As people age, they face the dilemma of seeing loved ones and friends suffer declining health or even pass away. Getting older can become lonely and bring a sense of isolation.
A Brigham Young University study found loneliness and social isolation are risk factors for premature death in seniors. Researchers examined data from more than 3 million participants in 35 years of published studies. They concluded living on your own can increase the risk of premature death by 29 percent.
Another study at the University of Chicago determined that loneliness leads to increased levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone that raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Obviously, having healthy social relationships makes for a healthier and happier life. For this reason, many seniors find that living in a retirement community is a good way to avoid the health issues that can arise when living by yourself. The right community can provide a safe and enriching lifestyle with a range of options to make friends.
Council of Seniors Wants to Get You More Benefits
The right retirement community can add years to your life. Here at Council of Seniors, we’re committed to getting Congress to pass The SAVE Benefits Act to provide you with more benefits. Because the annual Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) hasn’t kept pace with inflation, this bill is a must to reimburse seniors $581 that wasn’t paid out in recent COLAs.
Take time now to sign our petition. Together we can show Congress the strong and growing support for this bill.
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