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Special Advertising Section | Sunday, October 19, 20255year and has been such a hit that it has now also been introduced at the Queen Anne location.For those with more of a performing-arts bent, Lifelong Recreation%u2019s Silver Sounds program provides a chance to strut your stuff on the stage in a variety-show format.%u201cIt%u2019s just a group that loves to sing, make up skits %u2014 it%u2019s really eclectic,%u201d Baxter-Clubine says. %u201cThey%u2019re just having a blast doing it.%u201dLifelong Recreation also offers dementiafriendly programs such as %u201cout and about walks,%u201d for those facing dementia and their care partners, and the dance-focused Joyful Movement program. %u201cIt%u2019s targeted at people with dementia, but everybody%u2019s welcome,%u201d Baxter-Clubine says.VolunteeringFor those who want to stay socially active but aren%u2019t necessarily into joining a class themselves, Baxter-Clubine notes that volunteering, perhaps as a leader, teacher or driver, is another excellent way to maintain social interactions. %u201cMy dad%u2019s almost 82, and he doesn%u2019t like to participate %u2014 but if you give him a job, he will come,%u201d she says.It%u2019s a function Stina Cowan, 61, is familiar with. Cowan serves as the cultural director of the Swedish Club on Dexter Avenue, which offers a multitude of Swedishand Nordic-themed programming. This includes language courses, social meals, crafts classes, %u201cBerserkaraoke%u201d nights and a popular monthly Swedish pancake breakfast. (The Swedish Club is open to all, not just Scandinavians.)The Swedish pancake event, in particular, is largely run by a small army of volunteers, many of whom arrive at 4 a.m. on pancake day. Together they feed the legions of hungry attendees, frequently chatting with each other or with visitors while they eat the crepe-like pancakes. %u201cWe do have staff there, but it%u2019s pretty much volunteer-run,%u201d Cowan says.Multigenerational connectionsAnother of Cowan%u2019s favorite ways that the Swedish Club facilitates social interaction Study after study has found a correlation between socializing and longevity, with social connections helping reduce our risk for stroke, dementia, depression and heart disease while increasing our wellbeing and our ability to handle stress.As we age, though, it can be tough to socialize as much as we did in our younger years. The workplace is frequently a major facilitator of our social interactions, which can be cut short with retirement. Meanwhile, the physical impairments that catch up with us as we get older can reduce our mobility, making it more difficult to get out and about and potentially hampering our ability to drive.But our region has plenty of options to get out there and keep socializing. The Seattle area abounds with classes, clubs, activities, volunteer opportunities and social groups, offering camaraderie and connection.%u201cBeing social is vitally important for older adults,%u201d says Carol Baxter-Clubine, program coordinator for Lifelong Recreation, a group run by Seattle%u2019s Parks and Recreation department and aimed at those 50 and older of all abilities. The program is available at community centers throughout the city.%u201cWe%u2019re pretty much in everybody%u2019s backyard,%u201d Baxter-Clubine says. %u201cA lot of people make friends, new connections and start looking forward to seeing each other.%u201dLifelong Recreation%u2019s offerings run the gamut from physical fitness, such as dance and pickleball, to art classes, workshops on healthy aging and field trips both in Seattle and beyond the city%u2019s borders.Among Lifelong Recreation%u2019s more popular programs is a new and wacky one: %u201cBettyball,%u201d which Baxter-Clubine describes as %u201cno-rules basketball.%u201d%u201cEverything goes except for kicking the ball,%u201d she says. %u201cYou never know what%u2019s going to happen.%u201d The half-court free-for-all started out at the Green Lake Community Center this Continued on next page Bestyears MENTAL HEALTHSilver Sounds is a variety show that%u2019s pure entertainment. (Courtesy of Lifelong Recreation)Being social is vitally important for older adults.Carol Baxter-Clubine Program coordinator at Lifelong Recreation