With the pandemic and all the fear and anxiety that went with it, many aging adults did not go out or socialize with family or loved ones much, if at all. The restrictions have lifted quite a bit and the fear factor has lowered, so this is a great time to get back to socializing and being with family and friends again. Mask mandates are relaxing and aging adults need life purpose and PEOPLE. 

The hardest part is taking the first step. Where do you start and who do you connect with? That is a difficult task and it should be easy to just reach out to the people you missed. However, it can be daunting as you may be concerned if this person is even a friend still. Your anxiety and fear can take over. Taking the first steps to start back to some normal socializing is the beginning to healing from COVID-19.

4 Quick Steps to Springing into Normal Socialization

Make the Call

As mentioned above, half the battle is making the call and trying to get back to socializing without being afraid. This is a big step to take, but very doable. During the pandemic we were forced to learn how to be alone or just chat with friends via Skype or Zoom or some form of internet calling connection. We taught ourselves it was safe to be alone, and well that works for a while until loneliness and isolation sets in. Now the gates are open; we can make the step or the call to resuscitate old friends that we shoved away for too long. Now is the time to call and invite a friend for a walk or drop off cookies and chat for a bit. You may surprise yourself that the old friend is still your old friend and they will welcome you back to their life again too. Socializing “LIVE” is essential to self-care and aging in a healthy manner. Start today and make the call. 

Be Present in the Friendship

Now you have made the connection to your friend that you abandoned during COVID-19, be ready to talk and share and be in the moment with your friend. If they are busy on the first try, don’t give up. On the same note, do not cancel on them, if you can help it. This is your chance to be present in the friendship and get the ball rolling to be social again. Socialization gives us all purpose and especially for aging adults. Again, remember it is okay to have anxiety or apprehension to get back to normal get-togethers and socialize but it is worth it! 

Be Creative and Respectful

You might have to get the creative juices going to make sure that your friend you haven’t talked to in a while, might have some fear getting together too. You might have to propose an outdoor walk or quick visit to a local museum or restaurant to give you things to talk about and help with the awkward first meeting vibes you get when you have not seen someone in a long time. Core friends should and most likely always be there for you, but the friends that you loved before COVID-19 that maybe you only saw once in a while but you loved being with them are ones you have to work for to reconnect. Be creative in your places or how you reconnect. Maybe they have new hobbies since the pandemic and you start there. If the friendship is worth reaching out for you will find a way to rekindle the connection.

Cut Your Losses and Look for New Connections

With all the advice and tips on reconnecting with old friends, it sometimes simply does not work. What do you do? Cut your losses. You might grieve a little and that is completely acceptable. However, you can and will rebound by making new friends. You need to take note that with the pandemic, some people develop new hobbies or different attitudes about friends. If you gave it your best effort, then move on. Put your new energy to socialize into new people and start developing new connections and relationships. It is not easy to lose friends, but life happens and so did COVID-19 and sometimes you just have to roll with it!
Finally, remember that getting back to in-person socializing is important to aging and feeling full of purpose. People need people. You need to start working on your list of old friends to connect with and get back to socializing. If you need any help with your aging parents or loved ones, contact Ann at Senior Living Options. She is loaded with experience in helping aging parents find their perfect fit for the next phase in life and that includes socializing!

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.