Council
Council for Older Adults www.growingolder.org
COMMUNICATOR Volume 22, Number 1
The Health Benefits of Friendship
Having friends can add years to your life, as well as life to your years likely to die during the study period than those with a smaller group of friends. And a 2008 Harvard University study shows, according to the Times article, that strong social ties could promote brain health as we age. Researchers behind a study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior agree that a “For the good times/And the bad times/ variety of brain stimulation is I’ll be on your side forevermore/That’s what friends are for.” needed to stay sharp, particThat’s What Friends Are For, Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager ularly as we age. The study in the Journal focused on a samJeff Robinson, Editor pling of nearly 1,700 adults age 60 and older, Council Communicator gathering data over a number of years. After These lyrics from the 1980s hit song are studying cognitive ability and memory acuity an ode to friendship and a reminder that among participants engaged in social activithe best of friends are there for our ups and ties, researchers concluded that social actividowns and all the days in between. And while ties may actually improve our health. the song doesn’t go into how friendships can An article published on the WebMD webbe good for our overall health, scientists are site refers to a 1989 paper written by David paying more attention to the positive effects Spiegel, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Stanof friendships and socializing as we age. ford University. The paper showed that womA New York Times article cites a recent Aus- en with breast cancer who participated in a tralian study that found that people with a support group lived twice as long as those... large circle of friends were 22 percent less FRIENDSHIP continues on page 22...
We provide choices for older people so they can live safely in their own homes and stay healthy as they age.
January/February 2014
COA Bus Bucks New program with DATA
The Council for Older Adults and Delaware Area Transit Agency (DATA) have introduced a plan to address the recent fare increases on DATA bus service. COA will fund two programs at DATA, providing Delaware County residents age 60 and older with two options for affordable transportation throughout the county. Thanks to a grant awarded to DATA by the Council Board of Directors, the first option takes advantage of DATA’s fixed route transportation, the most efficient and cost-effective way to travel on the bus service. Local seniors will be able to travel on fixed routes for just $0.50 per trip. The second option involves an agreement...
BUS BUCKS continues on page 24...