Finding Connection and Purpose During Retirement in Dayton and Kettering, Ohio

Retirement is the time to start checking off all those bucket list items that have piled up, like finding ways to live a more connected and purposeful life. When considering retirement in Dayton, take a look at all that the area has to offer.

Volunteering

One of the best ways to improve health and well-being is to give back through volunteering. According to the forbes.com article, “11 Meaningful Ways Older Adults Can Volunteer Right Now,” seniors who volunteer live longer, get more exercise, are more physically capable, and feel a greater sense of personal fulfillment than those who don’t. One study also found that volunteering helps combat isolation and loneliness and improves mental health, which can be a challenge during retirement.

Retirement in Dayton offers diverse volunteering opportunities for older adults. One great place to begin looking is Volunteer Kettering. This city-run website offers links to different volunteering opportunities ranging from summer kids camps, to driving other seniors to appointments to helping out at city parks and events.

Another excellent option is the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) website. The RSVP program is a nationwide effort to help people aged 55 or older share their experience, talents and skills within their local communities. Volunteers are always needed to help out at food banks, community events and senior centers so there are plenty of choices available.

To throw a wider net, try volunteermatch.org which offers an ever-changing list of possibilities with non-profits, schools, and charities within the search area. Many seniors also find the perfect fit by reaching out to specific organizations that need volunteers. For those handy with a hammer, there’s Habitat for Humanity, which builds up communities by building homes for those in need, animal lovers can check out the Humane Society, and to lend a hand helping others recover contact local hospitals like Kettering Health or Dayton Children’s Hospital. Retirement in Dayton can be a wonderful and fulfilling way to live and give!

Spiritual well-being

Retirement in Dayton means living in a diverse and inclusive community that embraces freedom to worship for all. Not only do places of worship provide a space to profess faithfulness, but they also offer a haven for those seeking a sense of acceptance and belonging, like that offered by these local religious organizations:

• Al-Huda Mosque – Islamic Society of Greater Dayton Mosque
• Al-Rahman Mosque – Islamic Society of Greater Dayton Mosque
• Apex Church (non-denominational)
• Ascension Catholic Church
• Awana Keystone Christian Church
• Beth Abraham Synagogue
• Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Christ Episcopal Church
• Christ Our Hope Anglican Church
• Church of the Cross United Methodist
• Church of the Incarnation Catholic Church
• Concordia Lutheran Church
• Emmanuel Lutheran Church
• Faith Lutheran Church
• Fairhaven Christian Church
• Five Rivers Christian Church
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
• Hindu Temple of Dayton
• Islamic Center of Dayton Mosque
• Kettering Assembly of God
• Korean United Methodist Church
• Lifepointe Church (non-denominational)
• Lutheran Church of Our Savior
• MANJA PATIO Hindu Temple
• Marshall Road First Church of God
• Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church
• Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church
• Oakwood United Methodist Church
• Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren Protestant Church
• Quan Am Buddhist Temple
• Shroyer Road Baptist Church
• South Dayton Baptist Church
• Southern Hills United Methodist Church
• St. Albert the Great Catholic Church
• St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
• St. George’s Episcopal Church
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
• Temple Beth Or-South Dayton Synagogue
• Temple Israel
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• The Gathering Place Baptist Church
• Tinh Quang Buddhist Temple
• Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Yellow Springs
• Victory Christian Church.

Staying connected

During retirement in Dayton, an active social life and spending time with friends and peers should be at the top of the list. Socialization is key to physical and mental health but also decreases the negative effects of isolation and loneliness that many seniors suffer. Retirement in Dayton opens the door to community services that are designed just for seniors, where they can enjoy a range of social activities and forge new relationships.

In Kettering the Charles I. Lathrem Senior Center is a hub of activity for adults 55 and older. Members can choose from a variety of fun and engaging pursuits like card and board games, health screenings and wellness programs, a library, the monthly “Tasty Tours” lunch or dinner outings or exercising in the gym or pool. The Center is also home to the Kettering Senior Show Choir which volunteers to perform at local venues.

Retirement in Dayton includes another option, the Beavercreek Senior Center. Among the many offerings are exercise facilities, events and field trips, art and educational classes and seminars, and social groups.

To find out more about all the benefits of retirement in Dayton has to offer, check out our Guide to Living Well During Retirement in Dayton and Kettering, Ohio. Contact us to schedule a tour of our community.