Is there an older adult in your life? If so, you probably worry about their physical and mental wellness. Did you know that social wellness is just as important? In fact, social wellness for older adults can even impact physical and mental wellness.
What is social wellness?
To understand social wellness, it’s helpful to start with understanding overall wellness. It’s also helpful to have a solid understanding of physical and mental wellness.
In general, wellness is defined as “the quality or state of being in good health, especially as an actively sought goal.” There are several elements that contribute to wellness. The most well known are mental and physical wellness. However, other elements of wellness include emotional, spiritual, financial, environmental, and social. Each element works together and plays an important role. It’s like they’re each a separate piece of the same puzzle.
Mental wellness can be thought of as taking care of your mental health or wellbeing. It involves how we think, feel, function, and connect. Physical wellness is everything related to the body. It can involve a healthy lifestyle and focus on things like diet and exercise. It can also be about preventing illnesses and managing energy.
There’s overlap between the different elements of wellness. And social wellness is no exception. The root of social wellness is having good relationships. Things like connecting with others and relying on people for support are crucial to social wellness.
Why is social wellness important for older adults?
Social wellness – and all elements of wellness – are important at every age and stage of life. But, for older adults, there are specific reasons it can be important. The opposite of social wellness is social isolation. Being socially isolated can lead to a 50% increased risk of dementia and a 29% increase in the risk of premature death.
Social wellness for older adults is important to improving cognitive wellbeing and overall health. Yet, 1 in 3 older adults say they often feel lonely or isolated. The global pandemic made this even worse. In fact, loneliness has been described as it’s own epidemic. Loneliness is so serious and severe, the US Surgeon General labelled it an urgent public health issue that needs immediate action.
Social wellness can help older adults live longer, better, and happier lives. Research on longevity and the key to a happy life even emphasize the importance of social wellness through relationships.
Ways to Encourage Social Wellness for Older Adults
Knowing social wellness is important is one thing. But, how do you support and encourage it for yourself and older adults in your life? Here are three ideas for promoting social wellness for older adults.
1. Connect with friends and loved ones
Good relationships are a key to social wellness. With technology, it’s never been easier to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. All you have to do is send a text or an email. But, when it comes to social wellness, nothing can replace more personal methods of communication. Things like making a phone call or writing a letter are great ways to connect with someone – regardless of the weather or physical abilities.
Of course, visiting in person with friends and loved ones is the best way to encourage social wellness for older adults. While visiting for holidays is great, try to make plans for more regular visits. If friends or family are local, think about planning weekly or monthly dinners or get togethers. If you aren’t local, trying making plans to be together in person at least a couple of times a year and stay in touch other ways in between visits.
2. Learn something new with others
Learning is great for the brain. But, there can be a social aspect to learning that can be great for social wellness. Learning isn’t just social though. Gone are the days of just learning from a textbook. Learning can be as fun as you make it. Especially if you’re learning something new like a hobby.
With unlimited new things to learn, there are endless opportunities to choose from. When looking at ways to encourage social wellness for older adults, popular options include art and cooking classes. They give participants the chance to learn something new, spend time socializing, and have fun. Plus, what’s learned can be used to make things for others.
Many communities also offer lifelong learning programs. Often, these are found in conjunction with local universities and/or senior centers. Classes can cover almost anything. You may find everything from animal conservation to wine tasting and a range of topics related to history, wellness, arts, culture, and more.
3. Ask for help when needed
Sometimes, a visit with a friend or learning new things isn’t enough. Sometimes, professional help is needed. When it comes to asking for help, it’s important to remember two things.
- You don’t have to do it alone.
- It’s okay to ask for help.
If you’re worried about an older adult being isolated, encourage them to seek help. If you need help connecting them with resources, reach out to the local area agency on aging or council on aging. They have many resources available to specifically help older adults.
For older adults, recognizing when something is wrong or more help is needed can be a challenge. Especially when it comes to mental wellbeing and social wellness. This episode of Senior Living Today covers how to recognize signs of isolation and depression in older adults, as well as what to do if you spot the signs.
Social Wellness for Older Adults at The Ohio Masonic Communities
Some may say that the best way to improve social wellness for older adults and beat social isolation is senior living. At a senior living community, like The Ohio Masonic Communities, there are always people around and things to do. Many residents say their social lives explode once they move. Instead of spending days home alone, they’re leaving their villas and apartments to share meals with friends and attend events with neighbors.
The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center is also here to help. Even if you aren’t ready to consider senior living yet. Community Outreach Coordinators are located throughout Ohio and are ready to help everyone in need. Their goal is to connect people with the resources and support they need to live their best lives and thrive.
At The Ohio Masonic Communities, our campuses are full of opportunities to support social wellness for older adults. We have three senior living communities across the state of Ohio – Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio. If you are interested in learning more give us a call at 1 (877) 881-1623 or contact us here.