For many older adults, loneliness is a growing concern. But as survey results from Del Webb residents indicate, how and where you live contributed significantly to connectedness and satisfaction.
A recent survey of more than 1,300 Del Webb residents by PulteGroup found that a majority feel socially connected at this stage of life, with 71% saying where they live makes it easier for them to form meaningful connections. More than half said they became more socially engaged after moving into their Del Webb community.
The responses stand in stark contrast to research from the University of Michigan, which found more than one-third of adults between the ages of 50 and 80 report feeling lonely or isolated.
While the results of the PulteGroup survey are not indicative of a cure to loneliness, the survey suggests that solutions can be curated through deliberate and frequent occasions to be social with others.
“We design Del Webb communities to be so much more than just a place to live—it is a lifestyle built around connection,” said Manish Shrivastava, chief marketing officer at PulteGroup, parent company of Del Webb. “As this new survey shows and what we are hearing from our residents, social engagement can flourish in community environments that are intentionally designed to foster belonging among active adults. It is about growing social bonds between neighbors and friends as they redefine what the next chapter of their lives mean to them.”
The emphasis is resonating with residents in PulteGroup’s 55-plus communities. Four in five respondents said staying connected to their overall health and well-being, and 94% said it’s easy to strike up conversations with neighbors.
From group exercise classes and pickleball to shared meals, coffee meetups, and happy hours, residents pointed to structured and informal gatherings alike as key drivers of connection while outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking also help bring residents together.
“Social connection is really the reason people want to be here,” said Delanie Newberry, lifestyle director at Del Webb Sun City Peachtree in Griffin, Georgia. “The homes are beautiful, but at the end of the day, it’s about who your neighbors are and how you spend your time.”
The survey generated responses from 1,301 Del Webb residents in communities across 14 states between February 24 and 26.
