Senior Socialization

Moving to a new city can be a wonderful way for your aging loved one to feel rejuvenated. Getting to know a brand new place, seeing fresh sights, and meeting new people are all wonderful benefits of relocating. And although there are a few stressful aspects involved with a move, the experience can provide your loved one with just the right amount of challenge to reignite their inspiration and engagement with life.

Attending my sister’s wedding this summer was heartwarming for many reasons—one thing that really stood out was the celebrant who officiated the union. An older man, Richard, facilitated the ceremony beautifully, bringing everyone to tears. Turns out he was a retired financial adviser who started officiating weddings when his son got married a few years ago. He loved the experience and started getting referrals by word-of-mouth. Hearing Richard’s story reminded me that just because your loved one retires from their lifelong career doesn’t mean they need to quit working altogether.

Edna was being priced out of her beloved San Francisco home, where she’d lived for the past 30 years. Her children had all moved to different states and Edna was very concerned about where she’d end up living. A California girl at heart, she couldn’t fathom being based anywhere else in the country. She’d visited a few nearby retirement communities, but none had the activities, social life, and engaged learning that she yearned for. But when her youngest son mentioned senior housing communities tied to colleges, she listened closely.

The Bay Area is a bustling place to live, whether you’re a young entrepreneur on the rise or an older adult settling into their retirement years. With all the activities available at one’s fingertips, there’s something to meet virtually anyone’s needs at any age. And one need, as we get older, is to work at maintaining and strengthening our memory, as over one-third of people over 70 experience memory loss of some kind. Thankfully, there are multiple approaches to mitigating this, readily accessible throughout the Bay Area. Teaching, for instance, is a great example: having the chance to impart wisdom and skills can be emotionally, mentally, and socially rewarding for anyone—and especially for older adults.