Barbara Fradkin – FLORIDA TODAY

Q:  Now that we are getting out more, I am looking for somewhere to go and be with others.  What can you suggest?

A:  As we get older, it is really important to maintain some sort of social engagement. Seniors, for a variety of reasons, can be more susceptible to social isolation than younger people.  We all remember how nice it is to sit with others, have a cup of coffee, and play cards, mahjong and other games.  Along with helping you navigate all of the changes that come with growing older, a healthy dose of fun and games benefits your mental and physical health, too!

It’s no surprise that intellectual stimulation helps keep your mind sharp. An active social life has been shown to actually help prevent depression, as well as Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

During friendly games and conversation, you gain knowledge and skills — while having fun!  If you are willing to venture out and try new things, then making new senior friends and staying socially active is easy.

So where can you go to meet others and learn new things?  You can check out the local senior centers.  Here in Central Florida, we have a large number of senior centers that provide oodles of activities for seniors.  Some of them also have a ‘Seniors at Lunch’ program where a nominal fee gets you lunch and some kind of program.  If your interests are varied and you like the idea of eating with a group, this is a great option for you.

You can also explore senior social groups.  At One Senior Place, we offer a Senior Club that meets weekly.  People get together to play cards, mahjong, dominoes and a variety of other enjoyable games. The Senior Club at One Senior Place will have an Open House on Wednesday, September 1st from 9-10 AM to re-introduce themselves to the community. They have not been meeting since COVID, and they are ready to get back to socializing!  Bring a neighbor, come have a cup of coffee, meet the group and check out your favorite games.

You probably already know that One Senior Place maintains a full monthly calendar of educational (and fun) presentations you can attend at no charge.  Join the Book Club, learn about Medicare insurance, hear what the Elder Law Attorneys say about estate planning and find out how to stay safe at home with additional care.

Call me for a free consultation at 321-751-6771 and let’s figure out how to keep you busy and active. We’ll see you on the 1st of September!

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One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families. Questions for this column are answered by professionals in nursing, social work, care management and in-home care. To submit a question, send an email to askOSP@OneSeniorPlace.com or visit One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging at OneSeniorPlace.com. Barbara Fradkin is a Social Worker, Certified Care Manager and the Director for One Senior Place, Viera.