How to stay socially active in a retirement village

7 tips for a happy, healthy lifestyle for retirees

Retirement communities provide a multitude of ways to stay socially active when you retire.

The changes in your social life when you move into retirement can happen gradually or be sudden and dramatic. Invitations often drop away when you leave the workplace. Family members move out of home, or further away from you. Neighbours and friends may pass away or leave the area.

Social isolation is one of the biggest contributors to dementia and depression. To remain socially active and avoid becoming isolated or lonely, it’s important to maintain your social circles or form new ones. Retirement offers the perfect opportunity to travel, start a hobby, become a volunteer, return to study, or even start a small business.

Most activities outside the home involve connecting with others. Being socially active and engaged in your community can keep you healthy, both mentally and physically and feeling supported and happy.

Retirement villages provide a safe, friendly community where people of a similar age can interact, participate in activities, attend events, and grow strong friendships.

Here are a few ways you can stay socially active in a retirement village community.

Make friends in your community

The best place to start building your social network is in your neighbourhood. Your new best friends could be right next door! Reach out to your neighbours for help when there’s something about your community you’re not sure about. If they’ve been living there a while, they’re sure to know the answer or be able to point you in the right direction and this can help grow connections.

Accept invitations from your friendly neighbours to chat over a cuppa or come for a meal. If you like entertaining, you might invite your neighbours for a potluck dinner to get to know them better. Not everyone will be your cup of tea, but you’re sure to find some who are.

In a retirement village, it’s easy to grow friendships over the fence, or over a cuppa. There is also a comfort in knowing someone is just a short stroll away if you need a chat.

Keep yourself physically active

You’ll find modern retirement villages offer a wide range of facilities catering to active retirees. Many have a pool, gymnasium, bowling green, pool tables, tennis courts and regular activities such as yoga, tai chi, dance or aerobics.

Retirement villages often have paths and bikeways, either within the grounds or close by. You might find residents who get together for walking or dog walking, jogging, cycling or head out in groups for local activities such as golf, hiking or dancing.

Attend interest groups

You might be amazed at the variety of special interest groups on offer in a retirement village. It’s not unusual to find people gathering regularly for a book club, a men’s shed, to sing in a choir, or to discuss their passion for wine, craft, or photography. Meeting with people who share a common interest is a great way to expand your social circle.

Start an interest group yourself!

If you can’t find a group you’re interested in at your retirement village, there may be an opportunity to start one. Have a chat with management and find out what’s possible and how to get the word out. If enough people are interested in what you’re interested in, there’s your group!

Volunteer in the broader community

There may not be an opportunity to volunteer in your retirement community, but there are sure to be plenty of ways to lend a hand in the local area. You might start by looking on community notice boards, visiting the local neighbourhood centre or popping into the library or tourist information centre.

If you haven’t looked into volunteering before (or if it’s been a while) you might be surprised to find a large number of charities keen for volunteers to help in a range of interesting projects.

Volunteering enables you to meet and work alongside people with a similar interest or passion. You most likely gain sense of purpose and fulfilment and the satisfaction of knowing you’re making a difference in the local community or further afield.

Invite your friends and family to visit

Moving into a resort-style retirement village makes it attractive for friends and family to come and visit. You can all enjoy a BBQ, swim in the pool, movie night or dinner in the restaurant… all without having to maintain the facilities!

Take excursions or group holidays

Retirement village management realise the importance of social interaction and provide a range of offerings to keep you busy. Many have regular shopping trips, longer excursions to local points of interest, or may even assist in organising group tours through an external travel agency.

Often there will be bus trips to venues for entertainment, to attend film screenings, visit exhibitions or touring shows. All are great ways for you to get to know your fellow residents while enjoying an activity outside the community.

Staying connected in your retirement

At Renaissance Retirement Living we recognise the importance of keeping social. It’s easy to stay socially active when you’re surrounded by people who, like you, enjoy living an active life. Our residents find common interests with each other and go on to create meaningful and long-lasting friendships.

We also plan a fantastic social calendar, so you’ll always have opportunities to do as much (or as little) as you like. You’ll soon find those special friends who will help make retirement the best time of your life.

Call us today on (07) 3820 7700 or contact us to book a spot at our next information session. We would love to meet you!