Community Connection Isn't Just Offered-It's Built In

You can find opportunities for community connection through your Tampa senior living community. You can foster senior friendships through meals, exercise classes, and hobbies.

According to Michigan Medicine, one in three older adults experiences loneliness and isolation. Both can cause serious health complications, increasing your risk of heart disease, depression, and other conditions. Prioritizing community connection through your senior living community may enhance your health and quality of life.

What's the importance of resident belonging, and what group activities are available in Tampa? Read on to find out!

Why Do Seniors Become Lonely?

Certain risk factors may increase your risk of loneliness and social isolation, including:

An inability to leave home without help
A major life change
The death of a loved one or spouse
Retirement or unemployment
Vision or hearing problems
A loss of mobility
Lack of transportation
Living alone
Financial struggles
Psychological or cognitive challenges
Language barriers
Experiencing discrimination (based on age, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic background, etc.)
Caring for a loved one who is unwell
A lack of social support
Separation from friends or family

Loneliness may impact seniors and adults who are living alone more than others. If you're at risk or feel alone, reach out to members of your Tampa community. Engaging in activities with other seniors may help reduce your risk of social isolation and loneliness.

What Are the Benefits of Community Connection?

Community connection may benefit your mental, physical, and emotional health. It could extend your longevity. Here are a few ways senior friendships may enhance your well-being.

Mental

Loneliness may increase your risk of:

Cognitive impairment by 12%
Alzheimer's disease by 14%
Vascular dementia by 17%

Fostering senior friendships and engaging in group activities may benefit your cognitive health.You can participate in stimulating activities to improve your mental acuity. Learning new skills and concepts can help neural pathways form, improving your neuroplasticity.

Consider looking into a senior living community that offers memory care. Mentally stimulating activities include:

Book club
Movie club
Educational classes
Trivia nights
Brain games
Discussion groups

By stimulating your mind, these activities may improve your memory to slow cognitive decline.

Physical

Spending time with friends may encourage you to make healthier lifestyle decisions. For example, your friends may encourage you to exercise regularly. Regular exercise can improve your health by:

Increasing relaxation
Preventing bone loss
Improving your balance (reducing your risk of slip and fall injuries)
Easing osteoarthritis stiffness and pain
Improving your strength
Easing anxiety and depression symptoms
Improving your mood
Improving sleep quality and duration
Improving your heart health
Preventing some chronic diseases

Emotional

Social isolation may increase your risk of depression. Spending time with friends may boost your mood and outlook on life. They could reduce your risk of depression by acting as a healthy distraction.

Senior Community Life

You can gain a sense of resident belonging by engaging in group activities alongside Tampa seniors. Here are a few ways your senior community life can strengthen connections.

Group Activities Tampa

Explore your senior living community's events and activities calendar for group activities. These may include:

Dance classes
Quilting
Crocheting
Sewing
Cooking and baking
Book club
Movie club
Gardening
Knitting
Pet therapy
Art classes

These activities can add a source of enjoyment to your life.Arts and crafts can also produce feelings of accomplishment.

Explore a variety of activities to expand your skill set. It can boost your mood and stimulate the mind.

Social Wellness

You can find exercise classes through your senior living community's fitness program. Group classes that can support social wellness include:

Pilates
Tai chi
Weight lifting
Dance classes
Swimming
Water aerobics
Resistance band training
Yoga or chair yoga
Walking
Hiking

Exercising with friends can produce additional benefits. For example, exercising alongside friends can make it more fun. Other benefits include:

Meeting new people
Strengthening friendships
Increased safety
Encouragement to try new things
Reduced stress
Motivation and accountability
Proper technique

You can also improve your health while socializing by joining friends for meals. You can find healthy meals through your community's dining programs. Eating with friends may encourage you to choose healthier meal options.

Volunteering

Volunteering can foster a sense of belonging and accomplishment. It can help you connect with seniors who share your values. Other benefits include:

Reduced loneliness
Renewed sense of purpose
Movement and exercise
Reduced stress
Slowed aged
Improved sleep
Learning valuable skills
Reduce your risk of dementia
Bridges the generation gap
Help you engage in old interests

According to this study, volunteering is associated with a reduced risk of functional decline, chronic conditions, and mortality.

Support Groups

Joining a support group through your senior living community can enhance your sense of belonging. You can build a support system if you're navigating a chronic illness or grief.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Do Seniors Meet Other Seniors?

You can start and maintain senior friendships through:

Dance nights
Educational seminars
Events at the local library
Community centers
Fitness classes, gyms, and yoga studios
Art workshops and classes
Potlucks
Organized trips
Your local senior living community

Check your Tampa senior living community's events and activities calendar for upcoming hangouts. You can meet other seniors who share your interests. Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation.

How Common Is a Lack of Connection?

While one in three US adults feels lonely, one in four lacks social or emotional support.

Social isolation is when someone has little to no social support. People who are isolated may lack contact with others or meaningful relationships.

Loneliness can occur when you feel disconnected from others or alone. You may lack a sense of belonging.

A lack of connection can cause both loneliness and social isolation. This may occur due to conditions in your environment.

Discover Senior Friendships in Tampa, FL

Prioritizing community connection can benefit your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. You can foster strong senior friendships through your local senior living community.

You can discover an active senior community life through Discovery Village at Tampa Palms. We offer exclusive senior lifestyle programs, including delicious meals, exercise classes, and a calendar full of fun activities. Contact us now to schedule your tour.