Staying Connected as You Age
Staying connected as you age means having people who count on you, and people you can count on: regular contact with friends and family, a role in your community, and ways to get around when driving gets harder. Social connection supports both mental and physical health, and it’s part of what makes aging in place work.
Why does connection matter?
The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory on loneliness and isolation linked social isolation to higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Connection is a health issue, not just a social one.
How do you build connection into your week?
Set recurring plans, like a weekly call or a standing lunch
Join a group built around something you enjoy
Volunteer somewhere that counts on you to show up
Why does purpose matter?
Being needed, not just included, is part of aging well. A role in your community, your family, or a cause gives your week structure and meaning.
How will you get around?
Plan for when driving gets harder: public transit, rideshare, volunteer driver programs, or senior transportation services. Your Area Agency on Aging can help; find it through the Eldercare Locator.
What does connection have to do with staying home?
Staying Power is a licensed insurance agency that helps people plan to age well at home, starting with how they’ll pay for care.
Staying in your home usually means staying near your people. Planning for help at home is part of keeping that possible. Get started to see what care costs and how to fund it.
Related reading: Aging in Place on Your Own, Making Your Home Age-Ready, Room by Room, and Aging in Place in Your 70s: What to Think About Now.
Frequently asked questions
Is loneliness a health risk?
Research cited in the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory links social isolation to higher risk of several health conditions.
