Intergenerational contact between seniors and their children is high. Contact with grandchildren is also frequent, although other family members are seen less frequently. Seniors are also less likely to have friends and neighbours round to their homes as they get older.
In 2006, nearly one in six people aged between 50 and 64 were using, social networking sites, instant messaging and internet chat rooms. By June 2007, more than 100 000 of facebook users in the UK were seniors.
Senior membership of organisations is largely affected by health and occupational group.
In Southampton, seniors are less likely to be involved in volunteering than younger people, although they still play a significant part. However, many surveys do not take into account the prevalence of informal volunteering, such as helping out with shopping for a neighbour or keeping an eye on vulnerable people in the community. Seniors are generally quite positive about the satisfaction and fulfilment their volunteering provides and the important place it occupies on their lives.
Around half of people over 50 go to the cinema, opera or theatre, or visit an art gallery or museum. Seniors in the older age groups are less likely to participate in such activites. Almost all say they eat out of the house sometimes. Over half of seniors have taken a holiday in the UK within the previous twelve months.
Around a quarter of people aged over 65 in the UK attend church regularly, being far more likely
to do so than younger people.
Employment rates decline with age from the age of 50. However, seniors are more likely than
those aged between 25 and 49 to be self-employed.
