How to Make Friends as a Senior: Tips for Building Lasting Senior Connection

If you’re feeling lonely, you’re not alone.

Dealing with social isolation in later life is challenging. In fact, research suggests that 35% of older adults report feeling lonely or isolated, and that senior loneliness can have the same health impact as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

The good news is that there have never been more ways for seniors to build social connections, make new friendships and find communities of people with shared interests. The benefits of friendships for older adults include improved moods, lower stress and a greater sense of purpose.

Here are some tips for building strong senior friendships.

Breaking the ice: How to make friends as a senior

Many older adults worry that it’s “too late” for them to make new friends. As we get older, our social networks often grow smaller, and making friends after retirement can be difficult – being out of the workforce can leave people feeling unsure of their purpose and lonely without the daily interaction that coworkers provide.

But friendships can be formed at any age – they sometimes just require intentional effort.

When you meet new people, be open to making a connection. This can be as simple as saying hello, making eye contact or offering a smile. Use open-ended questions like, “What do you enjoy doing in your free time?” instead of yes/no questions that might bring the conversation to a halt.

Bear in mind that the people you meet may also be looking for new friends but might be too shy to initiate conversation – don’t be afraid to start the conversation yourself.

Practice active listening in conversation by showing genuine interest in what other people have to say. In addition to building a stronger connection with new people, this will also help you find out what shared interests and experiences you have in common.

Finally, be patient. Building real trust and friendship takes time.

Engage with your community

Friendships flourish when you’re around people who share your passions. Your local community likely offers a number of social opportunities for seniors – places where you can meet people you have something in common with.

Community centers and libraries often offer free or low-cost senior engagement activities like game nights and book clubs. Senior fitness classes and walking groups are a great way to bond with people while getting some exercise. Senior centers often offer clubs or classes centered around activities like painting, gardening or cooking. Websites like Facebook and Meetup can be great resources to find local organizations and activities in your area – both sites have groups catering to almost any interest, and many of the groups meet up in person to share or discuss favorite hobbies and topics.

Many seniors find purpose by volunteering through local charities, like food banks, community gardens, schools or animal shelters. Others may enjoy taking a part-time job as a substitute teacher, retail worker or administrative assistant. Mentoring is another way to share your time – and skills – with others. Working with young people can be especially beneficial, as it helps foster connections between generations and can even help retirees improve their relationships with their own children.

Faith communities are another great place to seek out connection and purpose. According to the Pew Research Center, the social engagement that comes with regularly attending religious services is linked to greater levels of happiness. The study reports that “those who frequently attend a house of worship may have more people they can rely on for information and help during both good and bad times.” Whatever your religious affiliation, finding a place where you can engage thoughtfully with a community of caring people can help foster a sense of purpose and connection.

Finally, don’t be afraid to take the initiative. If you can’t find a club or class that feels right for you, consider starting one of your own. Libraries, community centers and other local hubs of civic life are often happy to have community members facilitate activities. You can also use Facebook to reach out to people in your local community about starting a book club or hosting a weekly wine tasting. You may be surprised by how many other people share your interests.

Cultivate virtual connections

Technology can be a valuable tool in finding and maintaining senior friendships. While the idea of building relationships over the phone or on a computer screen may feel overwhelming at first, online communities for older adults are increasingly intuitive and user friendly. They also provide a way for seniors with mobility issues to connect with people without leaving home.

Social media websites like Facebook and Reddit offer national and international communities focused on any number of topics, letting you engage with people all over the world in discussions about books, music, current events, favorite TV shows and just about any other subject you can think of.

Apps like Zoom, FaceTime and WhatsApp can help you stay connected to friends and family even when they’re far away. But they can also be used to connect with new friends you’ve made online through one-on-one or group video calls, making these virtual relationships a little more personalized.

Taking online courses in subjects that interest you is another great way to pursue your passions while meeting new people who share them. Continuing to learn gives a boost to your brain as well. A study in The Journals of Gerontology found that, “Learning multiple skills simultaneously increased cognitive abilities in older adults…to levels similar to performance in a separate sample of middle-aged adults, 30 years younger.”

Senior-focused websites like Senior Planet and GetSetUp are great starting points for online learning, as are platforms for broader audiences like Coursera, edX and Udemy. From literature to world history to weaving, there are a wide variety of online classes available for you to explore.

Consider expanding your virtual relationships to in-person ones. If some of your online friends live nearby, see if they want to meet up for lunch, a museum visit or a walk in the park.

Go on a date

Some older adults may be looking for romance as well as friendship. If you’re looking to jump back into the dating pool, consider creating a profile on a senior dating site.

Before you even meet a potential match, building a dating profile on these sites is an opportunity to think about what you’re looking for, be it romance, a workout buddy or someone to try new restaurants with. Knowing what you want and communicating it clearly on your profile will help you meet people who are on the same page.

Two dating sites popular with older adults are eHarmony and Match. While they aren’t focused on the 50+ demographic, the popularity and longevity of these sites mean they have a lot of users.

But if you’re looking for senior companionship and don’t want to swipe through a sea of millennials, here are three reputable senior dating sites to explore:

• SilverSingles: Designed specifically for adults 50 and older, SilverSingles uses personality-based matchmaking to help users find compatible partners. The platform has a large user base of seniors seeking both serious relationships and general companionship.



• OurTime: Tailored for the over-50 crowd, OurTime is user friendly and emphasizes making connections for dating, friendship and community. It also offers features like virtual events and interest-based groups to help users break the ice.



• Stitch: More than just a dating app, Stitch focuses on companionship and community. Members can join group activities, discussions and events, making it a great choice for those who are as interested in social engagement as romance.

No matter which platform you choose, remember to be smart about safety. Always meet in public places, let a trusted loved one know your plans, and take your time getting to know someone before sharing personal details. Reputable platforms also include security features like identity verification and reporting systems to help keep users safe.

And of course, you can still meet a special someone in person. Clubs and classes offer plenty of opportunities for senior connection. Also look into whether cafes and other local businesses offer senior dating nights or other events that center around senior connection.

Embarking on a new romantic relationship can be exciting and rejuvenating for older adults. But even if sparks don’t fly romantically, dating apps can also be some of the best apps for seniors to make friends, helping them find companions for travel, fitness activities or simply someone to share a meal and conversation with. Sometimes, what starts as a casual connection can turn into one of the most fulfilling relationships of your later years.

Nurturing and maintaining senior friendships

Making new friends is important – but keeping those friendships matters just as much.

Make an effort to stay in touch on a regular basis. Schedule weekly or biweekly meetups for lunch, walks or other activities. You might also consider organizing game nights or group outings where friends from different circles can meet and get to know each other – this can be a great way to create a new social network for yourself.

Be sure to remember and celebrate milestones with your friends, like birthdays and anniversaries – they’ll appreciate it. Even small gifts or gestures, like a card or a text message, can have a meaningful impact on their day.

It’s also important to understand that your friends’ availability may fluctuate at times for reasons that have nothing to do with you – energy levels, health or family responsibilities may cause them to cancel plans or be less responsive. Try to be there for them when they’re struggling emotionally or going through a particularly hard time and offer help or support when you can.

Finally, keep in mind that sometimes the best new friends are old friends. Consider reaching out to past classmates, colleagues, neighbors and other people who might have drifted out of your life over the years. They may be happy to hear from you, and these rekindled connections are a great way to spark memories and conversations about different chapters of your life.

Let’s stay connected

Whatever your interests, temperament or dating status, there are people out there ready to share your enthusiasm and company.

At Holiday by Atria, we love bringing people together. That’s why our communities are designed around connection. From fitness classes to cultural programs and outings, there’s never a shortage of activities – and with communities across the country, we’ve got a lot of great neighbors to enjoy them with.

To learn more about moving to Holiday, stop by a Holiday near you. Your friends are waiting!