Looking for advice on how to help my elderly mother make meaningful new friendships.
My mum is really lonely, and has come to rely on me for the majority of her social life, which I find really draining and stressful.
She's coming up for 80, though seems younger. She's alone now after losing my dad a couple of years ago.
She has a few friends, but they are all still in a couple, so socialising is limited with the friends alone, or otherwise friends and husbands come along and mum is the only one on her own, which she hates.
She's joined groups (one exercise, one hobby) and has participated for a year but no friendships seem to have come from that. Likewise she took up a volunteering role. With these activities, every is friendly, but no one wants to meet outside of the activity.
I signed her up to the meetup website but there virtually nothing happening local to her.
She's completely lost all confidence so wouldn't even contemplate a day out alone let alone a solo holiday.
How do older people make new friends?
I'd love to connect her with a few, perhaps in the same situation, for days out together and an occasional holiday.
Elderly parents
How to make friends
Amalienborg · 14/03/2024 19:41
Frites · 15/03/2024 22:43
Could she join a choir? I joined one with my mum it’s a big one with no auditions and they sing for charity in different places so lots of outings and people giving each other lifts to and from etc . Sadly mum’s dementia has progressed too far now for her to benefit but it would have been great if not.
could she get a little dog ? You always meet people walking your dog ! And it’s company in itself.
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