As the International Friendship Day approaches, this is a reminder of the importance of friendship at all ages and stages of life. However, naturally, over time, creating and maintaining friendship due to different stages of life, lack of confidence or other factors can be harder.
For the older generation, if friendship is not maintained, it can be an isolated time. However, we talked to experts who explain the importance of friendships of all ages, which can be on health and how long -term communication can be.
How does friendship affect the older generation?
Jenny Lipiat, director of strategic program in the Health Team in the UK, says friendship is very important for all generations. “There is a lot of evidence that having social communication is really useful for your mental and physical health.”
Kirsten Antonchaich, a senior and senior senior and senior leader at the University of Birmingham City, says the impact of friendship for the older generation is enormous. “I think one of the first things is that friendships protect against isolation and little spirit,” he says. “In a friendship and listening to that wave of really positive chemicals, he said.
“Friendship and communication can also bring a sense of target, which we know is essential to relieving low morale and depression in the next life. We also know that it improves cognitive health, so there are more friendships, such as better cognitive function and slow cognitive reduction.”
Anton adds: Friendships also reduce stress and strengthen states. “They are also associated with increased physical activity and memory,” he says.
“Especially for the elderly, going out of the house and moving around if you can also be useful for things like balance and mobility,” says Lipiat.
What impact can it have a lack of friendship?
Lipiat says that lack of friendship can lead to alone, and this is where you do not have good social communication, which can cause problems for mental and physical health.
“Older people are only 25 % of the likelihood of dementia,” says Lipiat. “This can also help mental distress, loss of welfare, self -esteem and can subsequently lead to depression, anxiety and stress increased,” he said.
“We also know that social isolation can be related to the loss of the goal, which can be related to the low mood in which the group and the population are currently very common,” Anton adds.
How can the old generation create and maintain friendship?
“At a certain age there are significant moments that mean losing friendship,” says Lipiat. “For example, you may retire and often work, it is a space for people to meet and interact, or a heartfelt, which is part of the old age group. So keeping a friend you already have, whether online or in person, is important.
“Finding the hobbies you liked or being a novice for you is another good way to meet new people,” he said.
“There are also spaces in different societies for the elderly like Age UK, where there are many social activities around different entertainment or there are only spaces you can chat and coffee with someone, so there are chat and tea groups in the community, so it’s really a good idea to look at your local community,” Lipiatt says.
“If you are a religious, there is often a good way to meet people through the church. When you get older and may have lost your confidence and have tried new things, but the people who run them are very kind, open and welcome. If you are eager to do something, you may want a family or family.
“Look around and look at your neighborhood. Communicate with your neighbors because we have really lost it because of the epidemic. You are not completely alone and you are likely to meet someone with a similar experience with you.”
“I also want to remind people to normalize loneliness. This is one of the most common conditions in the younger generation as well. We are no longer set up as a community for friendship and I want people who may feel lonely so that they may not feel ashamed and not feel afraid to achieve.”
