All articles tagged with #social contact
Denmark is embedding the One of Us anti-stigma program into national health policy, using ambassadors with mental illness to share recovery stories in schools, hospitals, and police training to reshape public attitudes—though lasting impact remains uncertain.
A study of nearly 400,000 older adults receiving home care across Canada, Finland, and New Zealand found that lonely seniors had an 18-23% lower risk of dying within a year compared to non-lonely peers, challenging previous assumptions that loneliness increases mortality risk. The findings suggest that declining health may lead to loneliness rather than the other way around, and that home care services might provide protective social contact. While loneliness remains a serious issue for quality of life, these results indicate that the relationship between loneliness and mortality is more complex than previously thought.
Aging can cause a decline in the senses, but exercising the brain through physical and mental activities can help strengthen them. Learning new skills and socializing can also ward off cognitive decline. It's never too late to start, and staying optimistic can also have a positive effect on brain health. Some mental skills, like vocabulary, actually sharpen with age.