Moving to assisted living offers many benefits. Some of the best-known include more assistance with daily tasks when you need it and renewed relationships with family caregivers. However, one key perk of assisted living is often overlooked: new friendships. These are just some of the ways you can form new bonds with peers in assisted living.
Participate in Group Activities
Staff members at top-tier assisted living communities like Eden Terrace know how important it is to stay active and engaged. But they also know that the activity itself is not necessarily the most important thing — often, it’s not about what you do, but whom you’re doing it with. Game nights and day trips into Spartanburg aren’t the same if you’re flying solo, and assisted living residents never want for company.
Love yoga or weight training? Don’t stay in your room; join a group class. Want to go to a concert or visit a museum in Spartanburg? Ask a staff member to help you organize and advertise a trip. Even mealtimes can be a great opportunity to socialize with new people. In high school, the cafeteria may have been a scary place; in assisted living, the cafeteria is an opportunity to mix it up and sit at a new table without fear of cliques.
Pick up a New Hobby — or Revisit an Old One
Have you always wanted to learn to paint? Maybe you always envisioned growing your own fruits or vegetables, but never got around to it. Assisted living communities offer opportunities to develop these skills now that you have time and space to do so. And these activities draw like-minded people with similar interests, offering a convenient way to make friends with a built-in icebreaker.
Instead of learning something new, maybe you would rather return to an old love. If you love romance novels or murder mysteries, start a book club for your community. If you miss singing, ask your assisted living staff about putting on a karaoke night. Or, if you’re musically advanced, ask about starting a community band — you’re likely not the only resident who’s yearning to pick up an old instrument again!
Host an Open House
When you bought your first home, you were likely so excited and ready to show it off to all your friends and family. Your assisted living home is probably more compact, but hopefully you’ve taken advantage of decorating and personalization options and made it a space you can be proud of. Why not invite your new neighbors in like you did with that first house? Some residents find this an easy option for socialization; you just open the door and let people come to you.
You can even get your fellow residents in on the fun — take turns hosting, or schedule a time for a community wide open house when everyone can come and go. Maybe you’ll be inspired by a neighbor’s art collection or see an indoor plant you’d like to have. And everyone loves a chance to share their framed family photos!
Ask for Help
If you’re an introvert and you’re ready to make new friends, but the idea of walking up to someone new and starting a conversation sounds intimidating, don’t worry. At Eden Terrace of Spartanburg, our staff members care about residents’ needs, including their social needs, and we will be happy to help you with any of the above or with your own idea for making new connections. Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help make your time in assisted living the best it can be!
