Keeping up with friends or family may seem difficult for seniors. Your loved one may have fewer people to talk to every day which may reduce his or her social circle. Home Care Columbia services have shared a few ways to help seniors build an active social life. 

1. Find a New Hobby

Hobbies may keep a senior busy and allow them to interact with others who have similar interests. Your loved one can spend his or her time to engage in a productive hobby like chess or golf to meet new people. There are many hobbies that seniors can do like fishing, gardening, reading, or hiking. Starting a new hobby may be the best way for seniors to cut boredom and build an active social life.

 2. Recruit Others

Your loved one may feel overwhelmed when trying a new hobby. If seniors feel embarrassed to start something new then they can take help from a friend or a neighbor. Your loved one can do many things in an easy way in a group rather than doing it alone. Organize a reading or coffee club to meet and invite different people.

3. Volunteer

One of the productive ways to spend time is helping others in need. Seniors may volunteer at a school or church to meet people who share their interests. Your loved one may find a chance to volunteer at a place where he or she deems appropriate. Suggest your aging parent to use his or her skills in helping others as a volunteer. For instance, if your loved one likes dogs then he or she can contact the local shelter if they need dog walkers. If your loved one was a teacher then he or she may help underprivileged kids to read and write.

4. Be Proactive

To become proactive, your loved one may need to put in some effort for it. Proactive people are not lazy and create experiences for themselves. Your loved one can try to meet people and make a habit of starting a conversation with new people. Try to change the normal routine and visit new places to meet different people. 

5. Gain Confidence

If your loved one is confident then he or she may find new ways to expand his or her social circle. Seniors may try something new or something they always fear to do. Your loved one may try to channel his or her experience into making the life more adventurous and fun. Traveling may give seniors a confidence boost because they get to meet and chat with lots of people.

6. Appreciate the Benefits of Being Social

Having an active social life may seem enjoyable to seniors. Studies show that seniors who are more social may have a better health status. Your loved one may stay sharply minded by socializing and reaching out to make new friends. If your loved one is home bound and needs emotional support then you should help him or her at home. Hire a Columbia live-in caregiver for your loved one’s emotional needs if you don’t have time to look after him or her.