What makes people thrive? And, taken larger, what makes a community thrive? These are good questions that came my way recently and made me ponder.
Early studies of emotional development showed that if touch was withheld from control groups of baby monkeys, their development suffered greatly when compared with monkeys nurtured and touched by their mothers and humans. We are not monkeys. But we are humans, and our need for interaction has similar traits. Can you imagine life without your family, friends or other significant personas? Our ability to thrive requires our basic need for food, clothing and shelter, access to critical health care and meaningful interaction with people and the living world. These all are needs that continue from infancy to death.
Research has shown that throughout life, social connection remains key to one’s ability to thrive. The studies are countless. Per the National Institutes of Health: “Research has shown that older adults with an active lifestyle are less likely to develop certain disease. Participating in hobbies and other social activities may lower risk for developing some health problems, including dementia, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.”
Area Agency on Aging (AAA) has assisted thousands of adults aged 18 to 100 choosing to live at home with a severe disability. Figuring out how to adapt their situation to maintain connections and quality of life leaps to the top when listening to what’s important to them.
A January 2024 release from The Milbank Quarterly, a multidisciplinary journal of population health and health policy, focused on studies from the University of California on the overriding importance of social connection. The article, titled “Revising the Logic Model Behind Health Care’s Social Care Investments,” summarizes “recent evidence on how increased awareness of patients’ social conditions in the health care sector may influence health and health care utilization outcomes.”
Nurturing our spirit and resiliency is important. Locally, AAA has instituted behavioral health into its work with folks living at home, an important addition.
How does this translate to the broader community?
In 2019, Harvard Health Publishing’s “Journals of Gerontology” pointed out, “A strong social life has been linked with many health benefits, like less risk of depression and longer life span. But a new study suggests that interacting with a wide range of people may offer even greater benefits.”
Titled, “Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences,” the study ”found that older adults who interacted with people beyond their usual social circle of family and close friends were more likely to have higher levels of physical activity, greater positive moods and fewer negative feelings.”
A community that accepts and embraces the merit of interdependence among us and builds its infrastructure to foster social connection and purpose among all is critical.
You see this played out in the current Age-Friendly Community campaign of Area Agency on Aging. We seek to maximize vitality and independence through the lifespan and are creating infrastructure to make that happen. You see it in the Blue Zone studies of interdependent communities worldwide where people live to 100 and thrive. You saw it in the Strategic Leadership Council’s past Quality of Life messages to municipalities on how to plan for greater inclusion.
It’s important, and strong motivation to accept efforts at inclusion. Celebrating our individuality and strength of character is core. It includes recognizing latent prejudices that exist in regards to age, race, disability and other preconceived notions we might not even be aware of.
It means lifelong learning. It’s a good path forward.
Lynn Kellogg is former CEO of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.