6 ways to make friends and stay social as a senior

Making new friends can be challenging as we age, but connecting with others can help you stay physically and mentally healthy.

Take the chance to embrace the extra time that retirement affords and expand your social circle.

Here are six tips to help you kickstart your social life and make friends as a senior. 

1. Volunteer

Give back to the community and join a new social circle by volunteering.

Connect Health & Community has various volunteer positions open for those who have some time to lend a hand, including Community Transport drivers and jockeys, hydrotherapy pool sitters and Social Support groups.

Find out more about volunteering with us here, or give us a call on (03) 9575 5333 to find out more.

2. Join a group exercise class

Socialising in an exercise group is a great way to engage your physical and cognitive muscles.

Keeping fit and staying active is easier with a little help from your network. You’ll enjoy the physical and mental benefits of staying fit and active, plus you’ll have your instructor and fellow group members to keep you motivated. Connect Health & Community offers supervised group exercise classes and activities, including hydrotherapy, Tai Chi and GLA:D. 

3. Join a book club

4. Attend a Social Support Group

Connect Health & Community runs Social Support Groups for those who need an extra hand getting out and about, exploring creativity and making new friends.

Our Social Support Groups provide a range of activities tailored to personal interests and abilities. Activities include exercise, singing, dancing, games, crafts, discussions and excursions.

Connect Health & Community social support groups run every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Community Transport is available. 

5. Become a community gardener

If you like getting your hands dirty, connecting with nature and sharing your green thumb skills, why not join a local community gardening group.

To get inspired, check out these gardening tips from our volunteer and gardening extraordinaire, Joe. 

You may find gardening groups in your area through your local council. 

6. Learn something new

You’re never too old to go back to school- why not enroll in a class to learn something new and meet like-minded people?

You can learn a language, a craft, do a creative writing program or even use the extra time online to boost your computer skills. 

You may meet new people in the group, or you could invite someone to sign up with you and you can hold each other accountable. 

Sometimes getting out and about can be tricky. If you can’t do something in person in your community, try online. There are many apps, websites and online communities that you can join online, so location is never a barrier to start something new. Invite a friend to do it with you. This can be a great way to stay in touch if someone lives on the other side of town or even the other side of the world.