Friendships

No doubt you know by now that social engagement is critical for healthy aging and that friendships can be some of the most important and rewarding relationships in your life as you get older. Through no fault of your own, however, friendships can fizzle and fray, or perhaps even disappear,…

It’s likely no surprise that loneliness continues to be a significant public health concern in the United States. As we reported last year when Surgeon General Vivek Murthy raised alarms about the public health crisis of loneliness in our country, loneliness is not only a subjective individual feeling of disappointment…

Though it’s not uncommon for older adults to live their later years in age-segregated communities, either by choice or by necessity, there’s also something to be said about mixing it up with younger people. In fact, the concept of an intergenerational friendship- that is, having a friend who is at…

Is there a difference between being alone and being lonely? At this point, so many older adults are alone, vulnerable to the health consequences that are more likely as a solo ager and without the supports that typically allow an older adult to remain active and engaged. But does being…

It’s no secret that friendships– perhaps even more than romantic or family relationships- are critical for keeping yourself healthy, both physically and mentally, as you move on into your later years. But as we’ve also previously said, friendships typically just don’t happen- they require effort, intention, and even active pursuit…

 As we’ve previously posted, social connections in your life appear to be critical for all sorts of health parameters as you get older. Covid underscored that even for the best of reasons, isolating older adults can cause serious negative consequences to their physical and emotional well-being. Even “weak ties,” i.e.,…