Where you live impacts how easy it is to make friends and how much you have in common with other residents. Hickory Villa in Omaha fosters a faith-based community where you can find other seniors who value their relationship with God. You might find it's easier to connect with others who have a similar focus.
Become familiar with the community's social calendar and take advantage of those opportunities to meet other residents. At Hickory Villa, we schedule multiple activities throughout the day, ranging from exercise and games to movies and coffee with friends. That makes it easy to find an activity that appeals to you. It's also an opportunity to move outside of your comfort zone and try an activity you wouldn't normally choose.
While you participate in the community activities, chat with other residents. You might find some who also want new friendships. This is also your chance to find other people with similar interests or values. Continue attending the planned activities. You'll likely meet new people each time and can develop stronger connections with people who show up regularly.
Beyond the social calendar, assisted living communities feature shared spaces where residents can mingle. Spending time outside your assisted living apartment in those communal spaces increases your chances of meeting new friends. Go for walks around the campus and say hi to people you pass. Utilize the shared amenities available to residents, or simply sit in a community lounge and people-watch or read a book. When others join you, start chatting.
Hickory Villa offers restaurant-style dining with flexible dining times, but it's much more than a chance to meet your nutritional needs. Mealtimes also allow you to meet your emotional and social needs by interacting with other residents. Join others at their tables to foster potential friendships. You might try eating at different times to meet new people or try sitting with different groups each time.
It's not always easy to be the one who makes the first move, but starting conversations with lots of people could lead to lasting friendships. If you're nervous about initiating conversations, start by smiling and saying hi to others you encounter around the community. When you get comfortable with that, add a simple question to your greeting to keep the conversation going.
Some people will be receptive and chat for a long time. Others might be more reserved and move on quickly. Prepare yourself for all types of reactions, and don't let the less enthusiastic responses stop you from striking up more conversations.
It's often easier to build friendships when you interact with the same people repeatedly. That's why joining a group or signing up for a senior class could help you grow new relationships. Look for interest-based groups within your assisted living community. If the options are limited, look beyond the assisted living community to nearby organizations. You might find senior-specific groups that meet regularly. Show up to group activities and participate actively to get the most out of the experience.
When you volunteer regularly, you meet new people within the community and build relationships with other volunteers and staff members. Consider your interests and where you might meet people who could become friends. For example, you might volunteer at the local Omaha libraries if you love reading.
Once you find people you enjoy, schedule time with them. Sure, you'll likely run into them frequently around the assisted living community. However, planned activities ensure you get regular quality time together. Invite your friends to your assisted living apartment for a meal or game night. Or enjoy a change of scenery by checking out free Omaha activities together.
Staying in touch with friends near and far is sometimes easier online. Join social media networks and connect with new and old friends on those sites. This allows you to share photos and posts of what you're doing and see their posts as well. Balancing online and in-person interactions helps you develop healthy connections.
When you move to an assisted living community, you might not see your old friends as often. Stay connected to them by inviting them to your new community. They can join you for a meal, or you can give them a tour of the community's amenities.
Asking your long-time friends to visit also lets you introduce them to your new friends within the community. Those interactions can help strengthen all your friendships and allow your new friends to learn more about you.
