Tomorrow is National Best Friends Day! Best friends are not only among the most cherished of relationships, but they are also good for your health.

Friends enrich each other’s lives in many ways. Friends who lead healthy lifestyles may influence each other to develop better habits. A strong social network also helps you fend off loneliness and feel more connected with others. With friends at your side, you are better able to cope with life’s challenges.

Aultman Generations offers a perfect opportunity to widen your social circle. Designed for community members ages 50 and older, Generations helps you stay healthy through activities, sports leagues and educational programs.

“The goal of Aultman Generations is to help people remain physically, mentally and socially active,” said Aultman’s Joy Burch, who leads the program. “Connecting with others is beneficial to our health, and Generations events are designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests while providing casual opportunities to meet new people.”

Whether you love music, art, theater, sports, cooking or simply spending time with others, Generations has events for you. In July, the group heads to Ashtabula County for a dinner and wine tasting, followed by a performance of “The Music Man” at Rabbit Run Theater. August features a trip to Amish country for a lunch buffet and a matinee performance of “Ruth,” an original Sight and Sound Theaters Production, at Ohio Star Theater.

Throughout the summer, Generations has planned several group tours of the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and grounds in Canton.

As the weather turns chilly in September, Generations provides two indoor activities that meet weekly: a bowling league and a singing group. The bowling league takes place on Tuesday mornings in North Canton, with a banquet in November to celebrate the season. Senior Sing, a program with Sing Stark, rehearses on Wednesday mornings in North Canton throughout the fall for a holiday concert presented at Aultman Hospital in December.

Through the end of 2024, Generations will offer a food tour, concert, cooking demo and classes on fraud prevention and safe driving. The group has also planned outings to events in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There is a fee for many of the events to cover expenses. See more details in the Upcoming Events tab on the Generations page.

Membership in Generations is free. Benefits of membership include discounts at local businesses, including Aultman cafeterias, complimentary notary services and advance directive forms such as a living will and durable power of attorney.

“Generations members often tell us how much they appreciate the variety of experiences in the program,” Burch said. “It’s wonderful to see the close friendships that form within the group. People in Generations are there for each other.”

For more information about Aultman Generations and to fill out a membership form, visit aultman.org/generations.