Socialization
Human contact and human touch are essential parts of life and wellness. As people age, they can become more and more isolated, and that isolation can lead to problems. It's important to find ways to keep them involved.
Once they are thrust into the situation, most find it a pleasurable experience and are willing to continue. It's getting them over that first hump, kind of like taking your child to his first day of school. More than likely, this isn't something they are going to initiate on their own; you will probably have to do some research and even offer to take them or go with them the first time.
Your local senior center is just one place to look for opportunities to share common interests. Volunteer opportunities may be another avenue to explore, such as a local hospital, nursing home, library, school, or church.
If they are able, your parents or in-laws may be interested in finding a part-time job. Fast food restaurants and some large home-improvement retailers are some of the more popular employers for older persons. They might find an opportunity helping a self-employed person such as a real estate agent with some of his duties, such as filing or bulk mailing.
Even the most outgoing, natural-born leader may resist and find it difficult to make new friends or join a new group. Senior centers are the perfect outlet for seniors to find socialization, but getting them there may be more difficult than just finding transportation. The typical reaction is that old people don't like the idea of being with other old people who remind them they are old.
Other opportunities for socializing and keeping busy include taking an adult-education class. These classes offer instruction in a variety of avocations such as needlework, pottery making, stained glass, feng shui, digital photography, or even how to write or record family history information. They could also take computer classes from the basic to how to use a multitude of software. Perhaps they could even teach a class.
