Feeling part of a community can make people feel happier, more fulfilled, and make life more fun.
But as people get older and more frail, it can become harder to do some of the activities that they might have previously enjoyed. This can lead to some people becoming more and more isolated and relying on those who care for them for companionship.
Being involved in the local community can make a huge difference to someone’s wellbeing and quality of life. Everyone is an individual, so it’s important to find activities and groups that the person you care for enjoys. You might need to help them try out a few different activities or groups to find a good fit.
So if the person you care for could benefit from spending time with different people, here are some ideas you might like to talk over with them.
Physical activity can be great for someone’s health but can also be a good way for them to meet people too. Many local community or sports centres offer exercise classes specifically for older adults who are less mobile. You might like to look into sit down keep fit classes, tai chi, walking football or gentle yoga sessions.
If the person you care for is apprehensive about joining a class, it can be worth having a chat with the instructor beforehand. That way you can double-check it’s suitable and reassure them that they’ll be with people of a similar fitness level.
Many community centres, church halls and local organisations run social groups for older adults. As well as bringing the chance to spend time with new groups of people, many also offer different activities or days out. Activities will be different from group to group, but might include:
- Day trips
- Lunch clubs
- Meetings at cafes
- Crafting sessions
- Exercise groups
- Quizzes
- Memory support activities
- Gardening
- Short courses.
If this could be of interest to the person you care for, search online or contact Age UK for groups near you.
It’s never too late to learn something new or to find a new interest. Joining a course can be a great opportunity to find others with a similar interest and learn new skills. You might like to look into courses the person you are for can physically attend, which could be at a local community centre, college or café.
Or you might like to explore online classes. This might be helpful if the person you care for finds it harder to get out and about, and can open up a whole range of niche subjects to learn about, from historical architecture to film clubs.
Befrienders are a great way for older adults to have one-to-one conversations with someone new. Many charities, including Age UK, offer befriending services, and will match up the person you care for with a befriender who the organisation thinks they’ll get on with. That could be because they have a shared interest or something in common. Befrienders are unpaid volunteers and will usually have been DBS checked through the organisation.
Befriending chats might be on the phone, or at the home of the person you care for, over a cup of tea. Even if the person you care for chats with other people who come into their home, there can be something special about having a devoted hour to talk and enjoy each other’s company. Building a new friendship, being listened to and hearing about someone else’s life might become a highlight of the week – both for the person you care for, and the befriender.
One of the benefits of living in a sheltered accommodation is the chance to meet and live with other older adults. Sheltered accommodation has communal areas, like lounges or gardens to allow residents to spend time with others who live there.
Often the residents or the sheltered accommodation staff run regular activities. That could be anything from bingo, to Sunday lunches, gardening sessions or exercise classes. And if there isn’t an activity that suits the person you care for, it’s often possible for staff to start one up.
If you are supporting an older adult who is socially isolated but can live independently, sheltered accommodation may be something to consider with them. Obviously that might be a sensitive conversation to have with them, and it might be unsettling for you both. You might like to take a look at our article on ‘How to have sensitive conversations’.
It can also be hugely beneficial to help the person you care for to stay connected with their friends and family. While it can be great to meet new people, there can be something special about having a chat with someone you’ve known for years.
While some people are naturally sociable, others don’t need as much social connection. You might like to talk to the person you care for about who they’d love to hear from. Then you could encourage those family members and friends to stay in touch, by phone calls, video calls or visits. A gentle prompt might be all it takes to re-connect old friends.