How does friendship and family bonding help in healthy aging?

Healthy relationships always remain the ultimate bliss of life at any age and older age is not an exemption. When you have someone beside you, experiences become enriched, moments become enhanced, and memories become enchanted. That is the power of family and friends in life.

 But life has its own ways of becoming busier and maintaining the same social circle could become beyond a possibility. And, the nuclear family structure is no more a nascent concept in the Indian society. As a result by the time a person is 50 or more, they need to restructure their social life.

 You might argue that how about the seniors who opt to be and live alone. Human beings have always been societal beings. There is a difference between loneliness and being alone. In fact, even when seniors opt to be alone, when the balance is missed it can become a loneliness in every sense.

 Friendship and family relationships enrich the overall life experience. Stick with us till the end as we explore the benefits, and the ways to make friends in older age.

 What are the benefits of relationships in old age?

●Sense of purpose in life: The true purpose of any relationship is that they give a sense of meaning to life. Healthy relationships can manifest a strong sense of belonging which is imperative in human life, especially in the matured adulthood.

● Can be an enforcing strength in life: People with healthy relationships naturally feel stronger in life and face any kind of adversities with increased optimism and positivity.

● Increased self-worth: With the increased physical and mental health issues seniors might feel they have become dependent in life. Relationships with their kin and friends around, seniors feel an increased sense of self-worth.

● Works as a shield from typical traumas of life: Relationships can help you endure any sort of loss, sickness, or mental issues better than the elders who are living all by themselves.

●Encourages to adopt a healthy lifestyle: Seniors who have worked on having better relationships tend to practice healthy habits and they are also well organized. Family system encourages the seniors to workout, take medications and food ontime, and stay away from bad habits.

 Having said that relationships take time and energy to build, strengthen, and maintain. Sometimes, it can be mentally and physically draining but they are worth going through all of it.

 Why is it difficult to maintain relationships in old age?

 There are many reasons. Most important one is seniors put their family responsibilities before friendships and when they look for them it will be too late. But making new friendships and rekindling the old ones is not a difficult task.

 People believe that the more number of friends you have the better your experience of life would be. It cannot be far from the truth. Like everything in life, it is the quality of the relationship that matters rather than the quantity.

 What are the ways to build relationships in old age?

 Relationships can be everywhere if you have a heart to look out. Little interactions is all it takes to push the misunderstandings between the family members and friends. Communication is the backbone of every relationship. Constructive conversations, meaningful remarks, and better understanding strengthen any relationship from its very roots.

 ● Showing that you care or value the relationship is essential than just saying it. Relationships demand action, commitment, and trust.

● Take control over your emotions and choice of words. Even a simple word can break the strongest relationship.

● Care is the ultimate way of expressing how much value that relationship has. Care for the person starting from the simple things in day to day to bigger aspects of life.

● Express what could be done rather than pointing out what someone did in a particular situation.

 What are the ways to make new friends in old age?

 Making new friendships can be exciting in older age. You can join in local learning clubs, senior communities, attend community events, volunteer at social events, and even using social media can help you make new friends.

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