Making friends in later life

According to a long-term study by experts at Harvard University, fame and fortune aren’t what keep us happy. Indeed, tens of thousands of pages of information generated by the study suggest that good relationships are crucial, not just for happiness but for our health too.

The study also shows how damaging loneliness can be to your overall wellbeing. Those taking part in the study who were more isolated than they wanted to be were less happy, and their health declined earlier in mid life than those who had good social connections. Isolated people, the study suggests, also live shorter lives than those who aren’t lonely.

This isn’t the first piece of research to confirm a link between social support and health. Some studies claim having good relationships could make you up to 50% more likely to live a long and healthy life, compared with someone who is isolated.

Loneliness isn’t just something that affects older people. But many people find it more difficult to make and maintain new relationships in later life than when they were young. So here are some tips on how to meet new people and make friends in your 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond…

Don’t be embarrassed

There’s no shame in being lonely, and you’re certainly won’t be the only person who feels isolated. So don’t let embarrassment stop you from doing something about it. You may feel uncomfortable about meeting new people at first. But ask yourself this question: what’s the worst that could happen? If you’re not used to doing much socialising, reaching out to people you don’t know may feel like a risk. But take the plunge and it’s very likely that you’ll discover others feel exactly the same as you do.

Meet your neighbours

Years ago most people lived in communities where everyone would be on 1st name terms with everyone living around them. These days, you’re lucky if you know who your next-door neighbour is. But being part of a local community is a good way to meet people in your area and may help you feel less isolated.

If you don’t know who lives next door, say ‘good day’ to your neighbour next time you see them. Give them a smile whenever you see them, and you’ll soon find an opportunity to start chatting. Once you start getting to know them, invite your neighbours around for a cup of tea on a regular basis.

If you already know your next-door neighbours, try to get acquainted with others further down the street to widen your local social circle, and look out for local community groups you could join, such as residents’ associations.

Share your interests

There are also lots of other groups you could join that may allow you to pursue your hobbies and passions and connect with others at the same time. If you like reading, why not join a near-by book club or reading group? Or if you’re fond of the great outdoors, look for a Ramblers walking group in your local area (visit theramblers.ie).

Another website that could help you find a group that shares your interests is meetup.com – just type in your location and choose the subject you’re interested in to find the nearest groups in your area. Meetup groups cater for all tastes and ages, so depending on where you live you’re almost certain to find one you could try.

Walk a dog

Anyone who has ever walked a dog regularly knows how easy it is to strike up conversations and acquaintances with other dog owners. There’s something about the shared interest of having a pet that makes it easy to talk to a complete stranger who you normally wouldn’t dream of approaching.

If you don’t have a dog, you might want to think about offering to walk one for a friend or neighbour. Alternatively, you could consider volunteering as a dog walker at your local animal shelter or join Borrow My Doggy, a website that matches dog owners with local people who can take them for walks and look after them when their owners are away.

Do good deeds

If you have some spare time on your hands, you may want to think about doing some voluntary work. There are always lots of different organisations that need people to help out, such as local hospitals, schools, churches and a host of different charities. And not only will volunteering get you out and about and meeting people, it will help to boost your self esteem too.

Ask for details of groups that need volunteers at your local library, or visit volunteer.ie to find volunteering opportunities in your area.

Connect with old friends

If you’ve lost touch with friends from the past, you may be amazed at how easy it can be to discover them on social media websites such as Facebook. People of all ages use Facebook to keep in touch with what friends and family members are up to. Social networking is increasingly used by the older generations. So think about giving it a try if you haven’t already done so.

Pick up the phone

If the idea of signing up to a social media network doesn’t appeal to you, there’s always the telephone. It’s a great tool for getting in touch with people you haven’t spoken to in a while. And who knows, you may make someone’s day by giving them a call.