Senior Socialization

Here at Institute on Aging, there are few things we emphasize more than the importance of socialization and the positive impact it has, mentally, physically and physiologically.  Or, to put it another way: being with people is good.  It’s not really groundbreaking. Except for people who genuinely prefer to be alone (and there is nothing wrong with that), being around other people helps stimulate the mind in a number of ways, including:

What do we mean when we say “movement”? It can mean many things. It can be the actual physical act of changing location or position: a shake of the arm, a quick stutter-step toward a partner, a slight gyration of the hips. It could mean part of a symphony, a piece of music that is contained within the whole, a part of something bigger. Or it could mean an uprising, a group of people with one goal in mind: a gathering, a happening, a revolution.

An old Navy man, Ken had a bunch of tattoos on his somewhat-wrinkled but still-strong arms. There were call-signs and images of the ships on which he used to ply the world’s waters, a few Morse code images, the obligatory mermaid girl, and, somewhat surprisingly, a Latin phrase.

Watching a movie in a group is an incredible, life-affirming way to make a solitary experience into something joyfully communal. We sit in a darkened room, processing a film through our own minds, but surrounded by people who are laughing or gasping or covering their eyes or crying.

“I have learned that to be with those I like is enough.”  -Walt Whitman

With dementia in the driver’s seat, my grandma has good days and bad days and it can be hard to predict what each new day will bring. But over time, we’ve learned to recognize patterns and help foster the kind of environment and conversations that often inspire the good days. If we’ve picked up one most important rule of thumb, it’s to meet her where she is.