Despite everything we know about the importance of having friends and a network of support as we get older, finding new friends can become more difficult than we’d ever imagined. As we age, experiencing loss of friends, family or a spouse can take an emotional toll.

Not only do seniors have fewer opportunities to meet new people, but “there's also a little more resistance to forming new relationships later in life, and your skills can get a bit rusty,” says Marla Paul, author of The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You're Not a Kid Anymore. Besides, you may feel just plain awkward.

If you’ve noticed a parent become more isolated, either because of depression, limited ability to leave the house, or fear of the unknown after committing years to caregiving for a spouse, it may be time to step in and help your parent take the first step towards expanding their social network. 

What are the signs my parent is ready to make new friends?

Your parent may be ready to make new friends, but may not know how to approach it, or may need some help finding new ways to meet others their own age. Here are some signs mom or dad may be ready to expand their social network:

1. Your parent indicates they are lonely. This may be either in discussion, or through their actions (like a noticeable increase in phone calls to you or other siblings).
2. Your parent is spending more time telling stories that revolve around friends they used to spend time with.
3. Your parent reminisces about activities they used to enjoy that they no longer participate in.

How to help a parent expand their social network in Temecula 

The easiest way to expand a social network is to begin with your parent’s existing network. If your parent is involved in a church, identify what activities other seniors at your parent’s church participate in. If your parent has visited the local senior center, identify activities that others at the senior center participate in. If you are looking for some fresh, new ways to find activities in Temecula for a parent, take a look at some of these activities. 

• Join the Seniors’ Golden Years of Temecula Valley and enjoy a social, potluck or other activities like Bingo. You can find a list of activities for seniors here.
• Enjoy one of the Summer Sunset Concerts or enjoy an art showcase highlighted in Summer/Fall 2017 Guide to Leisure Activities – City of Temecula.
• Find other single seniors at Seniors Meetup in Temecula. Contrary to belief that singles groups are only for those seeking a relationship, singles groups for seniors offer companionship and the ability to connect with others who have experienced a divorce or the loss of a spouse. Singles groups take the stress out of deciding what to do, and allow your parent to choose from a long list of activities based on their interests.

Having friends is essential for our health and emotional well-being. However, making friends when we’re older isn’t an easy feat. If you have concerns your parent is lonely, isolating themselves, or even a little depressed, now may be the perfect time to help them find new activities that make it easier to make new friends.