FOR YOUR HEALTH

FOR YOUR HEALTH FRIENDSHIP

helps keep us healthy through all our years

Having friends brings joy to our lives and strengthens our sense of purpose and belonging. Did you know that friendship also is good for our health?

In an interview for Prime Connections, Dr. Ali Brock,

Dr. Ali Brock Geriatrics Specialist geriatrics specialist at RiverStone Health Clinic and faculty member for the Montana Family Medicine Residency, explains why friendship and social connections are especially beneficial for older adults’ health.

Dr. Brock: Older adults who are socially connected and have strong friendships are shown to have an improved sense of well-being and happiness. Studies have also shown that social connections increase longevity in older adults, suggesting that maintaining social relationships can buffer health risk factors as people age.

What are common challenges for older adults who are trying to maintain social connections?

Dr. Brock: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge to maintaining social connections, particularly among older adults. Early on in the pandemic, Yellowstone County Health Officer John Felton said we should consider reframing social distancing as physical distancing, because the presence of six feet between people or avoiding large gatherings does not mean that we have to socially disconnect. There are ways to stay connected to those we love and have meaningful interactions over the phone, video chat, letters, or window visits. Vaccination and masking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as local public health guidance from RiverStone Health, have also made it much safer to have small gatherings and enjoy socializing again.

Many older adults who have hearing or vision loss feel particularly isolated. It can be hard to interact with others if you are unable to hear or see what is happening in the conversation. Many older adults with sensory impairments grow frustrated or ashamed. Please talk to your doctor if you or a loved one are experiencing vision loss or difficulty hearing. There are often medical interventions that can help with this.

What are the health effects of social isolation?

Dr. Brock: Social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increase in deaths from all causes among older adults. They also increase an individual’s risk for dementia, heart attack and stroke. Loneliness is associated with an increase in depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide.

As a physician, I consider these adverse effects of social isolation and loneliness. It is important for me to ask patients about loneliness and social support when working with them to manage their chronic illnesses. Social isolation and loneliness are what we call social determinants of health – much like economic instability or food insecurity. If we don’t address these factors, individuals and communities have poorer health outcomes as a result.

What advice do you give to your patients who feel lonely or socially isolated?

Dr. Brock: I encourage my patients to find ways to meaningfully connect with others in a way that feels most comfortable to them. Not all people want to play cards at a local senior center, and others may not enjoy volunteering with larger groups or organizations and

instead prefer small gatherings. Think about what kind of connection makes you feel valued and renewed, and then consider what kind of activities might meet that need. If you are stumped or needing help with brainstorming, talk to your family, friends or doctor. They may have ideas or suggestions you hadn’t considered.

Here are more connection tips adapted from National Institute on Aging report:

• Restart an old hobby or take a class to learn something new. You may meet new people who share your interest.

• Schedule time each day to stay in touch with family, friends and neighbors by email, social media, voice call, video chat or text.

• Stay physically active by joining a walking club or working out with a friend.

• Get involved with your church or synagogue or find a faith-based organization where you can deepen your spirituality and connect with others.

• Volunteer to help others, such as delivering Meals on Wheels for the

Yellowstone County Adult Resource

Alliance. The Meals on Wheels drivers sometimes are the only people the meal recipients see in their day. Volunteering can be rewarding for both the volunteer and those helped.

Reduce strokerisk and bleeding worry,for life.

Billings Clinic was the first health care organization in the region to offer the WATCHMAN device and is recognized nationally as a leader in providing the WATCHMAN procedure. Based on excellent outcomes and procedural success, Billings Clinic is the only health care organization in a multistate area to be selected as a site for a major national clinical study. This allows Billings Clinic to offer the next generation WATCHMAN device that is otherwise not available to other health care organizations.

WATCHMAN is for people who: • Have atrial fibrillation not caused by heart valve problems • Have been recommended to take blood thinning medicines by their doctor • Can take blood thinners but need an alternative to blood thinners because they have a history of bleeding or a lifestyle that puts them at risk for bleeding • Can take blood thinners, but want an alternative to blood thinners. We are currently enrolling patients in a clinic trial for this reason

For more information on the WATCHMAN trial, contact Tanja Sloan at 406-238-2004 or 800-332-7156 ext 2004 billingsclinic.com/watchman