Senior Living in Oklahoma City: How New Residents Build a Sense of Belonging

Written By: Morada Southridge
Senior Living in Oklahoma City: How New Residents Build a Sense of Belonging

Senior living in Oklahoma City prioritizes connection and community. Meaningful routines for seniors include fitness classes, activities, and shared dining, helping new residents feel welcome.

According to the study Disconnected: The Escalating Challenge of Loneliness Among Adults 45-Plus, 40% of American adults report being lonely. Senior living in Oklahoma City, OK, offers not only comfort but also opportunities for connection. While transitioning to senior care, you can build lasting friendships and gain a sense of belonging within your community.

Oklahoma City assisted living allows seniors to develop meaningful routines. You can enjoy fitness classes like yoga, hobbies like sculpting, and meals with friends. These activities may improve your quality of life and longevity.

Otherwise, social isolation and loneliness may increase your risk of serious conditions like cardiovascular disease. What is social isolation, and why is community life for older adults essential to longevity? Read on to find out.

What Is Social Isolation?

According to the CDC,social isolation and loneliness are widespread problems in the US. Social isolation refers to a lack of relationships or contact with others. You may have little to no social support, which can affect your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

Loneliness is a feeling of being alone or disconnected. You can feel lonely even if you have many friends.

Lifestyle factors that may increase your risk of social isolation or loneliness include:

  • Facing a divorce
  • Unemployment/retirement
  • Long-term disability
  • Psychiatric or depressive conditions
  • Chronic conditions or diseases
  • Being marginalized or discriminated against
  • Living in a rural or hard-to-reach area
  • Language barriers
  • The loss of a loved one/grief

Loneliness impacts some groups more than others, including seniors and adults who live alone. If you're at-risk, consider senior housing in OKC.

Why Is Community Life for Older Adults Important?

According to the National Institute on Aging, social isolation and loneliness can pose health risks for older adults, including mental and physical conditions like:

  • High blood pressure
  • Alzheimer's disease and dementia
  • Cognitive decline
  • A weakened immune system
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Diabetes
  • heart disease
  • Obesity
  • Early death

Seniors who engage in productive activities tend to live longer. Finding a sense of belonging and connection can boost your mood. Gaining a sense of purpose within your community may helprelieve stress, reduce inflammation, and extend your longevity.

Here are a few benefits of developing meaningful routines for seniors.

Mental

According to Harvard Health Publishing, socializing may benefit your memory, thinking processes, and overall health. Socializing engages the mind. According to a 2021 study by Ageing and Society, people with the highest levels of social connectedness and engagement had the highest scores on cognition tests.

People who were the most socially active had 70% less cognitive decline compared with others. Socializing can help new neural pathways form, potentially protecting you from cognitive decline.

Physical

Maintaining friendships may encourage you to stay physically active. For example, your friends can hold you accountable to attend exercise classes regularly. Staying active may help reduce your risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease.

Poor social relationships, on the other hand, are associated with a 29% increased risk for incident coronary heart disease, according to Holt-Lunstad in World Psychiatry.

Emotional

Gaining a sense of belonging within your community can boost your mood and self-esteem.This may aid the production of endorphins, or feel-good chemicals that boost your mood.

Socializing can also relieve stress. Stress is associated with inflammation, which can affect your overall well-being.

Senior Living in Oklahoma City

A thriving community life for older adults can involve:

  • Volunteering
  • Dining with friends
  • Activities and events
  • Fitness classes

Volunteering can help you give back to your community. Giving back can boost your self-esteem and enhance your sense of belonging.

Dining with friends may help:

  • Strengthen relationships
  • Improve mobility
  • Reduce anxiety and depression symptoms
  • Reduce the risk of chronic conditions
  • Provide chances to meet new people
  • Encourage healthier eating decisions
  • Encourage self-care
  • Reduce social isolation and loneliness
  • Improve your mood and well-being

Engaging in hobbies can improve your mood and give you a renewed sense of purpose. Completing projects can help you gain a sense of accomplishment. You can discover new hobbies through your community's events and activities calendar.

Your community's fitness program may offer a variety of exercise classes. Exercising regularly can boost your mood, mental health, and physical well-being. Consider joining a walking group, which may help:

  • Ensure safety
  • Improve your mood
  • Improve sleep quality and duration
  • Reduce social isolation and loneliness
  • Encourage socializing
  • Reduce the risk of serious health conditions
  • You overcome obstacles
  • Increase motivation

Engaging in these exclusive senior lifestyle programs can improve your health and help you gain a sense of belonging within your community.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should Seniors Socialize?

Seniors should try to socialize at least once a day.Socializing regularly can boost your mood and well-being. It can help you gain a sense of belonging within your Oklahoma City community.

To socialize more often, try:

  • Joining exercise classes
  • Participating in clubs or hobby groups
  • Joining friends for meals or coffee
  • Accepting invitations
  • Initiating conversations with acquaintances
  • Stepping outside of your comfort zone
  • Actively listening to others
  • Offering compliments

How Can I Start Aging With Purpose?

To start aging with purpose, try:

  • Practicing self-care
  • Volunteering or giving back to your community
  • Documenting your life and passing on your legacy
  • Maintaining a positive attitude
  • Engaging in brain exercises
  • Adding exercise to your weekly routine
  • Continuing your education
  • Engaging in hobbies
  • Practicing stress relief activities

Consider moving into an Oklahoma City assisted living community. You can engage in activities with other seniors to start building strong, lasting friendships. Fostering friendships can help you gain a sense of belonging and purpose within your community.

Choose Senior Housing OKC

To gain a sense of belonging and purpose during retirement, consider moving into senior living in Oklahoma City. You can engage in hobbies, dine with friends, and foster meaningful relationships. Finding the right community can help you develop meaningful routines.

Look no further than Morada Southridge. The Discovery Senior Living family of management companies, which includes our community, ranked number one in Customer Satisfaction Among Assisted Living & Memory Care Communities in the JD Power 2025 US Senior Living Satisfaction Study.

Discover our exclusive senior lifestyle programs, including chef-prepared meals, activities like cornhole tournaments, and fitness classes like yoga. Contact us to schedule a tour.

Related Posts