Episode Number
149
Episode Show Notes / Description
As life changes, our social circles can change too, but staying connected is an important part of healthy aging.
Transcript
Good morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with University of Illinois Extension.
As we continue celebrating Healthy Aging Month, let’s explore the importance of staying socially connected.
As life changes through job transitions, retirement, moving, or health challenges, our social circles often change as well. While these transitions are a normal part of life, maintaining meaningful relationships is essential for healthy aging.
Strong social connections benefit both physical and mental health. Supportive relationships encourage healthy habits like eating nutritious foods, staying physically active, and getting quality sleep. Spending time with people you enjoy can also help reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels, while supporting healthy blood pressure and reducing inflammation.
The good news is it’s never too late to build new friendships.
Start by making time to connect with family and friends through a phone call, text message, video chat, or an in-person visit.
You can also join a walking group, fitness class, volunteer organization, book club, or hobby group to meet people who share your interests. Shared activities create natural opportunities for conversation and lasting friendships. Better yet, invite a friend to join you for a walk, a community event, or a new class.
Healthy relationships are just as important as healthy eating and regular physical activity. This Healthy Aging Month, make social connection a priority. Reach out to someone today, strengthen an existing relationship, or take the first step toward building a new one.
Thank you for listening! I hope you have a happy and healthy day ahead. Content for this episode was provided by, Diane Reinhold, food and nutrition educator for University of Illinois Extension.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html 07/02/2026
As we continue celebrating Healthy Aging Month, let’s explore the importance of staying socially connected.
As life changes through job transitions, retirement, moving, or health challenges, our social circles often change as well. While these transitions are a normal part of life, maintaining meaningful relationships is essential for healthy aging.
Strong social connections benefit both physical and mental health. Supportive relationships encourage healthy habits like eating nutritious foods, staying physically active, and getting quality sleep. Spending time with people you enjoy can also help reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels, while supporting healthy blood pressure and reducing inflammation.
The good news is it’s never too late to build new friendships.
Start by making time to connect with family and friends through a phone call, text message, video chat, or an in-person visit.
You can also join a walking group, fitness class, volunteer organization, book club, or hobby group to meet people who share your interests. Shared activities create natural opportunities for conversation and lasting friendships. Better yet, invite a friend to join you for a walk, a community event, or a new class.
Healthy relationships are just as important as healthy eating and regular physical activity. This Healthy Aging Month, make social connection a priority. Reach out to someone today, strengthen an existing relationship, or take the first step toward building a new one.
Thank you for listening! I hope you have a happy and healthy day ahead. Content for this episode was provided by, Diane Reinhold, food and nutrition educator for University of Illinois Extension.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html 07/02/2026