How Connection and Community Support Healthy Aging

Social connection, relationships, and community are more important than you might think. Spending time with others makes most of us feel happy and like we belong. Not only do they make us feel good, but these interactions are essential to our mental and physical health.

The Harvard Study of Adult Development is an 80+ year old study (the longest longitudinal study of adults) that followed people from early adulthood through the rest of their lives. It found that strong relationships and community are especially important to health, happiness, and longevity. Strong connections can reduce loneliness, protect cognitive function, reduce stress, and ease the challenges of aging.

How can you support your current relationships and build new ones? Try joining a local group to connect with others over shared interests, or reach out to people you haven’t talked to in a while. Even talking to strangers during your daily errands can be good for your well‑being.