By Cheryl Popp
The Importance of Social Engagement In Promoting Healthy Aging
While nutrition and exercise play a massive role in ensuring healthy aging, so does social engagement. Interacting with others has been clinically proven to keep our brains engaged and also enhance our mood. Research continues to show that, for seniors, social engagement leads to better physical health and reduces the risk of cognitive decline. Geriatric medical specialists agree that social activity can help older adults improve their mental health while improving memory functions. Staying socially engaged can also reduce depression and create an overall higher quality of life for your loved one. “Use it or lose it” is an old phrase that happens to be true. If you don’t exercise your brain, it will atrophy just like your body’s muscles do without exercise. Socializing is an excellent workout for your brain, keeping it supple, alert and active. The Importance of Social Engagement for Older Adults Research has proven that social isolation can put seniors at greater risk. It can
even lead to a greater risk of physical illness and accidents in the home. Social interaction stimulates a hormone called oxytocin. If you want to impress people, you can explain that oxytocin is one of many neuropeptides that can generate good feelings. Often referred to as the “love hormone,” social bonding triggers the release of oxytocin. Just as endorphins can kick in with exercise, the oxytocin kicks in with social interaction. Social activity also provides a mental workout to keep our brain engaged. Conversation requires listening, reasoning, attention, language skills, and mental processing that help keep cognitive and memory skills tuned and operational. Social interaction and connecting with others can also boost an older adult’s
mood by improving energy levels and sense of self-worth. Your loved one may need to feel that they are heard and appreciated. As we age, we often feel we’ve become “invisible” no matter how successful and recognized we might have been in earlier life. We live in a society that overlooks our elderly population no matter how accomplished they may be. Social interaction can help counter the risk of depression and feelings of low selfesteem. Even before the COVID-19 global pandemic arrived, experts knew that loneliness and isolation could have a negative impact on our mental health, especially for seniors. Longtime friends move away or pass away. We move away from long-time homes to downsize. As children and grandchildren grow and move away, families may become widespread. Mobility and/or hearing issues may also make socializing more of a challenge. It’s easy to socially isolate and not realize the consequences until it’s too late. 9 Ways to Promote Social Activities for Seniors
This article is sponsored by Home Care Assistance, for more info visit > www.homecareassistance.com 26 BOOM!
July 2021
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