An official State of Texas website.
Social engagement and connection have been shown to improve a person’s health and sense of wellbeing. People that are engaged and connected have greater mobility, are more likely to stay current on health screenings, have better cognitive health and are more likely to live longer.
Communities that provide residents with engagement opportunities also receive an array of benefits – from volunteer support to increased community satisfaction. Communities can create and promote social engagement opportunities, programs and resources that enable older adults to stay connected and share their expertise.
There are a number of ways to stay connected:
Continue Learning: Learning can give you a feeling of accomplishment and help you build new skills. Universities and community colleges often offer lifelong learning classes. Your local community, senior center, or library is also a good place to look for learning opportunities.
Explore Recreation and Hobbies: Participating in group exercise, taking up a new hobby or being outside are great ways to be healthy and meet new people. Consider exploring classes at your local senior center, becoming a Master Naturalist or leading a Texercise class.
Volunteer: Through volunteering older adults can share their time and expertise while meeting new people. Use the Volunteer.gov search engine to find opportunities. Mentor elementary school children through the Foster Grandparent Volunteer Program, serve on a team of volunteers through AmeriCorps, or be a volunteer companion for an older neighbor.
Create New Connections with Know Your Neighbor
Relationships bring connection, meaning, purpose and challenge to our lives. Having a strong network of family, friends or neighbors can help us reduce the social isolation which can lead to loneliness. The Know Your Neighbor campaign encourages Texans to form and maintain new connections with older neighbors to help reduce isolation and loneliness. Five easy steps lead neighbors through the process and resources are provided to make creating connections easier. Organizations and communities can get involved with Know Your Neighbor and help to reduce isolation and loneliness in their own communities. Resources for individuals, organizations and communities can be found on the Aging Well Resources Order Form. Choose “Know Your Neighbor” in the "Select a Program" drop down.