and how would an elder start looking for friends or recreational activities for seniors? I don’t even know what’s available.
my father has always been republican, never a maga type, just old school republican.
The last message he sent me was more a rant against everything that’s wrong with the world together with some immigrant blaming and talking about an invasion. He also wrote how he misses when I was 5. He is usually more articulate, this message was all over the place.
My mother is Mexican and I’m half Mexican. Make it make sense.
On my answer, I asked him if my mother should be deported, if he is feeling lonely or angry and if he meets people in real life other than my mother or he spends his time watching slop and listening to right wing media.
I also told him talking about immigrants the way he did to me is the perfect way to end up alone or in a right wing bubble because nobody sane wants to talk to somebody with so much disregard for people wanting a better life.
He also wrote something about how AI makes people stupider, which I agree with and asked him if he is sure this isn’t something exactly happening to him right now with the message he sent me, just hoping he snaps out of it.
I suggested, if he feels alone he may contact social services, but I have no idea if they actually help seniors find new people.
I also wanted to suggest he goes to a nursing home but it doesn’t seem to be the ideal place for a competent senior to meet new people, does it?
If you ever did this, what worked for you?
Not sure how regional this is, but a very midwestern American thing is the “old man coffee club”. This is not an official name or organized sanctioned event, but its such a regular occurrence that everyone knows what it is. Old men will meet at a diner or restaurant where they will drink coffee and chit chat. Its usually a weekly meet, but in some localities its a daily thing.
I don’t precisely know how to tell you to find your local one. I know mine is at a local McDonalds on Wednesday mornings only from happening to be there at that time and immediately recognizing it for what it was. See if you could find that for your dad. I look forward to my retirement days attending my local old man coffee club (and to be complaining about the young presumably).
As for formal events, look into your local “Center on Aging” or “Senior center”. This is usually a public organization that hold events for seniors and many times has a regular lunch hall (very reasonably priced!).