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How to Stay Social When You Live Alone
Living alone doesn’t have to mean feeling isolated — but staying socially connected does take a little intentional planning. The easiest approach is to think about connection in two stages: finding people and staying connected to them once those relationships begin.
Meeting People and Starting New Connections
Find a recurring local group that meets in person — like a walking club, senior center coffee hour, choir, knitting circle, or book group. These are usually posted on community bulletin boards at libraries, senior centers, YMCAs, and parks & recreation offices, so you don’t need to search online to find them.
Volunteer a few hours a month where conversation happens easily (museum greeter, thrift shop cashier, hospital visitor desk). You can browse opportunities by zip code at volunteermatch.org.
Look up nearby senior meetups through meetup.com by searching “55+,” “walking group,” or “coffee meetup.” Many groups start online but meet face-to-face at parks, community centers, or cafés.
Keeping the Connection Going
Turn errands into companionship. Invite a friend or neighbor to join you when you go to the farmers market, library, or grocery store — low effort, real connection.
Use regular check-ins. A weekly “tea call,” short walk, or porch chat builds consistency (and makes friendships stick).
Use phone or video for low-energy days. Even a 10-minute speakerphone chat can help you feel connected when you don’t feel like going out.
Rotate who you reach out to. Keep a small written or digital list of people you care about, and touch base with one or two each week so connection doesn’t slip through the cracks.
You don’t need a packed calendar to stay social — just a few reliable touchpoints that repeat. Small, consistent interactions add up to a sense of belonging and help you feel part of the world around you, even when you return to a quiet home.
💌 If you found these ideas helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend. Staying connected is easier when we remind each other to reach out.
On Health
Healthy recipe: High-Fiber Cranberry-Orange Overnight Oats
Helpful health resource: Sesame Care connects you instantly with trusted doctors so you can care for your health simply and conveniently.
Free fitness class for Seniors Magazine subscribers: Try a senior-friendly personal training session over Zoom or FaceTime—your first class is free. Ongoing sessions are $30 each. Just reply and say “free fitness class.”
On Finances
Useful financial product: Trust & Will makes it easy to protect your family’s future by guiding you step-by-step in creating a will or trust online.
Free annuity consultation for Seniors Magazine subscribers: Explore whether buying a new annuity or refinancing an existing one could improve your income and security in retirement. Your consultation is free—just reply and say “free annuity consult.”
Seniors Magazine’s free helpline is here for you 24/7.
Call or text 1-740-4-SENIOR (1-740-473-6467) anytime—weekdays, weekends, day or night. A real person will answer or return your voicemail/text.
Tip: Save this number in your phone now.
We’ll connect you (free) with trusted experts who help seniors solve everyday challenges, including:
🤝 Loneliness & connection
💡 Finding purpose in retirement
📜 Estate planning (wills, trusts, etc.)
🏘️ Finding 55+, independent, or assisted-living communities
🏥 Choosing health insurance
🧾 Long-term care or final-expense insurance
📈 Investment & retirement planning (portfolio reviews, tax planning, reverse mortgages, annuities, debt management, etc.)
🏃 Senior-friendly fitness over Zoom or FaceTime
📸 Digitizing photos & videos
🛠️ Home remodeling for aging in place
👩⚕️ In-home personal or health care
🌳 Genealogy & family research
✍️ Memoir writing (our favorite!)
🧸 Children’s book writing & illustration
📚 Publishing & book promotion
✈️ Travel planning
Call or text 1-740-4-SENIOR (1-740-473-6467) anytime and tell us what you need. If we miss your call, leave a message—we’ll get back to you. Our help is always free; you only pay if you choose to work with a service provider.
Quick Poll (vote to see the anonymized current results)
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On Classes and Connection
Free Introductory Class: “Play the Songs You Love”
Always wanted to play guitar—or get back into it after years away? Learn chords, rhythm, and confidence one-on-one over Zoom or FaceTime.
Your first one-on-one 30-minute session is free, and you’ll leave with a simple practice plan to get you started.
After that, ongoing sessions are…
$245 for a package of five (5) one-on-one sessions (45 minutes each, matching your schedule)
Or
$125 for a package of five (5) group sessions (45 minutes each, generally weekly)
Just reply and say “free guitar session,” and we’ll connect you with a friendly instructor who’ll help you make music again.
*Prices are subject to change but are accurate on the date of original posting.
Capture Your Life Story: Today’s Daily Prompt
This daily section is brought to you by MemoirGhostwriting.com, experts in capturing life stories for posterity. The team offers ethical wills/legacy letters to guided interviews to full-length memoirs. Call 1-888-MEMGHOST for more information.
What’s a skill you wish you’d learned earlier?
Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Even a few sentences are a memory preserved for loved ones.
Tip 1: If speaking is easier than writing, use Wispr Flow.
Tip 2: Back up your writing often. The easiest way? Send yourself an email. The best way, use a backup program like Carbonite.
Tip 3: Writing is just half the challenge. Need help with the rest? Just reply to this message and say one of the following:
“digitize photos” if you’d like help transferring your old photos and videos to digital format
“photo repair” if you’d like help restoring or fixing damaged photos
“genealogy help” if you’d like help uncovering your family history
“memoir help” if you’d like someone to handle everything for you, start to finish
We’ll connect you with someone who can assist you.
On Tech for Seniors
How to Use Calendar Apps to Stay Organized and On Time
Digital calendars can be a lifesaver for keeping track of appointments, birthdays, medication schedules, family events, and travel — and once they’re set up, they can quietly remind you of everything so you don’t have to keep it all in your head.
Getting Started (for all skill levels)
Pick one calendar and stick with it. Switching between apps creates confusion. Good beginner-friendly options include the Google Calendar app and the Apple Calendar app (built into iPhones and iPads).
Add appointments with alerts. When creating an event, set a reminder so your device notifies you — many people choose “1 day before” plus a second reminder “1 hour before.”
Color-code categories. Use one color for medical appointments, another for social plans, another for bills or errands — this makes it easy to scan your day at a glance.
Use repeating events. Ideal for pills, weekly meetups, exercise classes, grandkids’ baseball games, etc. Set it once and the calendar keeps repeating it automatically.
Turn on “default notifications.” Most apps allow you to pick your preferred alert style once, and every new event follows that pattern. (In Google Calendar: Settings → Events → Default notifications.)
Smart Tricks That Save Time
Share a calendar with a spouse or family member who helps with scheduling. That way if someone adds a doctor’s appointment, everyone sees it instantly (Google Calendar supports simple sharing links).
Voice-add events. You can say “Hey Google, add a dentist appointment for Tuesday at 10,” or “Siri, remind me to pick up a prescription tomorrow.” This is especially useful if typing is uncomfortable.
Use travel reminders. For flights or medical visits, add the address — your phone can tell you when to leave based on traffic.
Attach notes or documents. You can paste telehealth links, doctor instructions, or reservation numbers into the event so everything’s in one place when you need it.
Create a “buffer event.” If you need extra time to get ready, add a prep reminder 30–60 minutes before leaving, separate from the appointment itself.
The real power of a calendar app isn’t just tracking appointments — it’s giving your mind permission to relax because your phone or tablet remembers things for you. If you rely on paper calendars today, you can still start small: try entering just medical visits or recurring reminders and build from there as it becomes more familiar.
Need (1) tech troubleshooting help or (2) ongoing tech lessons via FaceTime or Zoom? Just reply to this message and say “tech help” or “tech lessons,” and we’ll connect you with someone who can assist you.
On Travel for Seniors
Cruise deal of the day: 4 Nights Bahamas Cruise - departing November 10, from $189
Unmissable American gem: Naples, Florida, is a sun-soaked Gulf Coast retreat known for its gentle beaches, world-class dining, walkable downtown, safe neighborhoods, and relaxed pace—making it especially popular with seniors seeking comfort, culture, and warm winter escapes.
Need help planning a senior-friendly trip or cruise? Reply to this email with “travel help” and we’ll connect you with a travel agent who specializes in senior travel.
Style Over Sixty
Talbots – Everyday Stretch Straight Leg Pants (approx. $99.50)
Ann Taylor – Modern Wide Leg Trouser (approx. $44.99)
Marks & Spencer – Woven Pleated Wide Leg Culottes (approx. $66.99)
Unscramble
Brought to you by CogniFit, brain-training games for seniors
Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object! Be the first to reply with the correct answer, and we’ll send you a free gift in the mail.
Today’s clue: Musician who turned folk songs into cultural anthems.
OBB YLDAN
Seniors Magazine LIVE: Online Talks for Seniors
We’re thinking of launching Seniors Magazine LIVE, a twice-monthly online event where experts and inspiring guests share advice, stories, and tips—from travel and wellness to purpose and creativity.
Interested in joining Seniors Magazine LIVE—our new twice-monthly video event with inspiring guests on senior travel, wellness, and purpose? Upcoming speakers include a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a Supreme Court litigator.
Want to Earn in Retirement?
Help a life story get told, earn thousands: Refer someone to MemoirGhostwriting.com and earn 12% of what they spend. Find out more here.
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Disclaimer: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Seniors Magazine may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The content of the newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial, legal, or health advice. We may also share polling responses with advertisers to help keep this newsletter free.
