article for the International Herald Tribune (
adults is the loss of their social network.
Spouses die, friends get sick or
move away, children live in another part of the country, neighborhoods change,
and soon you are finding yourself quite alone.
There may be days at a time when you don’t see another person. This is what is known as social isolation.
The new future of old age is all about staying in society and staying
socially connected. Technology becomes a big part of this movement because it provides
a way to stay connected with family and friends. Snail mail never worked for my family. It just didn’t seem to be in the genes, if
you know what I mean. Not one member of
my immediate family could put a pen to paper in order to keep in touch. It was gratifying to find that these same people,
who couldn’t compose a snail letter to save themselves, can now tap out an
electronic message with apparent ease.
More and more people are
joining social networks and
researchers are finding that these networks can provide the same benefits as a
group of friends. Technology has provided a new way to make new
connections, make new friends, and feel a sense of purpose.
It has long been known that social connections are important and
play a huge role in health and life satisfaction. People with strong social relationships show
less mental decline, live more active lives, have fewer physical limitations, and
adapt to changes more easily… more so than people who are isolated.
Rosemary Bakker in her book
“The AARP Guide to Revitalizing Your Home” provides some interesting tips for staying
socially connected:
- Try something new that involves getting out of
the house and interacting with
new people. For example: host a
book club or start/join a crafting group. - Get involved with a volunteer cause. Not
just busywork but get involved with a cause that you feel passionate
about. - Get connected to the Web; set up a computer station and e-mail your children,
grandchildren and friends. Join an
on-line interest group. - Throw a pot-luck dinner. Go ahead, be the one to organize
it….don’t wait for someone else to make the first move. - Sign up for a free service that allows video chat or video calls from your
computer so that you can visit friends and relatives who live far away. - This is
not the time for you to mumble that you don’t need new fangled
gadgets. Technology plays a big
part in the scheme of things now and you are cutting off your own nose, so
to speak, if you refuse to become a part of the world today. It is a pretty exciting place.
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