Advertisement
Home Lifestyle Parenting

New study says the more time you spend with older relatives, the longer they’ll live

Looks like our New Year’s resolution is going to be 'spend more time with the family!'

When it comes to quality of life in old age, having close connections is a must.

Advertisement

In fact, researchers have found inviting your elder relatives over could actually extend their lives. The study “Loneliness in Older Persons” by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco followed 1,600 adults with an average age of 71.

Despite controlling socioeconomic status and health, the lonelier participants had lower mortality rates.

Nearly 23% of lonely participants died within 6 years of the study, as opposed to 14% of those that reported adequate companionship.

“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, explained to The New York Times.

Advertisement

Apparently elderly people place greater value in these connections than their children or grandchildren do.

Well, we think it’s a great excuse to get the family round!

Related stories


Unwind and relax with your favourite magazine!

Huge savings plus FREE home delivery

Advertisement
Advertisement