Getting to hang out with your grandma is the best! From hearing great stories to enjoying all of their secret recipes, there really isn’t anything better. Plus, according to a new study, hanging out with your grandmother (or any of your cool elderly relatives) will actually help them live longer!
A study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco has found that adequate companionship can help extend and improve the quality of life for the elderly.
The study was conducted in a group of 1,600 adults with the average age of 71. Through the study, it was found that the adults who were lonely consistently held higher mortality rates than those who were not lonely. While isolation and being lonely can take a toll on anyone, the study found that it hits extra hard the older we get.
More or less, the older you are, the more you need these companionships in order to thrive.
While people often portray senior homes as a negative thing, they are actually quite beneficial in this sense. It is important for older generations to have a place where elderly friendships are encouraged. As a person ages, their social circle inevitably gets smaller and smaller. In group settings like this, it’s much easier to mingle, connect, and thrive.
Just think of it as getting a second go at the college lifestyle! It’s the perfect setting for making friends.
Befriending an older person isn’t just beneficial for them though.
“You bring a lot more experience to your friendships when you’re older,” says Rosemary Bliezner, a professor of human development at Virginia Tech. “You know what’s worth fighting about and what’s not worth fighting about.”
Honestly, it seems like seniors would make the best friends based on that reasoning. They’re happy to be with you, and you’re getting all of the sage wisdom you could ask for!
So, whenever you want some company for dinner, or even when you just have a some time to chat, be sure to call up your older relative. It very well could change their life!
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[Source: Good Housekeeping, JAMA Network ]
