Lorraine Thomas loves her workout classes, group lunches, and Rummikub games at Star Harbor Senior Community Center. The 83-year-old said she shows up to the senior center as many as five days in a typical week.
For her, the socialization and connection is a big part of what keeps her coming back.
“They give us lunch,” she said. “And also, we get to talk to the other seniors that are here. And after lunch, we play Rummikub.”
Lorraine lives alone. She said the activities at Star Harbor, particularly workout classes, help her remain active and engaged, especially during the wintertime.
“If I were sitting home and doing nothing, or even if I were just going shopping and doing things like that, you have to have some sort of exercise,” she said. “And so on Tuesdays, I do chair yoga.”
Experts agree that being connected to your community is important, especially for older adults.
“I think what happens when people cut themselves off from others is that they’re less engaged with the world and with others,” said Nancy Hodgson, a professor in nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. “This can lead to both a decline in their cognitive engagement, and they can also have loneliness, which affects their mental health, and in later life, it can also affect premature death.”
Research backs this up. According to data from the U.S. Surgeon General, lacking social connection is as dangerous as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Additionally, older adults experiencing chronic loneliness and social isolation are 50% more likely to develop dementia. For adults in general, the likelihood of survival increases by 17% when there are higher levels of social interaction.
People who experience social isolation and loneliness are more likely to have physical and mental issues later on; this can include faster cognitive decline, heart disease, obesity and anxiety. It can even cause physical pain.
There are a variety of reasons for the decline in social connection, said Katherine Cotter, the associate director of research with the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at UPenn. And while the COVID-19 pandemic is often blamed for this, it existed before 2020.
“This is not just specific to older adults, but more generally, we’re all spending more hours kind of by ourselves,” she said. “We’re not engaging with our friends or members of our family as much as we have previously with things really dipping down around 2020.”
Hodgson said there also may be a lack of motivation for older adults to go out and participate in activities, especially in winter.
“There could be intrinsic factors like pain or depression, as well as the extrinsic factors like ice and snow and hazards, which are legitimate hazards that are real threats to fear and not wanting to risk injury.”
With the cooler weather and fewer outdoor activities available, experts agree it is important to remain engaged socially. Billy Penn spoke to experts and offers these recommendations for older adults in Philly.
Library programs
Hodgson explained an important part of getting involved in the winter is remaining physically active, if older adults are able to. She said many physical activity programs are available through the library.
“Experts are recommending indoor activities that are physical in nature, such as chair yoga, tai chi or even stretching, and you can do that in your home, or even public libraries are increasingly hosting,” she said.
Various branches of The Free Library of Philadelphia host workout classes specifically for seniors – including chair yoga, senior strength training and tai chi.
Another offering that seniors may be interested in are arts-related classes, Cotter said.
“When we engage with the arts, we see that we feel more connected to others,” she said. “We’re able to meet people who have similar interests that we do, because we’re all there for the same activity.”
A Claymobile event with Esperanza Health Center in Hunting Park. (Photo by Isabella Kahn)
The Free Library branches also offer a variety of art classes – with everything from “Sewscials” for those interested in socializing and sewing, to crafting workshops and fiber art classes.
Beyond this, many branches host information and listening sessions for older adults, technology help classes (with one-on-one appointments available) and book clubs.
The Parkway Central Library also houses Central Senior Services – a place where older adults can go to get information about resources, programs and upcoming events.
Area agencies on aging
Hodgson said another important place for senior activities and programs are city and regional agencies on aging (or AAAs).
The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging has 28 senior centers in the community. At each center, there are various offerings – including meals, volunteer opportunities, fitness and health programs, art classes and gardening clubs.
Star Harbor Senior Community Center is one of those 28 PCA centers. Darlena Clarkson, a program coordinator for Star Harbor, said that the events and activities these centers provide are important to the community.
“I’ve been in organizations where around September, suicide is really prevalent, and it’s really sad, because some people don’t have families,” she said. “But today, Lorraine tracked out here in the cold. She was the first member here today, and I just really appreciate her and all that she does for the center, because not just that we just give and love on them, but they give back and love on us.”
Clarkson explains she has seen members like Lorraine and other seniors get very close and benefit from the activities provided here.
“I’ve tried to bring in vendors that give them information pertaining to their Medicare benefits, about getting free wills and learning about estate planning,” she said. “And we also get different students who come out to speak to our members. Lorraine is one of those members who has her foot in a little bit of everything, and I’m glad because when that happens, seniors come out more. They hear they get socialization. They become family Tuesdays and Thursdays. We have a really tight group on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
Southwest Senior Center adults gather to do many types of programming year round, including pottery (Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging)
The PCA is just one of the 52 AAAs in the state. There are also agencies specific to Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties.
Seniors can use the state’s website to find more information about their local AAA, including phone numbers and website information.
Other resources
Cotter said that one of the most important parts of finding a winter activity that seniors can stick with is making sure it is personalized to them.
“It’s not that there’s a key activity that will make you less lonely, or that a certain activity will make you less isolated,” she said. “But there’s a real importance of a good person fit. So finding an activity that’s motivating and engaging for you and seeking those types of experiences out, because if we’re interested and motivated to do something, it’s also more likely we’re going to continue doing that activity.”
Hodgson emphasized there are a variety of activities throughout Philly for those of all ages, ability levels and interests.
“There’s increasingly these dance programs, and many older adults really enjoy dancing and gentle forms of dancing,” she said.
Some dance studios, such as Society Hill Dance Academy, offer senior-specific classes or programs. Other workout studios – including the Becoming Center in Philadelphia, specialize in senior classes like tai chi and dance cardio. Silver Sneakers, a fitness program offered to seniors 65 years old and older, also offers in-person and virtual workout classes for seniors throughout the city.
There are plenty of non-physical activities to choose from around the city as well, Cotter said.
“It could be like getting out of the house and taking an arts class at one of the many institutions around the city that offer those, or going to a museum and taking a tour with other people.”
Lillie Jones (center), who has been line dancing for 12 years, steps front and center during Chiquita Smith’s class at the MLK Older Adult Center.
Local organizations like the Philly Art Center, Fleisher Art Memorial and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts offer art classes for all ages and ability levels all winter long.
In addition, the City of Philadelphia offers various recreation programs for seniors – including art programs, health programs, language classes, creative writing groups and resource counseling.
Hodgson said these creative and artistic programs can be helpful to help with both socialization, mental acuity and creativity.
“Book clubs or knitting groups or wellness classes that are offered through community centers or libraries or senior centers are a great way for people to stay engaged during the winter months, and then things like puzzles and board games or anything that keeps you cognitively engaged can also reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, while also keeping your memory engaged as well,” she said.