Groups for elderly mother

[FoxglovesAndLupins]

My DM is in her 70s. Quite an insular life and depends on my DF for her social interactions. She is very nervous to join any groups but DF has a life limiting disease. Any suggestions or tips on groups aimed at elderly parents or getting parents to expand their social circle?

I go to a Women’s Shed where many of the members are in that age group.

or maybe WI?

Any knitting/crafting groups? Sometimes libraries have them. Or book clubs?

is she fit enough for walking groups or volunteering in a charity shops?

Is she religious? If so her church may have some activities like choir group?

Try University of the Third Age. Not a university! Such a wide variety of groups from knit and chat to philosophy and everything in between. They have groups in most towns and were/are life saver for my mother after my father died
https://www.u3a.org.uk/

Look at volunteering maybe if she is fit enough? Facebook is a good place to look for local activities.

At one point we had a litter of orphaned micro piglets and posted on Facebook asking for volunteers to sit in their pen for a few hours a day and cuddle them.

Quite a few older women responded and we ended up with a straw pen full of pensioners with pigs in their laps. Was lovely. I think a few of them kept in touch as they visited the older piglets together.

I still can't get used to being classed as elderly (I'm 71) - probably because I still have my 95 yr old Mum - SHE's elderly!

Anyway, would your Mum consider attending any events run by the University of the Third Age? (U3A). If you google U3A in her area you'll see what's on offer - click on 'groups'.

Also, find her nearest Age UK and ask about social events/support. https://www.ageuk.org.uk

If your Mum is caring for your DF, she might be able to access support, including reducing isolation. Her local health centre/GP practice will have details.

@Balloonhearts I'd pay good money to sit and cuddle piglets! I hope none of them ended up as bacon!

@ShetlandsI suspect that is their raison d’être 😢

My DF has recently had advice from AgeUK about activities available in his area after my DM died earlier this year. They help with all sorts of other things (like sourcing a cleaner) so are worth looking at in your area.

Nope, all very spoilt pets. I still see one of them from time to time.

More votes for the WI and the U3A, also the Townswomens Guild. I'd guess that the best ones to go for will depend on the location.

The notice board at the library and near our local post office and park is filled with posters for activities aimed at this age group.

Your local authority may have a team that supports older people to join groups etc or they may run groups in local community centres. In my city all the libraries are now also community hubs that have social groups and activities every day

Knit n nat you don't have to do either btw 😁
Luncheon club
University of 3A
Charity volunteering
Cold water swimming groups
The Lion Club

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions. I’ve made a list and will be investigating. I particularly loved the piglet. Made my day. Thank you again. I would not have been able to find these organisations without your suggestions.

@Shetlands that's a good omen!
I remember chatting about a bloke locally who is still running in his late 70s/early 80s and someone said, and this was quite the double take moment, "He lives with his mother...!"

Wonderful! My late great-grandmother-in-law had her 100th birthday alongside her 82 year old son! My Mum keeps saying she can't believe she has a daughter in her 70s. 😂

U3A is really fab. My mother is no longer an official member of U3A but has just made lots of friends through the various groups and now just meets them for lunch/cinema/theatre etc

My parents used to do U3A and enjoyed it, they did different activities. Mum now goes to a lunch club run by the Salvation Army that usually has a quiz or something as well. She gets picked up and brought home afterwards.