The joy of conversation and socialization and their importance for seniors

Mom and Dad haven’t been the same for some time. As their kids grew older and moved hours away, and they sold their family business, many of the joys of conversation and socialization were lost.

They now watch hours upon hours of television—Mom occasionally works on some of her favorite pastimes, like crafting and sewing. Dad rarely gets up from his favorite recliner. If he’s not watching TV, he sits by the window, lost in thought. Mom’s health is declining, and she rarely makes the trek to the social clubs and outings that once enriched her life.

Living in the family home over the past 30-40 years—where they raised their children, celebrated the significant wins in life and mourned losses, too—is becoming less like home, and more like a island. Their social life is just a shadow of what it used to be.

The health benefits of conversation in active senior living

Arguably one of the most important parts of life is healthy socialization. People continue to need company, love and support as they age, and their lives begin to change as children grow older and retirement looms on the horizon.

One of the benefits of active senior living in active adult communities is the robust social life that awaits residents on campus.

The health benefits of socialization are clear:

1. Less stress and lower anxiety. According to Healthfully, stress and isolation are correlated with poor health and shorter lifespans. Getting out and interacting with family, friends and neighbors gives a boost of serotonin needed for a person’s full health and well-being.
2. More fitness: Seniors in active senior living communities or around active friends and family tend to get out and exercise regularly. As the old adage goes, “You are the lump sum of the five people closest to you.” If others around them are active, Mom and Dad will be more inclined to be active, too!
3. May slow memory loss and support brain health: According to the Alzheimer’s Association, socialization of seniors is associated with reduced rates of disability and mortality, as well as a slew of mental and emotional health issues. Socialization supports brain health and may even delay the onset of dementia or other memory-related illnesses.

At Country Meadows, we care about and attend to every aspect of our residents’ health. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to tend to any needs that arise from our residents, whether they live in active senior living communities or skilled nursing rehab facility. We also offer campus living with friendly, sociable neighbors and regular get togethers, including daily happy hours and much more.

If you would like support for your health and plan on choosing a retirement community near you, we invite you to contact us. We would be glad to give you a tour of any of our senior communities and introduce you to our full range of services. We will also assist in your search to compare the cost of senior living communities. We have 10 Pennsylvania retirement homes—in Lancaster, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Pittsburgh, Wyomissing, York-South, York-West, Allentown, Bethlehem and our newest community, Easton—as well as a Maryland retirement home in Frederick.