Pickleball players at Western Regional Park find friendship on the court. Try a new sport, join a club or just call a friend. Studies say social connections help us live longer. Photo by Howard County Recreation & Parks

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Across Howard County, activity-based groups have become a popular way for older adults to interact — especially pickleball games. While some people play the sport for the exercise, many keep coming back for the camaraderie that percolates on the pickleball court.

“You can’t find a session where people aren’t laughing and truly enjoying themselves,” said Troy Osten, president of the Howard County Pickleball Association.

The association welcomes people of all skill levels, and most of its 1,200 members are over 50 years old, according to Osten.

They have created connections that go beyond pickleball, growing into friendships and even support systems. Some people who met on the court participate in other sports together or even take trips and cruises together.

“Members stay because of our core values of learning, developing and socializing with each other,” Osten said.

Connection is the theme of this month’s showcase on May 1 at the Mall in Columbia. Sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence, the annual event highlights programs and services available to residents over 50. It’s held every May to celebrate Older Americans Month.

“Social connection is a major thing, not just for older adults, but for everyone,” said Jessicia Chaney, older adult program manager for the Mental Health Association of Maryland. “It creates such wonderful pathways with our neurotransmitters and produces and creates more positive hormones.”

Chaney will be the keynote speaker at the May 1 event; her 11 a.m. talk will highlight how social connection is key to healthy aging.

‘Long life is a team sport’

Humans are social creatures, and scientific studies have found that we need each other to stay healthy, especially as we age.

When we interact with others, our brains are bathed in dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, which allow us to build relationships, create memories and even combat stressful situations or boost the immune system.

On the other hand, lack of human interaction can speed up brain aging, increasing the risk of dementia by 60%, according to numerous studies funded by the National Institute on Aging.

“Sometimes just isolating ourselves can bring on other issues,” Chaney said.

Often, many older adults just want to be able to feel heard and understood. In her role at the Mental Health Association of Maryland, Chaney has found that empathy helps forge bonds.

“Even if we have different memories or experiences, I can still show that I have gone through similar things and understand certain situations as well,” she said.

Along with advocacy and resources, Chaney said that her goal is to also offer peer support, something that many of us can extend to one another. Peer support can be shown in different ways, by showing up, lending a helping hand, offering words of encouragement, or even just being there to listen.

Chaney often shares this quote from author Ashton Applewhite to help others understand that connection benefits everyone: “Long life is a team sport.” In other words, to survive and thrive, we must seek out each other’s company. Though it’s challenging to stay connected as we age, to be part of a village, one must be a villager.

Simple ways to stay connected

Staying connected doesn’t look the same for everyone; after all, not everyone can play pickleball or wants to go on cruises.

One suggestion Chaney proposes is to pick up the phone and call someone. Even spending just a few minutes on the phone or video chatting with another person can make a difference. In fact, she said, you don’t have to talk; you can keep each other company by doing chores while on the phone. She also suggested scheduling specific days of the week to call a friend or family member.

“You can actually see your mood change, your energy change, and your environment change for the better,” Chaney said.

With six 50+ Centers in Howard County, residents can attend films, acoustic jam sessions, gardening classes, summer festivals and other cultural celebrations.

“They have so many different things here locally, and a lot of time it’s completely free,” Chaney said.

There is truly something for everyone, she said, and you might make new friends with similar interests.

Small groups make a big difference

One group of Howard County residents has found the power of connection in a social group they call The Circle.

“People are starving for community,” said Glynis Whitaker, whose late husband, Ricardo Whitaker, founded the group three years ago.

Hoping to initiate face-to-face interactions with his neighbors, rather than complaining on Nextdoor, Ricardo Whitaker began hosting gatherings at Café Columbia on Saturdays.

“It has changed a number of lives on so many levels,” Whitaker said. “It was very important to both of us, and that’s why I am committed to keeping it going as long as possible.”

A core group of regulars shows up every week, along with new faces, which leads to diverse and rich conversations as they learn new things about each other and the world. On holidays, members host events, and they even show up for each other when they need support.

“It feels like a family,” one member said.

Some attendees were reluctant to attend at first, even though they craved companionship. Often it takes a little bravery to meet new people, but it pays off.

“We’re so jaded; we’re so isolated. We’re fearful, we’re guarded,” Whitaker said. “Everything has a degree of risk to it. My challenge to you is to start a circle, and you would be amazed.”

For more information about the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence’s showcase, “Your Circle of Connection,” on May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visit bit.ly/OAIShowcase2026 (note capital letters). Jessicia Chaney will speak at 11 a.m.