Cultural ideals influencing mindset and habits, and a wealth of biological, social, and behavioral factors, can lead many men to live lonelier, more isolated lives as they age. They may avoid medical care, ignore mental health concerns, and neglect social connections. But if you or your loved one lives alone, is this lifestyle unavoidable? Fortunately, there are many steps men can take to enjoy a more fulfilling life in their senior years.
Key Takeaways
In this article, we’ll share practical advice for managing loneliness and promoting happier, healthier lives for men as they age. We’ll cover the importance of:
- Managing Your Health
- Examining Habits and Goals
- Prioritizing Social Connections
- Serving and Caring for Others
- Joining a Community
It’s common for many older men to let a spouse, partner, or loved one handle a significant amount of the administrative work involved in managing their healthcare needs. Though it can be helpful to have one person in charge of managing important details, taking ownership of these responsibilities can be a straightforward first step in enhancing your health and well-being.
Managing your healthcare needs starts with the mundane—scheduling an appointment, paying a bill, refilling a prescription, or simply returning a phone call. But before you tackle these tasks, prioritize your organization and administrative processes. Create a file system, download essential apps, and familiarize yourself with your medication list, pharmacy contact info, and medical providers. With these basics in place, you’ll feel better prepared to sort and understand information along the way.
Then, look at your calendar and schedule a doctor’s appointment, whether you see your doctor regularly or haven’t seen one in several years. Be proactive in scheduling annual appointments for a time and day that works best for you, avoiding the need to rearrange schedules and transportation at the last minute, or wait weeks or months for an open appointment.
Need help navigating the medical system? Ask a family member for help or inquire at your local library or senior center about educational classes or relevant workshops. Remember that it’s okay to ask for help when working through your network. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, follow up on your own, and advocate for yourself each step of the way.
As your confidence in managing your healthcare needs grows, reflect on your daily habits and goals and how they impact your health—and happiness. Take a close look at your routine and consider any beneficial changes you can make. Ask questions like:
- Are you prioritizing good nutrition and hydration?
- How often do you incorporate light to moderate movement and activity into your day?
- Do you have healthy sleeping habits?
- How many hours do you spend watching television?
- Are you taking your medications as prescribed?
- Do you make time to socialize or connect with family or friends?
- Do you have any hobbies you enjoy?
- Do you have a support network on which you can rely?
- How do you spend the majority of your time?
- What do you enjoy most about life?
Start small by setting at least one realistic daily goal and working toward a meaningful long-term goal. Habits are powerful, and long-time habits can be difficult to change. However, it can be done! Create a list of healthy habits you’d like to adopt and offer your own incentives for reaching small milestones, remembering that changing habits begins with the right mindset.
Be patient with yourself and with the process. Developing healthier habits, such as caring for your mental health, staying active, eating well, or monitoring your sleep schedule, often requires support from others.
Do you need someone to talk to? Consider finding a counselor. Is exercise boring? Recruit a friend or neighbor who can join you. Do you sleep often during daytime hours with nothing else to do? Create a weekly schedule to stay motivated and get out of the house to do something you enjoy. Worried about maintaining your habits? Ask a loved one to partner with you or provide accountability to help you reach your goals.
Prioritizing Social Connections
Along with managing your health and habits, prioritizing social connections is an essential component of living well—and not just for women! It’s no secret that women are living longer than men, and social relationships may play an important role in this 5.8-year gap in life expectancy
Research continues to demonstrate that strong social bonds and face-to-face interactions with others can have a profound impact on health and longevity. Older men who recognize the value of social connection avoid missing out on one of the most beneficial ways to alleviate loneliness and enhance their mental and emotional well-being.
Loneliness is a very real threat for many seniors who face the reality of shrinking social circles over time, and especially for older men who live alone. Societal norms that have encouraged men to prioritize work over family, neglect their emotional health, and avoid vulnerability and authenticity with other men can be difficult to unlearn and discard. However, making the conscious decision to do so can be freeing.
Senior men who value spending time with family, friends, neighbors, and other members of a community create a support network, enjoy camaraderie and companionship, and find joy in cultivating meaningful relationships. In a time of need, these connections can be critical to maintaining health and independence, managing the adverse effects of loneliness and isolation, and coping with anxiety, depression, illness, injury, and even cognitive change.
For some older men, finding fulfillment after retirement can be a challenge. With so much of their life and career focused on performance, productivity, and family provision, it’s understandable why the transition to a new way of living might be difficult.
Opportunities to contribute by sharing time, talent, and expertise are essential to our mental and emotional health, affirming that we can continue to feel productive and useful as we age. We all want to live with a sense of purpose and find satisfaction in knowing we have something to offer that remains constant, regardless of age or ability.
Serving and caring for others can provide meaningful opportunities to do just that. Older men who choose to give back to those in need by volunteering in their community or caring for those who could use support can find great pride and accomplishment in this work. Below are just a few ideas for getting started:
- Serve on a community committee
- Offer rides to those who need transportation
- Work as a registered volunteer in a library, national park, school, museum, or hospital
- Help prepare meals at a local soup kitchen
- Welcome visitors at your local church
- Tutor or instruct young students or assist with coaching student athletes
- Be a hospice volunteer and sit and talk with patients
- Be a mentor to someone who could benefit from your life experience
- Help care for a neighbor’s garden
Volunteer opportunities can be tailored to accommodate individual health needs, preferences, and levels of independence. A physician, physical therapist, or social worker can also offer recommendations for selecting opportunities when health or mobility issues present a challenge.
A senior living community can be a fantastic option to consider for older men seeking these opportunities. Residents can serve on a council, lead and facilitate programs and activities (exercise class, weekly shuffleboard game, book club, etc.), manage community spaces (outdoor gardens, community library, etc.), support new residents, assist with daily operations, coordinate special events, or offer a friendly visit to those who might need it.
Being part of a community later in life can offer a significant advantage in maintaining your health, happiness, and overall independence. It can also provide a network of relationships for cultivating healthy social connections, as well as serving and caring for others.
Rather than “managing” the loss of a spouse, compromised independence, or dwindling social life with habits of isolation or greater self-reliance, pursuing a community can provide motivation, accountability, and support when an older man needs it the most. Making connections and building relationships may take some time, but the outcomes are almost always worth the effort.
Men who choose to join a community, whether it involves bonding with others over shared interests or routines, a church or civic group, a neighborhood group, or even a professional organization, are connected with individuals who can offer friendship, fun, and life-enriching experiences.
Living in a community with other people can be an ideal option for older men. Although they may feel reluctant to move, an independent or assisted living community can promote independence, foster a healthier lifestyle, and offer a great sense of relief and daily peace of mind for men living alone. With home management tasks taken care of, multiple dining options, health and wellness support, and people to connect with, men can enjoy more time and energy to focus on the things they love and maintain healthy habits for a longer life.
What if Life were Different—in a Good Way?
If you or a loved one has been struggling to maintain independence in your home environment without the support and camaraderie of others nearby, we can help!
Take the next step and experience how life could be different by considering a senior living move.
Avoid waiting until changing circumstances – physical, mental, emotional, and logistical challenges can suddenly make a move into senior living more difficult, stressful, or even impossible. Our Cardinal Bay senior living experts can provide the guidance you need.
Visit any of our relationship-centered senior living communities in Central Texas or Oklahoma, designed to enhance seniors’ total wellness or subscribe to our blog to explore our free, insightful resources dedicated to helping seniors and their caregivers.