By John Watters –
We’re social creatures by nature, and being connected to others is important to our well-being at any age. But as we get older, our interpersonal networks may shrink. We retire and lose touch with colleagues. Friends move away. Family relocate for careers or other reasons. We may feel less comfortable driving. The cumulative result is that we connect less.
Medical professionals agree that that’s not a good thing — mentally, emotionally and even physically. Social isolation has been documented to increase the risk of depression, heart disease and dementia, among other ailments.
Fortunately, as awareness of the problem has increased, so have solutions for staying engaged as we grow older.
Ongoing engagement and lifelong learning are at the heart of not-for-profit Road Scholar’s work, where we strive to help people find community and connection through our educational travel programs. Friendships are formed on these programs, and just as important, fresh perspectives about the world and its cultures impart a sense of belonging on a much larger scale. Many people also eagerly participate on our social media platforms. On Facebook alone, Road Scholar offers a general-interest group as well as groups for women, outdoors enthusiasts, retired teachers, caregivers, social justice advocates and more — all of them helping build community.
In addition, RoadScholar.org offers ‘Online Lectures’ and ‘Adventures Online’ that provide you with opportunities to learn from the comfort of home. This is especially valuable to those who can no longer travel — or choose not to — with an opportunity to explore the world from a laptop or tablet and to engage virtually with subject-matter experts and fellow participants.
And now there’s a way for you to engage online completely free of charge. Age Well is a series of free online lectures addressing topics far beyond Road Scholar’s traditional, travel-focused programming. The lectures explore myriad issues including health, nutrition, financial planning, lifestyle modifications, and changing family dynamics — factors that help determine the extent to which people flourish in the fourth age of life. People value and desire connection, and Road Scholar is honored to help provide solutions. So, if you’d like to explore open, honest conversations about aging that are uplifting, candid and grounded in wisdom rather than worry, you’re invited to visit www.roadscholar.org/collections/agewell to sign up for a free Age Well lecture today.
