Social Wellness and Its Benefits to Seniors

When it comes to being happy and healthy, both our physical and mental health are important. There's no question that staying in shape, eating a healthy diet, and keeping your mind sharp are all important parts of how we live our lives. But what about social well-being? Social wellbeing, which is often defined as the ability to communicate and keep meaningful relationships with other people, is just as important as physical and mental wellbeing and needs the same level of care. As we get older, it's very important to stay socially active so we don't feel alone and so we can improve many parts of our physical health.

Why It Matters

Let's face it: almost every part of our lives changes as we get older. Children may move out of state, friends and family may die, and we may not be able to fully enjoy the things we like to do because of health problems. And as these changes happen, we need to talk about them. Many things in life can wear us down over time if we don't have friends and family to help us. This can lead to a downward spiral of loneliness, isolation, and even severe depression. On the other hand, seniors can build a reliable network that lets them learn new skills, see things from a new point of view, and see how others deal with the problems of getting older by taking care of their current relationships and taking steps to build new ones.

Even if it seems obvious, keeping up with your social life has a number of other health benefits. Not only does it help our immune system, but it can also help us sleep better and get more done. Research shows that spending more time with other people can make us smarter and possibly lower our risk of Alzheimer's and dementia. In fact, one study found that seniors who were socially active had a 70% lower rate of cognitive decline than seniors who didn't spend much time with other people.

What Can Elders Do?

One problem that some seniors may have is that they don't know what choices they have. So, here's a list of some ways seniors can meet new people and keep in touch with old friends:

• Help out with community projects and activities or take part in them
• Join a senior center to meet people who are interested in the same things you are
• You can keep learning by taking online courses or going to university and community college classes
• Try something new or go back to something you used to like
• Join a group or class for exercise
• Ask people to sign up for upcoming church, synagogue, temple, or other place of worship events
• Keep in touch with friends and family by using social media (near and far).

We Can Help!

At Comfort Keepers in Spokane, we know how important it is for seniors to keep up with their social lives and how much it can add to their lives. Our reliable caregivers can help seniors get to and from places in the Spokane area. They can also provide important companionship. We'll be there to help you, whether you're going to the senior center to see friends or the local college for a weekly class. We also offer ways for seniors to use technology to meet new people and stay in touch with their families.