Parents spend countless hours and years worrying about their children. Some may say it’s a worry that never goes away. But, at some point, the worry begins to shift. As your parents age, you may find that the roles become reversed. Eventually, you may worry about things like how well your parents are able to care for themselves, what will happen if they fall, or what you’ll do if they ultimately need caregiving assistance. Something you may not think of though, is the connections your aging parents have. We all need strong connections, and our aging parents are no exception. Thankfully, there are ways you can support their sense of connection and community resources available to help you and your aging parents.
Why Aging Parents Need Connection
Before we get to ways our aging parents and older adults can stay connected, we need to understand why connection is so vital. The impact of connection goes farther than you might think. It can affect your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. One reason for this? Connection can combat the effects of isolation and loneliness. Without a strong sense of connection, older adults can experience increased risks of dementia and premature death. When your aging parents have a strong sense of connection, they’re less likely to experience these negative effects of isolation and loneliness.
Benefits of Connection
The benefits of connection for your aging parents goes beyond just avoiding isolation and loneliness – and their effects. Older adults can live healthier, happier, and more independent lives when they have strong connections. That’s because strong connections make it easier for older adults to sleep well, eat healthy, stay active, and manage feelings of stress. Think about how much better you feel when you consistently achieve those things – the same is true for your aging parents. Thankfully, stronger social connections can help older adults reach those goals.
Research has even shown that a better sense of connection is associated with better cognitive function. When we feel better physically, and our minds feel clearer, we’re more likely to keep active. For older adults, staying active is essential to staying independent. Evidence suggests that any physical activity can help older adults stay healthy and hold off many age-related health problems. Not only is it easier to stay active when you have a strong sense of connection, being active is a great way to stay connected.
3 Ways for Aging Parents to Stay Connected
Hopefully, you’re starting to see the importance of strong social connections. You don’t need to add it to your list of worries when it comes to your aging parents, though. With a little encouragement, any older adult can bolster their sense of connection. Here are three things you can encourage your aging parents to do so they can live a happier, healthier, and more independent life.
1. Join a group
The best way to have a strong sense of connection is to spend time with friends and loved ones. Often, feelings of loneliness and isolation for older adults can stem from feeling as if all their friends are gone and, unfortunately, making friends as an adult is hard. No matter how big or small your parents’ social circle is, consider encouraging them to join a group. Doing something with other people who have similar interests as you is a great way to feel connected. A common group for many older adults is church. Other ideas for groups with shared interests or activities include craft circles, walking groups, game leagues, and pickleball teams.
2. Share a meal
Food is a universal language. It can be used to unite people and bridge divides. It can also be one of the simplest ways to foster a stronger sense of connection for your aging parents. Make a point of sharing a meal with them more often. This is not only good for connection, it can also help you notice changes with them sooner, such as more difficulty getting around or keeping up with their house. This isn’t just on you, though. Encourage your parents to meet friends and other loved ones for meals on occasion, too.
3. Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way for older adults to give back to the community. It can also strengthen their sense of purpose, which is a great way to boost their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Volunteering can also be a great way for your parents to connect with friends and fellow volunteers, which can go a long way towards decreasing or preventing feelings of isolation and loneliness. You may even want to consider encouraging them to find a way to volunteer with youth or young adults. This could be a double win as it’s not only good for connection, but the intergenerational relationship itself can support healthy aging.
Community Connections for Aging Parents
Even with these ideas for how you can encourage your aging parents to pursue stronger connections, it might feel hard to find ways for them to get connected. However, you and your parents aren’t alone in this. There are resources that can offer opportunities for connection or help you identify what options exist.
Senior Centers
Senior centers can be a great first line of defense. They often offer daily activities and events for anyone 50 and up. They can also be helpful for connecting older adults with resources when they need them. Senior centers have even been called the aging network’s gateway because of the way they partner with communities to support older adults thrive in their communities.
The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center
Sometimes, you just need someone to help you find resources to support your aging parents. That’s where The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center comes in, as a partner to connect you with the resources and services that can help your parents thrive. We’re here to answer questions, offer support, help you find resources, and connect you with local services to support you. We have Community Outreach Coordinators throughout the state who can help you over the phone or in person.
Senior Living
One of the biggest draws to senior living is often the social connection it provides. If your parents live at a senior living community – whether in an independent living villa, an assisted living apartment, or elsewhere – they’re surrounded by opportunities for connection. They’re likely to find new neighbors and fellow residents who have similar interests. It makes it east to find and form groups centered around things like woodworking, sewing, art, bird watching, reading, and more. With various dining rooms, senior living communities also encourage residents to share meals with friends. Many communities even have ways that residents can get involved as volunteers. Plus, senior living communities offer calendars full of activities and events so your parents can easily be as connected as they want.
At The Ohio Masonic Communities, we want everyone to experience a strong sense of connection and thrive as they age. Our campuses and resource center are here to help you as you support your aging parents. 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 or seeing how senior living can promote independence for yourself, give us a call at 1 (877) 881-1623 or contact us here.