Maybe you’ve always enjoyed having dozens of friends and an active social life. Or maybe you’ve been someone who feels complete with just a few close friends. Regardless, nearly everyone seems to believe that, as you get older, making new friends can be increasingly challenging.
It doesn’t have to be.
In fact, making new friends after 60 can be a wonderful combination of reaching out to new neighbors, reconnecting with old friends, and even being open to the idea of virtual friendships. Many people find that moving into a Life Plan Community is the catalyst that provides a whole new cohort of meaningful friendships.
The most important things are to look for what you and others have in common, and not to be afraid to take a few chances
Making Friends Isn’t Just Fun, It’s Healthy
Psychology Today calls it “social fitness,” and emphasizes that friendships are better predictors of health and happiness in retirees than even family ties. The reality is that making new friends after 60 can improve both physical and mental health, offering benefits such as:
- Reduced risk of loneliness and isolation
- Improved physical health; according to the National Institute of Aging, socially active adults have lower levels of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and even some forms of cancer
- Lower stress levels
- And improved cognitive function
Social connections also provide emotional support and help to encourage healthy behaviors. But where, and how, to start? For some, the answer is as simple as moving to a Life Plan Community, which can help you make these connections in meaningful ways. Let’s explore our top tips for making friends after retirement.
Getting Started: 12+ Tips for Making Friends After 60
Fortunately, there’s no bad place to begin. You know yourself better than you ever have before, and moving to a Life Plan Community can be just the beginning for new experiences, new goals, and new friendships.
You can make those friends by going out, by staying in, and even online, but many Life Plan Communities in the Lancaster County, PA, area provide great opportunities and activities, including clubs and travel.
Heading out to make new friends can be as straightforward as:
- Connecting with activity groups, many of which are specifically set up for retirees seeking community and friendship
- Attending religious services, which can be a connective force to help to find like-minded friends
- Enrolling in continuing education courses, both academic and activity-based
- Going on a date (since neither friendship nor romance stops at 60!)
- Taking an exercise class or joining an exercise group
- Taking a trip! (Many LPC’s offer overnight destination opportunities and chances to step out of your comfort zone.)
- Check out pre-residency events and activities that you can be involved in even before you move in
Most communities have a welcome committee, pairing new residents with current residents to help them “learn the ropes.”
Staying in to make new friends can be as easy as:
- Extending a social invitation, like asking someone to meet you for coffee at one of the LPC’s on-premises coffee shops (most have one!) or dining locations
- Responding to someone else’s invitation
- Joining a support group, crafting group, or other on-campus get-together is a great way to feel connected as you navigate life’s changes
- Paying attention to the calendar of engaging programming that every Life Plan Community offers, including classes, games, recreation, and technology
Logging on to make new friends can be just a click away:
- Explore ways of connecting with both existing and potential friends by using online tools like AARP Communities, or Local Facebook Groups
- Become a “keyboard pal” by writing letters back-and-forth using email
- Join an online community or a virtual continuing education class
Remember, countless studies have shown a strong link between maintaining social connections and enjoying better overall physical and mental health. We all need somebody to lean on!
The Magic of Community
One of the many important tools you have when it comes to making friends after 60 is the Life Plan Community you choose. In and around Lancaster, there are 17 different communities, each with its own unique combination of activities, amenities, and atmosphere.
The Life Plan Communities themselves create excellent opportunities to make friends, like:
- Organized activities and events, like fitness classes, game nights, book clubs, social outings and more
- Shared spaces and common areas, including dining areas, libraries, game rooms, and outdoor spaces
- Welcome committees and social programs; most Life Plan Communities, if not all, offer different sorts of resident ambassador programs to help new residents integrate into the community and connect with neighbors
- Shared Experiences like volunteering, attending community meals, and participating in intergenerational programs
As you explore all that Lancaster’s Life Plan Communities have to offer, pay attention to their similarities as well as to their differences. Finding the best community for you also means that you’ll likely find the kinds of people you’ll truly enjoy being around.
Enjoy Making Friends, at Any Age!
Whether you’re 6, 60, or beyond, making new friends can be exciting, invigorating, and inspiring. You already know how to do it, but we hope that this article inspires you to new and interesting avenues to building relationships.
Before you know it, it’ll be tough to find an open space on your calendar!