You may want to think twice the next time you’re “too busy” to visit your parents or grandparents.
New research has found that the more time you spend with your elders, the longer they will likely live.
A study by the University of California, San Francisco found that loneliness can lead to functional decline and a premature death.
The study, called “Loneliness in Older Persons,” followed 1,600 adults who had an average age of 71 years. It found that approximately 23 per cent of participants who reported being lonely died within six years of the study.
On the other hand, only 14 per cent of participants who said they had adequate companionship died within six years of the study.
No matter the state of their physical health, when it comes to quality of life in your golden years, maintaining close ties with friends and family members is a must – and something the younger generation needs to remember.
“The need we’ve had our entire lives – people who know us, value us, who bring us joy – that never goes away,” Barbara Moscowitz, senior geriatric social worker at Massachusetts General Hospital, told the New York Times.
You may want to make plans with your parents this weekend after all.
While you’re at it, you may also want to consider all the valuable insight that Grandma and Grandpa have to offer as well.
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