Isolation / Loneliness

You may love your spouse and be smitten with your grandchildren, but for many of us, there’s nothing quite like the unconditional love we receive from our family pet. And that love may be even more precious once you realize the physical and emotional health benefits derived from pet ownership. …

by Hope Reiner,  Founder, Hope and I   Few would disagree that our sense of community is undergoing a revolution. Our culture leads us to focus on what websites or news blogs we read, what social media platforms we are part of, and which celebrities we follow. But it does not…

Whether it’s a cheek rub or a tail wag, many of us can’t resist the love and affection we feel from animals. And while there’s plenty of work involved as a pet owner, the upside is pretty clear: Surveys and studies show real physical and emotional benefits from pet companionship…

Those of us grew up during the early days of television probably remember Robby The Robot or the robot B-9 from “Lost in Space” – large, clunky machines that possessed some primitive human characteristics. But today’s robots, particularly those that mimic animals, are sophisticated machines with qualities and responses that…

It’s been said that a friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future and accepts you just the way you are. But for many of us, having or making a good friend as we get older seems almost beyond reach. Friends from the past may have fallen…

If you’ve been paying attention to the news, or are just a consumer of popular culture, you know that loneliness is now considered a major public health problem. In a bit of irony, it seems the more “connected” we are as a culture, the more many of us feel alone…