Having a social life as a senior can be a challenge. Many of your friends and family may no longer be with you and your social circle has become smaller. You may also have some physical limitations on the things that you were once able to do. But that does not mean that you cannot have an active social life.
Get to know the people who live around you. Look around. Is there someone that looks friendly that you have never spoken to? Finding new friends is a great way to enlarge your social circle. When you are out doing your daily errands, make conversations with people. You will start to notice that the same people may be there on a regular basis also. Start a conversation with one or two of them and ask them if they would like to go grab a cup of coffee.
Find out if there is a community center in your neighborhood that is geared towards helping senior socialize. Often times, these community centers will have activities such as game night, lectures and cookie swaps. Your neighborhood bookstore or local library may have a book club you can join. This is a great way for you to be exposed to new literature and discussing what was read with other people.
You can also set up a Facebook profile. This is a great way to connect with old friends who have moved away and maybe you have lost communication with them. It is also a great way for you to stay in touch with family members who do not live nearby.
If you are physically able, try taking a bus tour. This is a great way to see new places and discover new things. You can find a listing of bus trips in your area in your local newspaper or by calling the local bus touring company. Often time’s community centers will have bus tour information available on their bulletin board.
You can also inquire at your local hospital to see if they have openings for volunteers. This is a great way for you to get out of the house and meet new people.
If you are a little shy or nervous about trying a something new, ask a friend, neighbor or relative to accompany you on your outings until you feel a little more secure. You may find that the two of you enjoy doing activities together.