When Old Age Comes: Why Friends and Social Connections?

Studies show that social isolation leads to a number of health risks. Social disconnection, especially among lonely elderly people, is a serious threat to both physical and mental health.
Specifically, the effects of social disconnection on older people include:
People with few friends tend to die sooner after a heart attack than those with strong social connections . Lonely elderly people are more likely to use alcohol, beer, tobacco and stimulants. Lonely older adults tend to have higher blood pressure and poorer sleep quality. Frequent stress and anxiety. Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease.

Finding friends for the elderly as well as maintaining relationships when old age comes brings happiness and many health benefits.
Many studies have demonstrated the benefits of having friends for the elderly:
People with extensive friendships have an approximately 22% lower 10-year risk of death. Old people, if they have good friends, will help them not to do things that are harmful to themselves such as smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol. Friends can also help relieve depression. Older people with good social relationships and friends have fewer cardiovascular and immune problems, and lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. According to a recent study from University College London, friends, not family, may help reduce dementia risk for the elderly. It is argued that social and peer relationships help build cognitive reserve, meaning greater resilience to damage that occurs in conditions such as dementia, so that the elderly have well-developed memory and language skills, which helps them cope better and prevent psycho-emotional problems.

Measures to help find friends for the elderly as well as help maintain friendships for the elderly include:
Participating in activities such as volunteering can not only bring joy to life, but can also create connect with others. Joining with friends in clubs such as clubs for nourishment, dancing, fishing, playing music, making pottery,... both fills time, brings joy, and creates opportunities to meet new people. new people and maintain social relationships. Traveling with friends can help expose different cultures and people even within a city or country. Traveling can also help with physical activity with walking and sightseeing. Going on a trip together is the best way to socialize. For the elderly who cannot go outside, online tools provide a way to stay connected with family and friends, and even provide the opportunity to meet new friends. Now, with social media, the elderly can go online, meet and chat with their grandchildren or friends. The elderly are often very lonely, so they often think negatively, lose connection with society, are often stressed, etc. thereby increasing the risk of many diseases and mental decline. Finding friends for the elderly as well as maintaining relationships when old age comes will bring happiness and many health benefits.
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References: healthline.com, webmd.com, aarp.org