Social groups
Photograph above: A gentleman being helped by a carer.
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It's not only dogs that are important for elderly people, social interaction itself is crucial to elderly people. Changes in interaction patterns have been shown to cause mental and physical health changes in elderly people. There are a huge variety of activities which elderly people can get involved in, however, some people are unaware of these facilities, or may not be able to access them. Also, the social groups also often do not meet regularly enough. However, it is undeniable that without them, so many elderly people would be stuck in their homes alone. Activities help support elderly people socially by creating a support system if they frequently attend. Activity groups encourage hobbies of all kinds are important. For example, physical hobbies such as yoga can be a source of both physical improvement and social interaction for seniors. Intellectual hobbies, such as chess, can also clearly help elderly people, by keeping their mind mentally stimulated.