Serious stuff! Be social, stay social no matter what your age! If you loose friends due to death try to make new ones.
Wear your hearing aid! Not wearing a hearing aid may increase social isolation. I remember well that my maternal grandpa often complained that his hearing aid made annoying sounds so he did not wear it. Unfortunately, I have to admit I do not remember whether myself or my parents made a serious effort to find perhaps a better hearing aid for him. We kind of dismissed his complaints as him being too vain or fussy to wear a hearing aid. But that was several decades ago. Hopefully, today's hearing aids are more comfortable.
"Spending too much time alone can take a toll on both mind and body: The increased risk of mortality from social isolation has been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. [Not sure why they compared it to smoking???]
For older adults, the consequences can be particularly severe—and in the U.S., roughly 1 in 4 people over 65 are socially isolated.
According to a 2020 NAS report, socially isolated people ages 65+ face elevated health risks:
25% increased risk of cancer-related mortality.
50% increased likelihood of developing dementia.
32% increased risk of stroke.
Physical decline can make it difficult to engage: Hearing loss, for example, is associated with a 28% greater risk of social isolation over time, per a 2024 study."
"... Another cost: Medicare spends $6.7 billion annually in added cost of care for socially isolated older Americans, according to a 2017 AARP report. ...
For example, ... that relatively few hearing-impaired adults—between 10% and 20%—use hearing aids ..."
For example, ... that relatively few hearing-impaired adults—between 10% and 20%—use hearing aids ..."
Aging in America: For Healthy Aging, Stay Connected A growing body of research shows the importance of addressing loneliness and social isolation.
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