Hills
- Gardening
- Book or movie club
- Art, music, or pet therapy
- Cooking or baking classes
- Dance classes
- Fiber arts (knitting, crocheting, etc.)
Explore a variety of hobby groups to meet new friends. You can learn from other seniors, expanding your skill set and potentially slowing cognitive decline.
Consider continuing education courses to stimulate your mind. For example, you can learn a new language or develop computer skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can Seniors Meet Other Seniors?
You can meet other seniors in North Richland Hills, TX, through your senior living community. Their events and activities calendar can provide you with regular opportunities for community connection. Otherwise, check:
- Fitness classes for seniors
- Religious institutions
- Volunteer organizations
- Libraries
- Hobby-based clubs
- Online communities
Once you begin meeting other seniors in your community, nurture those relationships.For example, you can ask other participants in your favorite fitness class to join you for a smoothie afterward. Try communicating regularly to turn these acquaintances into lasting friends.
How Often Should Seniors Socialize?
Seniors should try to socialize at least once a day to avoid social isolation and related health risks. Socializing regularly may be beneficial for a long life, according to a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Participants who socialized regularly had a significantly longer survival rate (204%). Look for opportunities to socialize daily through your local senior living community.
Discover Social Bonds in Assisted Living
Enhance your retirement through community connection. Maintaining friendships can give you a sense of belonging. These shared experiences may help reduce your risk of loneliness and social isolation.
You can build bonds in assisted living communities like Morada North Richland Hills. We help residents live independently while ensuring they have the support they need.
Discover our exclusive lifestyle programs, including Downhome Dining, Social Events & Daily Activities like excursions and live performances, or Senior-Friendly Health & Fitness like yoga and pickleball. Contact us now to schedule your tour.