Finding connection at any age can be a challenge, but it can be particularly challenging in our later years. For seniors who don’t already have a community that they’re plugged into—a place of worship, hobby group, or friend circle—finding a group in a post-pandemic world can take a considerable amount of time and energy.

“With the pandemic lasting over several years, unhealthy patterns of isolation have become the new normal for many,” explained Laura Hunter, Marketing Director at Westminster Canterbury. “I believe there is a direct correlation between a senior’s overall health and well-being and their level of social interaction. I have talked with many seniors who have discussed how difficult social isolation can be and the effect it has had on their mental health. They have expressed their need to ‘get out around people and have interaction’ because they feel they are mentally suffering from lack of contact with others.”

But despite the challenges, there are still many great ways for seniors to connect with their community.

Plan Visits With Family

If seniors have family living close by, one of the easiest ways to stay connected is by planning routine visits. This can be as simple as an hour-long visit once a week, or something a bit more intentional such as a monthly dinner or game night.

Family members should take a bit of time to take their senior loved ones to community events or plan special meals at home together. Especially for seniors who have mobility issues or no longer drive, these routine visits can make a huge impact on their well-being.

“There is no magic answer, but the key is to do something,” said Becky Tweedy, Communications Director for Meals on Wheels in Lynchburg. “Send a card or a little package—everyone loves to receive mail! Of course, if possible, FaceTime or Zoom to include them in holiday get-togethers. If that doesn’t work, just pick up the phone and call. To know that you’re thinking about them and missing them in the midst of a gathering is heartwarming. And visit whenever you possibly can! Ask them about their favorite memories from years past. Share their stories with others.”

Join Social Activities

Whether a senior is living at home or in a retirement community, it’s important for them to remain social. Meeting and getting to know their neighbors is a great place to start. Encourage seniors to bake up a batch of their favorite cookies and safely drop them off at a neighbor’s doorstep with a note encouraging a visit. Or, if they are in a retirement community, seniors can connect with a health, wellness, or activity director to get plugged into any ongoing events.

“There is an intentional focus at Westminster Canterbury to provide as many occasions for enrichment as possible,” said Hunter. “Providing many different opportunities to learn, help others and become involved in the community brings a sense of well-being and fulfillment for those who participate. Our team members explore the activities our city has to offer so we can include as many as possible in our schedule.”

“It’s incredible to watch as people’s lives transform when they move to a community, across all levels of care,” said Brenda Dixon, Marketing Director at The Summit. “Whether engaging over meals, social events or simply connecting with neighbors passing in the corridors. The difference in assisted living—just having the reassurance that assistance is there when you need it has proven benefits to overall health and happiness. People are social creatures with diverse personalities, we are meant to be around each other and meant to have purpose.”

Enrich the Community

With age comes wisdom—wisdom that many organizations and community leaders would love to learn from. Regardless of mobility or transportation, there are plenty of ways that seniors can get involved with community enrichment and activism.

Seniors can make a list of activities that they enjoy and determine how they could benefit local organizations with those passions. If they love to garden, they could volunteer for a local gardening club. If they love to read, they could volunteer to read to kids at the library. Or, if they have career experience to share, they can mentor a young professional or offer pro bono professional consulting to a nonprofit organization. If a senior is homebound or can’t get up and about, even volunteering with a phone tree for a political or philanthropic cause could be incredibly rewarding.

Learn Something New

Education is a lifelong pursuit. In fact, research shows that continued education can help prevent cognitive decline and helps decrease the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Whether a senior wants to expand on a topic or skill that they already know, or learn something new entirely, there are plenty of local classes for them to choose from. From art and pottery classes at the Academy Center of the Arts and Jackson Heights Art Studio to sewing and woodworking workshops at Vector Space, lifelong students of all ages will enjoy honing their craft and connecting with others.

Lynchburg expert addresses the fear of memory loss

Gerontologist Dr. Jay White studies age—or more specifically—the effects of age. After working in real estate, he made a career switch after realizing that many residents couldn’t stay in their homes after a certain point.

“I wanted to know why people couldn’t continue living on their own,” he says.

After earning his master’s degree in gerontology (he also has a Doctor of Education degree), White now dedicates his life to helping everyone enjoy their longevity and elderhood, which includes understanding the normal signs of cognitive decline. He says the fear of memory loss has become very prevalent in healthcare—and that fear can actually produce or exacerbate symptoms.

“Our brains work like a computer,” he says. “When a computer becomes overloaded with information, it processes things slower. As we age, the same thing happens. It can be difficult to recall certain names or memories.”

White says that doesn’t necessarily mean an individual has dementia. In fact, there are several ways to tell the difference between natural aging and a deeper neurological issue.

“What I see in private practice is that people concerned about memory loss don’t usually have dementia,” White explains. “Then you have to look at other underlying issues.”

According to White, talking about memory loss is the opposite of what dementia patients do. Many who start showing signs either hide their symptoms or don’t realize what’s happening.

Determining the root of memory issues is complex. Research shows there are more than 100 types of dementia, one of which is Alzheimer’s. Many of those types are highly manageable and even reversible.

“You can’t tell [if someone has dementia] just by having a conversation,” White says. “It usually involves a brain scan to get an actual diagnosis that shows brain patterns. But even then, there are types that don’t show up on a brain scan.”

While White says it’s common to get phone calls from concerned family members about loved ones who may be showing signs of dementia, his advice is to slow down and not jump to conclusions with a self-diagnosis.

“There are certain things that are a normal part of aging,” he says. “When you don’t see someone for a long period time, it can be hard to gauge what’s normal and what’s not.”

He says if there’s a concern that a relative may be “slipping,” then family members need to look at the whole picture. According to statistics, less than 12% of older adults have dementia, which White says is a small population.

“Start a conversation and ask questions like ‘How are you doing or feeling?’” he says. “Maybe your loved one is lonely and is showing signs of depression. Maybe it’s new medications and you need to talk to their pharmacist about side effects.”