Engaging With Your Community

Social isolation and loneliness are growing concerns for seniors, leading to an increased risk of serious health conditions. Whether you’re looking for ways to spend more time out of the house or hoping to find new connections, finding ways to engage with your community is essential to living a quality life. 

What Are The Benefits Of Community Engagement?

Humans are social creatures. We thrive on making connections and building community. Throughout our lives, we build necessary connections through school and work. After retirement, some people lose those connections because they no longer see colleagues and friends daily. Other age-related factors, such as health, can also contribute to social isolation or feeling alone. 

While reducing the risk of social isolation is one of the primary benefits of connection, it’s not the only reason you should focus on finding ways to engage with your community. 

• It can improve your physical health. A study found that seniors who experience social isolation have higher risks of hypertension, heart disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety.
• It can reduce stress. Socializing can distract you from stressors and help you focus on other things. 
• It can introduce you to new hobbies. Engaging with your community can get you out of your comfort zone and introduce you to new hobbies and activities you may never have considered trying. 

How Can I Engage With The Garland Community?

Whether you’re new to the city or a lifelong resident, there are plenty of ways to engage with the Garland community. If you’re not sure where to start, consider the following ideas. 

Attend A Library Event 

There is a full calendar of events for all branches of the Garland Public Library that are open to the public. You can join a yoga session, craft day, game night, or book club. If you have grandchildren or young ones, you can join them for a kid’s play and learn class or family reading session. These events are a wonderful way to connect with others in your community while doing something fun. 

Go To A Community Event 

The city of Garland has tons of community events all year round. Community events are fun to explore your city and see what it offers. Whether you’re interested in solo events to make new friends or want something exciting to try with loved ones, you will find something of interest at a Garland community event. 

Volunteer 

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and engage with neighbors. There are many programs and projects you can get involved with in Garland. A few popular options in community leadership include:

• Garland Youth Council: Work with teens to help them get involved in the community.
• Keep Garland Beautiful: Assist in keeping the Garland community clean and welcoming.
• Serve on a board or commission: Make change through a leadership position and promote initiatives and projects that matter to you. 

How Can Visiting Angels Help?

One of the most commonly requested services with Visiting Angels is companion care. Part of companion care is having caregivers interact with seniors, but another aspect is encouraging clients to get out and engage with their communities. Our caregivers are happy to accompany seniors to town outings or assist seniors in finding online clubs to join. 

Whether a client is homebound or looking for a way to explore their community, Visiting Angels is available to help. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can assist you in engaging with your community.