AARP Hearing Center
7 Surprising Ways to Make New Friends
With playgrounds and offices a thing of the past for many older adults, you might have to get creative to make new connections
Boyoun Kim
Key takeaways
- Activities that get you out of your comfort zone, like improv classes, can help you build confidence talking to new people.
- Volunteering for a cause you believe in can help you meet like-minded people.
- There are apps now to help you find friends online.
Spending time with friends is good for us. Friendships — new and old — support our mental and physical health, make us more resilient and protect our brain, says Nicole Herdocia-Oria, a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified family mediator and cofounder at Mindful Wellness House in Coral Gables, Florida.
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“People with strong social networks live longer, happier, healthier lives,” says Geoffrey Greif, author of Buddy System: Understanding Male Friendships and a University of Maryland School of Social Work professor emeritus.
And it’s not just friends your own age. AARP’s 2025 Friendship Study found that when it comes to whom you spend time with, intergenerational friendships have some of the greatest benefits.
On the flip side, not having friends can be detrimental as we age. “The lack of friendship and connection can cause feelings of loneliness that can amplify your depression, your anxiety and higher stress levels, [which] affect our health overall,” says Herdocia-Oria.
So, how do you expand your social circle as an older adult? It’s absolutely possible, but may require a bit more effort than when you were in college, working or meeting other parents on the playground, so you have to be intentional, says Herdocia-Oria. Her best advice: Put yourself in situations that “encourage regular interactions and shared experiences.”
And you might need to get a little creative if you’ve put yourself out there and it hasn’t worked. So we asked the experts for places to make friends that you might not think of right away. Here were their seven suggestions:
Volunteer at an animal shelter
For all the animal lovers out there, spending time at a shelter or rescue is a way to hang out with furry friends and potentially meet like-minded humans. Conversations can naturally arise from your love of dogs or cats.
“This allows you to be with people of similar values, and when you have a role to do, such as feeding or helping the animals or raising money for the shelter, you don’t have to make small talk,” says Caroline Maguire, author of Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults and an ADHD coach. And it doesn’t have to be just dogs or cats. Maguire says she’s had clients who made friends while on a charity safari in Africa and while protecting dolphins.
Shop at a farmers market
Purchasing local and seasonal produce at your closest farmers market can be a way to run into the same people week after week. And you’ll be around folks who already have something in common with you, says Herdocia-Oria. People who shop at farmers markets care about health and where their produce comes from, says Maguire.
Strolling the market stands can also be an activity you do with a new friend — what Maguire calls a “bridge” activity — as an alternative to getting coffee.
Take an improv class
If you’re shy or uncomfortable striking up conversations with strangers, improv can help you get out of your head. “It can be nerve-racking to have a random conversation with a stranger, especially if you’re not really used to that,” says Herdocia-Oria.
“Improv classes prompt you to say, ‘Hey, pretend that this is happening—go!’ And all of a sudden you have to pretend that somebody fell and you have to get help,” says Herdocia-Oria. Improv is all about coming up with things on the spot, without knowing anything in advance, which helps build confidence and start conversations, she says.
Added bonus: Improv classes keep your brain sharp because it’s a type of “meaningful play,” an AARP article reports.
Join a community garden
If you enjoy gardening and don’t have much space at home, participating in a community garden lets you grow what you love and make new acquaintances. Or maybe you just want to meet simpatico people who love talking about which plants should go where and when.
“Community gardens create a natural opportunity for connections because people share purpose and belonging, which is super important for our sense of self and well-being,” says Maguire. When you join a community garden, there is structure, roles and expectations of what they want you to do, and you’re working together with others, she adds.
Take a language class
Have you always wanted to learn Spanish, French, Chinese or another language? You’ll gain new skills and may unexpectedly make new friends.
You may find a language class as close as your local community center or college.
“Community education programs provide built-in conversation starters,” says Herdocia-Oria. “Off the bat, you already have common interests with these people, so they’re great to have that kind of jump-off point.” One of Herdocia-Oria’s clients wanted to meet more like-minded people, the therapist says, so she took a language course at a university and loved it, eventually developing two wonderful friendships.
Sign up for pickleball or another sport
Learning a new sport or getting back to one you used to play is great for staying active, and there’s a good chance you’ll meet new people. One option: Jump on the pickleball bandwagon. “I have mature clients who are joining as a way to meet people and find community, and it’s working,” says Maguire.
Clients have sent her messages saying it’s been transformational and a very social experience. People can volunteer to organize games, too — giving them a leadership role and a reason to call others to arrange games.
Pickleball not for you? Try a walking, biking, basketball or hiking club. And many communities have options for all levels of sports, so you don’t have to go in at peak fitness.
Make a profile on a friendship app
Similar to dating apps, friendship apps such as Bumble BFF, MeetUp and Yubo are cropping up. You create a profile describing yourself and what types of people you’re interested in meeting. Herdocia-Oria loves online apps because they ask questions that make you reflect on your interests and hobbies.
Meeting new people later in life can require more effort and putting ourselves out there, and apps make it easier to connect with people. “We don’t expect romantic relationships to magically happen, and friendships really deserve some of that same intentional effort,” says Herdocia-Oria. When you create a profile, you can find people with similar interests to start up a conversation, she adds. Some of her patients have had success making friends this way.
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