Active Aging
Let’s be Friends
by Dana Blaszkowski
Strong friendships may be key to protecting the brain in later life. Researchers at Northwestern University (NU) found that people who maintain close friendships during their twilight years have a stronger memory and show slower cognitive decline than those who live quieter, less social lives.
Friends care about each other’s well-being, they keep us accountable. Friends encourage us to show up for that fitness class when we’re entertaining thoughts of sleeping in or when we get stuck in the recliner watching the news. Our friends help us find motivation to push a little harder to strive for our personal best.
Laura Russell, a member of the Stockbridge Area Senior Center (SASC), can speak to the value of socializing. According to Russell, “The Drumming and the Yoga at SASC are my favorites. Our heart rate gets going and that’s good for us. The outside activities, movies, plays and extra activities are fun, too! We even get together when the center isn’t open, for breakfast and things.”
Friends also remind us of what needs to be done to stay healthy, like getting hearing or vision checks if they have noticed a change we’ve been ignoring. Just knowing our friends have our backs can make us feel better overall. We know that social isolation is bad for our health. It increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, and it accelerates cognitive decline. It’s so important to take steps to connect with others.
Another SASC member, Anne Gray, said this about friendships made, “As a new member who is a transplant from Texas, I’ve found a new home. Everyone is friendly and welcoming from the minute I walk in the door. It beats being at home. At home, you end up getting depressed and not wanting to do anything. Coming here has changed all that for me. I feel like I’ve made some real friends.”
Consider finding and taking a new class in something you have always wanted to learn. Join a book discussion club or maybe a sewing group to start connecting with folks who have similar interests. Finding a volunteer opportunity that helps others and gets you connected to your community is a win-win. Have some fun with a game or card night with friends.
When asked what he enjoys about SASC, one of our members, Jim Pietila, said, “I’ve made new friends here. There’s a lot of humor and a lot of smiles.”
Having friends is clearly linked with a greater sense of happiness and well-being. They lift us up when we’re feeling down. They share in our enthusiasm when we have good news. They help soothe our souls when we’re feeling stressed. Our friends check in on us and celebrate life’s ups and downs. Friends surely improve our overall satisfaction in life.
Joyce Dickinson shared what she enjoys about her time at SASC, “It’s a friendly place to come and socialize with other people. The activities and exercises are good for us.”
It’s no wonder we value our friendships even more as we age. Friends help us stay healthy and happy!
Dana Blaszkowski is the director of the Stockbridge Area Senior Center (SASC), a great place to spend time. Visit stockbridgeareaseniors.org or call 517-480-0353 for information.
Strong friendships may be key to protecting the brain in later life. Pictured (l-r): Betti Wetherell, Laura Russell, Helen Kraft, Mark Blakeman, and Richard Long.
Photo provided by Dana Blaszkowski
