Staying Connected

Studies have shown that people who remain active and who interact with other people during old age live longer, happier, healthier lives. Volunteering, taking classes, joining social groups, engaging in hobbies, and pursuing some type of spiritual or religious practice are all ways of staying connected. Even people who are confined to their homes because of illness can stay connected by having others visit them or by communicating over the telephone or by electronic mail.

Volunteering: Volunteering allows an older person to use skills and life experiences in a way that contributes to the community and society. Hundreds of organizations across the United States welcome older volunteers. For example, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Foster Grandparent Program provide volunteer opportunities in many communities. Opportunities are almost limitless and include working with children, working with older adults, helping out in nonprofit organizations or municipal institutions such as libraries, and assisting small businesses.

Continuing education: Being a life-long learner can be a very enjoyable and effective way of maintaining an active mind and of meeting and interacting with others who have similar interests. Many public school systems, colleges and universities, and municipalities offer continuing education classes for people of all ages as well as classes specifically developed with older adults in mind. Classes may range from practical topics such as preparing tax returns, managing personal finances, or learning a new language to more creative or entertaining topics such as wine tasting and music appreciation.

Social groups and hobbies: For older people, hobbies can help maintain social connections as well as mental and physical fitness. People may develop new hobbies or rediscover hobbies from earlier years. Although many hobbies can be done in solitude, engaging in a hobby with another person or with a group can be more interesting and stimulating. Hobbies that involve physical activity, such as gardening or sports, can be particularly beneficial to the person's health.

Spirituality and religion: Spirituality and religion provide meaning, comfort, and a sense of belonging to many older people. Spirituality and religion are similar but not identical concepts. Religion often is associated with institutions, structure, and tradition, whereas spirituality is more associated with feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Most older people in the United States consider themselves both religious and spiritual.

Spirituality and religion may benefit older people in several ways.

• A positive and hopeful attitude about life and illness improves health.
• The social aspects of a religious community can help people feel connected to others.
• The meaning and purpose of life that religious beliefs convey and the effect of those beliefs can be steady and powerful influences, especially when a person is facing difficult changes.

A religious community is the largest source of social support for older people outside of the family, and involvement in religious organizations is the most common type of voluntary social activity—more common than all other forms of voluntary social activity combined.

Active involvement in a religious community appears to help older people maintain their ability to carry out daily activities. Older people who attend religious services are also more likely to be healthy, recover faster from illness or injury, and live longer. Many older people say that their religion provides a foundation that enables them to cope with health problems and stresses, such as loss of a spouse.