Jul 16 2023 43 mins
We hear that you need a Village to raise a child but that is also true for people of any age.
Studies indicate that 1 in 5 Americans always or often feel lonely or socially isolated, and the adverse effects of loneliness reportedly become more debilitating the older we get. According to Caregiver Resources, there has been an upward trend in elderly isolation in the past 5 years; the ramifications include cognitive decline, depression, and immune deficiency.
Lost in seclusion, older folks—especially those who have lost a spouse, live alone, or suffer from declining mobility—seem to be having trouble connecting again. Without directions, many cannot seem to find their way back to their “village.”
Where are the directions to the village?! Where is the instruction manual?!
In this episode of the Women Living Well After 50 Podcast, my guest is Florence Ann Romano, a personal growth strategist and author of Build Your Village: A Guide to Finding Joy & Community in Every Stage of Life.
During the interview we discussed:
· The importance of a village for older folks experiencing isolation—a support system for our physical, mental, and emotional health.
· Redefining your village after the loss of a spouse.
· The 6 types of villagers needed for a fully functioning village—their qualities and characteristics.
· How to identify potential villagers & senior-friendly connection ideas.
· Being part of a village is as much give as take. How to foster the villager qualities within yourself.
· The importance of a primary as well as a secondary village, and the overlap between the two.
Website: www.FlorenceAnn.com
Sue Loncaric
Women Living Well After 50
Email: [email protected]
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