Meeting up with friends at the Center isn’t just energizing and entertaining; it can help you remember things.


No man is an island, or so John Donne wrote in 1624. A 2008 Harvard study backs him up with findings that strong social ties, through friends, family and community groups, can preserve brain health as we age and that social isolation may be an im- portant risk factor for cognitive decline in the elderly.


“We know from previous studies that people with many social ties have lower mortality rates. We now have mounting evidence that strong social networks can help to prevent declines in memory, “ researchers wrote.


The protective effect of social engage- ment doesn’t depend upon a specific type of relationship. “There are lots of relationships that are substitutable,” according to Harvard’s Dr. Lisa Berkman. “You don’t have to have friends if you have family. If you don’t have family but you have friends, that’s good. If you vol- unteer in civic organizations, that can substitute. People just have to have some breadth and diversity in the kinds of networks and ties they have in a community.”


Jeremy Lambert with Adopted Grandparent Al Highsmith


It’s important for family caregivers not to confuse social support with social engagement. “Having someone to count on [for visits or groceries] is not what we’re measuring. It’s not about support, it’s about being completely engaged and participating in our society.” This type of engagement is a key compo- nent of the Center’s mission.


Senior Center trips, social events, and programs encourage life-affirming social interaction.


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