Isolation / Loneliness

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…

We’ve known for quite a long time that sensory input is critical to keeping our brains healthy and functioning. One important source of that input is social engagement. We also know that one of the most concerning health perils that accompanied Covid was the social isolation of many of our…

It was nobody’s fault. We were all put under the same constraints. When the pandemic began, none of us had the option of continuing our normal lives: We could no longer meet up with friends, engage in social activities, or join community programs. And while some maintained connections in the…