Isolation / Loneliness

It’s one thing to live alone, as is increasingly the case among older adults in the United States. It’s another to be socially isolated, which the National Institute on Aging describes as “the lack of social contacts and having few people to interact with regularly.” In fact, many older adults…

The writer Paolo Coelho once wrote, “Friendship isn’t a big thing—it’s a million little things.” The value of friendships throughout your life, but especially as you get on in years, is truly underestimated. Both your physical and mental health benefit when friends are an integral part of your life, not…

Mother Theresa once said, “The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” Those are sentiments felt by many older adults, even those who live among other groups of people. That’s because feeling lonely has little to do with being by yourself (which is more correctly described…

We spend a lot of time and attention focusing on aspects of physical health and how eating a healthy diet, getting sufficient sleep, or keeping your body moving are essential for aging in a healthier way. What may not get enough attention, however, are the psychological factors that can also…

With the Fall season now in full swing, and many of us back out and about exploring our cultural passions, it’s exciting to consider the theater and dance performances, music events, and art exhibitions that await us. In fact, there’s new research that underscores the value of access to such…

With continued disappointing news about forthcoming drugs to address Alzheimer’s, you might begin to despair that there’s little you can do to prevent an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis and that you may as well throw up your arms in distress. However, as we’ve pointed out in previous posts, there are…