So does your current life resemble your pre-pandemic life? Have you resumed all of your old routines, and visited all of your previously cherished places and groups? Resumed an active social life? If so, consider yourself fortunate. Because many of your peers have not been able or willing to recreate the life they previously had. According to new research from the University of Colorado, the social patterns and lives of many older adults have shifted since the “end” of the pandemic (recognizing that for some, the pandemic has not ended and precautions are still in place). As one of the research authors made clear, “We found that the pandemic fundamentally altered neighborhoods, communities and everyday routines among aging Americans and these changes have long-term consequences for their physical, mental, social and cognitive health.” Of particular concern is that many may find themselves more socially isolated, a situation that we know can affect brain health and cognition.

Lack of social engagement, and lack of places to socialize, is actually a relatively common problem in this country, and not just for older adults. Having that “third place” to congregate (a place other than your home or workplace) and to meet up with strangers or friends is essential to both individual health and well-being and essential for “the public health,” i.e., a functioning and vibrant democratic society. Years ago, the social scientist Robert Putnam focused his lens on what he saw as the “bowling alone” problem– that is, Americans were doing less to join together in civic or community groups and rather, going at their activities alone. His central theme is that connection is essential to human and societal functioning, something that often seems in short supply these days. A new documentary about this thesis and what’s going on in our country- in terms of collapsing societal connections- has just come out. You can read more about the documentary, called Join or Die, here and watch the trailer for it here.

For older adults, the natural place to think about congregating and community might be senior centers, but often their connotation is one of dismal places filled with lifeless older adults content to keep themselves busy with juvenile art projects or games. However, the world of senior centers (there are 11,000 of them in the United States) is changing and the transformation of these “third places” for older adults can be startling. For example, freelance personal finance writer Richard Eisenberg recently visited senior centers and found their modernization exciting, declaring them “the hot new hangout for retirees.” He reports that over a million older adults per day participate in senior centers and many now offer such innovative programming as on-site pickleball courts, travel opportunities, and even sexual health seminars (remember, many centers are now serving seniors who range in age from 60-100). NPR recently profiled a newly built “senior center” in Los Angeles called GenSpace that welcomes participants from all backgrounds and walks of life. Part classroom, part skill sharing, part space to pursue one’s passions, this center is the perfect “third space” for older adults in the community. It’s on the same campus as a school, so there’s an opportunity for intergenerational activities. With philanthropic support, the cost for participating is only $10/month and it’s being billed as a prototype of community spaces for older adults of the future. So get ready to get creative and communal and read more here.