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Being a senior can be challenging and one of the most serious difficulties that seniors contend with is loneliness. There is a certain sense of isolation that affects millions of seniorsmaking life much less enjoyable.
The solution? Community! Here’s what seniors need to know about community and why it’s importantfor mental and physical health.
Why it’s important to be a social senior
Why is community so important? Community is important to seniors because it reinforces a sense of belonging, purpose and support. It’s hard to feel lonely and isolated when you’re an active member of a community with friends and activities.
So what constitutes a community? There are many different kinds of communities. There are residential communities including retirement and nursing homes,or people in your neighborhood that you engage with. Your neighbors or fellow residents are part of your community. Other types of communities include volunteer groups, special interest groups, and of course, your friends and family. If you have a knack for technology, you can even join and participate in online communities. There is so much to enjoy by just reaching out to others and joining in on activities…you can have a full and active life.
The importance of friends and family
When you’re in your golden years, friends and family become incredibly important. In fact, in most cases, they become much more important to you than ever before. When you’re young, your busy and time races by making it easy to forget just how important friends and family really are. As you age, you will feel time slowing down which often leads to boredom andthe desire for companionship. This is when it’s important to engage with those around you, especially your friends and family.
Why it’s a good idea to volunteer
While it’s important to cultivate a sense of community by interacting and spending time with your friends and family, they can’t be there with you all of the time. That’s why it’s a good idea to do volunteer work as a senior.
Once retired, boredom can become a daily reality and difficult to deal with. One of the easiest ways to eliminate boredom is to volunteer. Maybe volunteering at your favorite charity, animal shelter, hospital, as a crossing guard at a local school. By choosing something you enjoy, you will stay busy, meet people and time will start to race by again.
If you don’t have extra money to donate to charities and causes you are passionate about, you can always donate your time instead. Writing a check is easy, but putting in your time and effort to support a cause takes more dedication. That dedication will foster a sense of community that will keep you engaged and inspired.
By doing volunteer work, you’ll never feel bored or alone. There will always be something to do and involve yourself in. Volunteer work can even reinvigorate your sense of purpose in life. Many retirees struggle to find a sense of purpose in life after they stop working. That’s because, for many folks, their job plays a significant role in forming their sense of identity. When you lose your sense of purpose, life can become stale, and volunteering can help you retain a sense of identity and purpose.
Benefits of joining an exercise group
Staying fit is important at any age. That said, it’s especially important as you age. The fitter you are as a senior, the healthier you will be. The healthier you are, the longer you will live. Being fit also means that you will be able to live independently and on your terms.
There are plenty of exercise groups that are designed for seniors. By joining an exercise group that is engineered for older folks, you’ll be making an investment in your health and also enjoy a rich sense of community and get a chance to mingle and talk with other seniors to build new friendships.
Look into taking water aerobics classes or participating in other exercise groups that interest you. The more you participate, the more people you’ll meet, the more fun you will have.
Living alone vs senior living communities
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a senior is whether to move into a senior living community. While the decision is ultimately up to you provided you are of sound mind, many of these communities allow you to continue live independently while providing many activities for the residents to enjoy. Whether the activity is a shopping trip, exercise group or playing cards with friends, participatingwith others gives you a sense of community.
Something to consider is the differences in cost. Sometimes living in your own home can be more expensive than in a senior living community and vice versa. If it’s costing you more to live in your home selling your home and moving into a senior living community might be a good idea.
If you love your neighbors, arein reasonably good health, and your house is paid off, living in your own home for as long as you arephysically able to may be ideal. On the other hand, if all of the neighbors you knew and loved have either moved away, passed away, or both, moving into a senior living community might help you make new connections and foster a healthy sense of community.
Getting older is never easy, but it helps to have people that understand, know and care about you to make the journeymore enjoyable.
How to afford to move into a senior living community
If you’re unsure if you can afford to move into a senior living community or an assisted living facility, you should know about the advantages of a life settlement. A life settlement can help you potentially generate a large amount of money relatively quicklyso you can enjoy getting back to your community and living life to its fullest.
You receive a lump sum cash payout from a life settlement by selling your life insurance policy to a licensed buyer known as a life settlement provider. When you sell your life insurance policy, you will receive a substantial cash payment depending on the value of your policyto use however you choose. The upside of selling your life insurance policy could be best the best option for you to ensure financial freedom and independence so you can live where you want and do all the things you have dreamed of doing.
MRE Finance, we’re here for you
MRE Finance has over 25 years ofexperience helping seniors sell their life insurance policies that are unneeded or no longer wanted. We willexplain the life settlement process in detail and provide a free estimate for your life insurance policy. You can use the free life settlement calculator online and see if your life policy has value in minutes, or simply pick up the phone and give us a call at 1-800-521-0770.
Ask MRE Finance about how to sell your life insurance policy today! We are a community too!
