5 New Year's Resolutions for Social Fun and Companionship
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5 New Year's Resolutions for Social Fun and Companionship

5 New Year's Resolutions for Social Fun and Companionship

As seniors transition into retirement, they usually find they have more and more free time on their hands. For some, an open appointment book can be overwhelming or anxiety-provoking, especially if the senior lacks a strong social circle or life companion. However, it's never too late to make friends or fill a social calendar. Finding fun or companionship (or both!) doesn't have to be a daunting task for your elderly loved one. All it takes is small, deliberate steps. Here are some New Year's resolutions that seniors might want to consider this year:

1. Talk to Someone New Every Day

Most of the time, seniors might find themselves interacting with the same people day after day. But it can be refreshing to talk to someone new—a senior might choose to speak to their pathologist, their barista, their cleaning lady, someone they meet in a coffee shop, or someone they see on the street whose outfit they like. This is often how new friendships begin.

2. Get in Touch With Old Friends

If a senior is looking to socialize, they don't necessarily have to make new friends—they can get back in touch with old ones. Once they pick up the phone and call old friends, it may turn out to be easy to pick up where they left off, especially if the friends in question live close by. And if they don't, then the senior can at least enjoy a telephone conversation with them.

3. Try Out New Activities

One of the best ways for seniors to make new friends is to try out new activities. What are they interested in? Art? Games? Cooking? Pottery? There must be some activities in their area that correspond to the senior's interests. The greater Dallas area also has several recreation centers such as the Sam Johnson Recreation Center for Adults 50+ which has a gym, a billiards room, a café, and a wellness center for senior adults. There's also the Park in the Woods Recreation Center, the Cedar Hill Recreation Center, and the Richardson Senior Center.

4. Try Reaching Out First

Often, when life and work are busy, people don't bother maintaining the social life that they already have. Seniors can't always wait for their friends to call them and make plans. It's also up to them to look up movies, plays, or other activities and ask their friends if they would like to participate. Consider this resolution: have your elderly loved one reach out to a friend with an idea or social plan at least once a week.

5. Set Up an Online Dating Profile

Single seniors in Dallas looking for companionship can try setting up an online dating profile with SilverSingles, Match, or eHarmony. The advantage of meeting someone online is that the senior can get to know them gradually. Online dating can allow them to meet new people from the comfort of their homes; this is especially good for seniors who have limited mobility. It can also help them to explore a relationship with someone they may not otherwise have met. At the very least, the senior will end up having a fun conversation.

For seniors who live in Dallas, Richardson, Farmers Branch, University Park, Lakewood Area, or Plano, it can be helpful to have a caregiver from Senior Helpers of Greater Dallas. The caregiver can encourage the senior to be more sociable and even organize activities for them and other seniors, in addition to helping out at home.

Contact us to learn more about how seniors in greater Dallas can have more social fun and companionship in their lives.