more than younger people, and that having friends and being social can keep
seniors healthier, longer.
In the survey, 60 percent of adults surveyed said that having friends in their
neighborhood means a lot to them, with 64 percent of adults aged 50-54 saying
this was this case. For those 70 and over, this rose to 80 percent.
The survey found that 69 percent of people in the 50-54 age group agreed or strongly
agreed that they belonged to a neighborhood or communitiy. This rose to 84 percent for
those aged 70 and over.
"We know that feeling you belong in a neighborhood and having good friends can
have a positive effect on an older person's health and wellbeing," says Michelle
Mitchell, charity director general at senior-focused organization Age UK.
Age UK works to help keep older people stay active in their communities to help prevent
the isolation that can blight later life. "Good transport links, public seating
and toilets, safe and well-lit streets together with easy access to amenities such as
the post office or banks all make it easier for older people to get out and about and
stay visible and engaged within their communities," Mitchell adds.
Another separate study also found that having an active social life in mid-life is crucial to
feeling happy and connected. Published last August in the "Journal of
Epidemiology and Community Health," the UK study found a direct correlation
between psychological well-being and the size of a person's support network and
social life.
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