Memberships for 2025 are open now
Staying social can be hard at any age. But older adults may find it most challenging to get out there and find friends and events that interest them.
If you think about it, from a young age, we live in a society that almost creates built-in friend groups and opportunities for us. As a youngster, you have neighborhood buds, riding your bikes and playing until dark. (And perhaps a younger generation had parents making scheduled playdates for them.)
Once you we of a school age, the educational system offers children your same age, with a plethora of opportunities to make friends, find fun clubs, or join sports to even narrow that crowd into those with similar interests.
After school your school years, a job or college took its turn providing you with a buffet of friend choices. If you had children, sometimes their friends’ parents became your friends. Perhaps your neighbors were fun to spend time with for socialization.
But, as we become seniors, we not only enter an age where it becomes even more difficult to get around, but we face retirement (if we’re lucky). This means more time to ourselves. But, to do what?
In an extra level of life’s irony, it is this time of our lives that we may benefit most from socializing with others, even as it gets harder to do. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), said that living a more active lifestyle can help you to maintain your well-being and independence.
Studies have shown, according to the NIA, makes older adults:
Clearly, there are benefits. But the question remains: how do we stay active and social? Abington Township has an answer: the Alverthorpe Retired Citizens of Abington Township, known as ARCAT.
ARCAT is a seniors’ group for those that live within Abington Township and its surrounding communities that are at least 55 years of age.
ARCAT is nothing new. Beginning over 50 years ago, the organization has been run by a staff of volunteers with the sponsorship and assistance of the Abington Parks and Recreation department. Members are able to enjoy things like daytrips and tours that are designed with a focus on seniors.
As many seniors are likely to do, living on an often-fixed income, you may ask yourself, “Sure, but what does it cost?” That may be the best part. The annual fee to be a member of ARCAT is just $5. No, that’s not a typo. It really only costs 500 pennies to join this group!
Members are first added to the organization’s mailing list. This way, newsletters, which include the details of upcoming trips, will come directly to them. Membership will also include all general meetings, which are held at the Crestmont Clubhouse, a spring luncheon at Sandy Run Country Club, a holiday luncheon, and one-day bus trips.
For more information on ARCAT for 2025, visit the website at www.abingtonpa.gov/PR or call the Abington Parks and Recreation department at 215-576-5213. For any questions about particular trips, please call Nancy Bowes at 215-285-5376.
