Being active socially may not seem to be as important as remaining physically active and yet the two are closely linked. An active social life can have serious health benefits:

• Having friends can reduce your risk of depression
• Brain function is boosted through social interaction
• Social activity slows the rate of decline in your health
• Social interaction can directly improve your physical fitness
• Enjoying a social life decreases stress and can reduce blood pressure

Having an active social life can be easier said than done as you age, however. Your friends may become infirm so that visits become less frequent. You may find it harder to travel to social gatherings or have difficulty pursuing your hobbies and interests.

Social interaction and dementia

According to Live-in Care Hub just an extra 60 minutes of social interaction can have a profound impact on dementia sufferers, reducing anger and anxiety and drastically improving their quality of life.   It can be particularly difficult if you have dementia to maintain a conversation – words may become confused and you may find it hard to follow the thread of an argument. However, a professional live in carer could be a huge boost to the amount of social interaction you are able to undertake. One with training in dementia issues will be able to support you fully.

Getting out of the house

Visiting friends is a great way to increase the amount of social interaction you have – but if you are ageing it can become much harder to do so. Legs tire quicker and exercise may cause angina, asthma or dizziness if you have underlying health conditions. It can be easy to lose confidence and retreat to your own familiar surroundings.

Your own live in carer can accompany you when you wish to visit friends, attend meetings or participate in hobbies. Many of them will be able to drive you from your home to where you wish to go and can remain with you if you wish before bringing you home again.

Try something new

You can teach an old dog new tricks and you can take up a new hobby even in your twilight years. There are plenty of exercise classes and interest groups specifically tailored towards older people, allowing you the chance to meet new friends and get out of the house for a while.

Companionship

Even if you are naturally more of an introvert having a chance to spend time near people can help you avoid feeling isolated and depressed. Having a full time carer living in your house can banish those feelings of loneliness and, should you want to have a chat or reminisce over a photo album, a carer will be instantly on hand to make a cup of tea and come and sit down with you. Having a social life doesn’t need to mean coffee shops and day centres.