Loneliness is crippling for everyone, especially older adults. The trouble is that chronic loneliness doesn’t just make you feel terrible but, it also has devastating health consequences. In a study conducted at Brigham Young University, researchers found that the effects of chronic loneliness are equivalent to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. But, unlike for anxiety and depression, there… Read more →
In October 2018, the British government unveiled an ambitious strategy to tackle the growing problem of loneliness in the U.K. — Expansion of Social Prescribing. What is social prescribing? Social prescribing enables organisations, including doctors (i.e. general practitioners), to refer people to a range of services that offer support for social, emotional or practical needs. Services include music lessons,… Read more →
“Boomers”, “old people”, “senior citizens”, “seniors”, “elderly” and “golden-agers”. These are some of the phrases that are commonly used to describe a generation of adults over the age of 65. But, most people tend to dislike being addressed as such. “Old people”, “senior citizens” and “seniors” definitely sound condescending and rude. But, what is wrong with someone being called old?… Read more →
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA), nearly 40,000 people in the US die from suicide each year. That’s 1 person every 13 minutes; exceeding the number of deaths from homicide and AIDS combined. Suicide is a serious public health problem. The causes of suicide are complex and difficult to determine, but one key cause is social… Read more →
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial arts practice that is super interesting, body-mind meditative and extremely enjoyable. You’ve probably seen groups of people practicing Tai Chi in a park or at the gym, so you may have some idea what it’s all about. Low intensity, slow-motion, flowing, circular movements. No weights. So, it’s actually very easy to practice!… Read more →