>> NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH" AGING TOGETHER IN NEW YORK.

TONIGHT WE ARE MEETING WITH FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS HOW OLDER ADULTS CAN LIVE FULFILLING, HEALTHY AND CONNECTED LIVES.

>> WE ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS.

WE NEED THE SUPPORT AND THE INTERACTION WITH OTHERS TO MAKE US BE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HEALTHY.

♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M DR. RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: AGING TOGETHER IN NEW YORK.

IN NEW YORK STATE, THE OLDER ADULT POPULATION IS GROWING FASTER THAN ANY OTHER GROUP IN THE STATE.

MANY OF THESE OLDER ADULTS ARE FACING A SERIOUS PROBLEM: SOCIAL ISOLATION.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE (NASEM), MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF ADULTS AGED 45 AND -- I CAN SORT OF REMEMBER THAT-- AND OLDER FEEL LONELY AND NEARLY ONE FOWRTSD OF US AGED 65-- I CAN REMEMBER THAT-- PLUS ARE SOCIALLY ISOLATED.

LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION CAN BE EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF SENIORS.

TONIGHT, WE'RE MEETING WITH FOUR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS HOW OLDER ADULTS CAN LIVE FULFILLING, HEALTHY, AND CONNECTED LIVES.

THEY ARE Dr. SANDY TARS, SIGH COL JIFTD AND GERONTOLOGIST, NICOLE CHRISTINA, CREATOR AND HOST OF THE ZESTFUL AGING PODCAST.

LORI KLIVAK, DIRECTOR OF SENIOR SERVICES AT INTERFAITH WORKS, NYFRIEND AND FORMER CHEF ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH," MARGRIT DIEHL THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

DEFINE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND TELL US ABOUT THE COST OF IT.

>> SOCIAL ISOLATION IS JUST WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL CONNECTEDNESS WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND THE COST OF SOCIAL ISOLATION ARE EXTREME.

RECENT RESEARCH HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION CAN BE AS DAMAGING TO YOUR HEALTH AS OBESITY, AS SMOKING CIGARETTES, 50 IN A DAY, AS PHYSICAL INACTIVITY.

THE THINGS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL ISOLATION INCLUDE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH EFFECTS, A LACK OF GOOD IMMUNE RESPONSE SO THAT YOU CAN RESPOND AND RESIST INFECTIONS.

IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES.

SO THE RESULTS ARE BROAD.

AND, IN FACT, THERE IS A RECENT SPATE OF RESEARCH THAT INDICATES THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SOCIALLY ISOLATED ARE ANYWHERE FROM 60% TO 200% MORE LIKELY TO DIE PREMATURELY.

>> YIKES.

>> WE ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS.

WE NEED THE SUPPORT AND THE INTERACTION WITH OTHERS TO MAKE US BE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HEALTHY.

>> SO, NICOLE, PEOPLE COME INTO YOUR OFFICE AS A THERAPIST AND YOU DEAL WITH THIS?

>> I DO; ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE TRANSITIONING FROM PERHAPS THEY'RE RETIRING NOW.

THERE IS SOME EMPTY NEST GOING ON.

THERE MAY BE SOME REASSESSING OF MARRIAGE OR PARTNERSHIP.

THERE ARE A LOT OF HUGE TRANSITIONS AND PEOPLE WILL OFTEN COME IN AND SAY, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START.

WHAT DO I DO?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY NEXT STEP IS.

EVERYTHING IS KIND OF UPSIDE DOWN MUCH AND SO WE TALK ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT JOIN OTHER GROUPS, COMMUNITIES.

AND THEY'RE OFTEN A BIT RETICENT BECAUSE IT'S NEW.

AND IT'S A LITTLE SCARY TO GO INTO A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

>> SO I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT MYSELF.

BECAUSE I'M LIKE PERCOLATING ABOUT RETIRING-- I'M NOT READY TO DO IT YET, BUT I'M PERCOLATING.

IF I COME INTO YOUR OFFICE AND SAY I'M SCARED TO MAKE THIS LEAP, LIKE STOP MY JOB, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, EIGHT OR NINE HOURS A DAY, AND THEN GO INTO LIKE THE GREAT UNKNOWN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ME?

>> I SAY OF COURSE YOU ARE AFRAID BECAUSE IT'S ALL NEW AND I GIVE THEM AN EXAMPLE.

I JUST WENT AND I STARTED A NEW THING CALLED A POUND CLASS, WHERE YOU TAKE DRUM STICKS AND IT'S A...

I DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY.

>> I DO THAT, TOO.

>> YOU DO?

I KNEW IT WOULD BE FUN BUT I HAD TO KIND OF BE A LITTLE COURAGEOUS.

>> SO THERAPISTS GET SCARED?

WHOEVER THOUGHT THERAPISTS GET SCARED?

>> THAT'S A MYTH.

>> NO THERAPIST EVER GETS SCARED.

YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME OF YOUR OWN TREMULOUSNESS.

>> OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALL HUMAN.

AND NEW THINGS ARE SCARY.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN VALIDATE THAT, WHAT ARE THE LITTLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO DO IT ANYWAY.

>> SO TAKE LITTLE STEPS TO MOVE YOURSELF ALONG TO GET INVOLVED IN OTHER THINGS, SO LORI, YOUR ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF THE PLACES PEOPLE MIGHT CONTACT AND SAY HEY SH I WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY IN MY LIFE IN A BIGGER SOCIAL WAY.

WHAT DOES INTERFAITH WORKS DO?

WELL, INTERFAITH WORKS PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS REALLY FOCUS ON HELPING PEOPLE STAY SOCIALLY CONNECTED AS THEY AGE SO THAT THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE JOY AND AGE IN A HEALTHY WAY.

WE REALLY FOCUS ON SERVING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO ALL OF OUR SERVICES AND OUR PROGRAMS ARE FREE.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR OLDER NEW AMERICANS, AND OLDER REFUGEES SO THAT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE AND SOCIALIZE AND GET SERVICES IN THEIR PREFERRED OR FIRST LANGUAGES.

WE ALSO DO A LOT OF OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY TO BRING OUR PROGRAMS TO COMMUNITY SPACES WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION OR JUST THE ABILITY OR FEEL COMFORTABLE GETTING OUT OF THEIR HOMES SO WE GO TO A LOT OF SENIOR APARTMENT BUILDINGINGS AND PROVIDE SERVICES RIGHT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE.

>> WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS-- EXCUSE ME, WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE IN YOUR CATALOG, EVENTS, WHAT KINDS OF THINGS CAN PEOPLE DO?

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CALLED THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM AND THIS RECRUITS OLDER VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE AS IN-HOME COMPANIONS AND FRIENDLY VISITORS FOR OTHER OLDER ADULTS WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE SOCIAL NETWORKS THEY NEED.

>> OR THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF THE HOUSE OR DON'T HAVE A CAR.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEONE COMING TO VISIT THEM REGULARLY, HELP THEM GO THROUGH THEIR MAIL, GET SOMETHING HIGH OFF THE SHELF.

SO IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS TO VOLUNTEER AND HAVE A MEANINGFUL SOCIAL ACTIVITY AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

BUT ALSO PROVIDES THAT NECESSARY SERVICE AND SUPPORT THAT OTHER PEOPLE NEED OR RESPITE TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS.

WE HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS.

MANY NURSING HOME RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE ISOLATION AT VERY HIGH LEVELS.

IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 60% OF PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES DON'T HAVE VISITORS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND SO WE CONNECT VOLUNTEERS IN NURSING HOMES.

WE HAVE DIGITAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS SO OLDER ADULTS CAN LEARN TO USE TECHNOLOGY AND DO THE THINGS THEY WANT AND NEED TO DO IN OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS-- YOU KNOW, JUST TO JUMP IN ON THAT FOR A MOMENT.

I'VE SEEN SOME RESEARCH, SANDY IS BIG ON RESEARCH, SO AM I, THAT CONNECTING ON THE WEB LIKE ZOOM OR FACEBOOK OR FACETIME, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, ARE ALMOST AS GOOD IS CONNECTING IN PERSON; THAT THEY REALLY DO GIVE US JOY.

I HAVE FOUND THIS.

I HAVE A GRANDSON NOW, YAY!

WHO IS IN BESIDE.

HE IS A LONG WAY AWAY.

I WANT TO SEE I AM EVERY DAY.

I ONLY GET TO SEE HIM...

BUT THEY CONNECT WITH ME AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS JUST TO SEE HIM.

HE ACTUALLY RECOGNIZES ME.

I LOVE TO SEE HIM!

>> SO USING THE TECHNOLOGY HELPS TO SPARK JOY AND CREATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTION.

THERE IS ALSO SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO ONLINE NOW.

COVID PROPELLED THAT FORWARD.

BANKING, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO ONLINE OR, YOU KNOW, MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO GET YOUR BLOOD WORK DONE, YOU KNOW, SOME PLACES YOU HAVE TO DO THAT ONLINE.

ORDERING A COVID TEST OR, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO ONLINE.

>> YOU ARE GIVING PEOPLE BASIC SKILLS WHICH, YEAH I'M ALWAYS CALLING UP MY SONS AND SAYING HELP!

BUT HAVE YOU PEOPLE THERE THAT ACTUALLY DO THAT.

>> WE HAVE DIGITAL NAVIGATORS THAT WILL MEET WITH OLDER ADULTS ONE ON ONE.

>> HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE?

>> WE SAY OLDER ADULTS.

>> OKAY!

>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS, WHETHER I HEAR INTERFAITH, I THINK MAYBE YOU HAVE TO BE RELIGIOUS.

>> NO.

>> IT COULD BE ANYBODY.

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT-- EVEN SOMEBODY LIKE ME COULD GO?

>> INTERFAITH WORKS ISN'T A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, ALTHOUGH WE DO CONVENE THE DIVERSITY OF FAITH COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION TO BOTH SERVE AND HELP TO SERVE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REALLY ARE REACHING THE TRUE DIVERSITY AND BUILDING THOSE BRIDGES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO SHIFT NOW TO WATCHING A LITTLE VIDEO PACKAGE OF ANOTHER ORGANIZATION IN THIS THE COMMUNITY THAT KEEPS OLDER ADULTS CONNECTED AND ACTIVE.

UPSTATE OASAS.

IT'S DEDICATED TO ENRICHING THE LIVES OF SENIORS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS LIKE INTERFAITH WORKS AND CLASSES.

ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS IS THE OASAS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.

A GROUP OF STRING PLAYERS, INCLUDING MARGARET, WHO COME TOGETHER TO PLAY THE MUSIC THEY LOVE LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> MY NAME IS VICTOR AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE CONDUCTOR OF THE OASAS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.

I ENJOY WORKING WITH ALL AGES AND IN MY EXPERIENCE I'VE WORKED WITH ELEMENTARY, MID L SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND HERE WE CALL THIS LIFE LONG LEARNING AND I JUST ENJOY WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING IT FOR THE PASSION AND THE JOY OF DOING IT.

REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE.

AND THAT, TO ME, IS VERY INSPIRING.

>> UPSTATE OASAS IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH A PURPOSE TO SERVE OLDER ADULTS.

WE OFFER CLASSES FOR ADULTS 50 AND OLDER.

OUR CLASSES RANGE FROM TECHNOLOGY, EXERCISE, ARTS, LANGUAGES, HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION, WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

I GOT THE OASAS CATALOG AND I SAW THAT THEY WERE OFFERING THIS.

I THOUGHT WELL, I WONDER IF I'M GOOD ENOUGH STILL TO BE ABLE TO PLAY WITH A GROUP AND THIS HAS JUST BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.

I FIND THAT WE CEECH PEOPLE AND MUSIC IS-- WE TEACH PEOPLE AND MUSIC IS THE MEDIUM FOR TEACHING THE PEOPLE.

IT'S THE MUSIC THAT COME AND ENJOY IT AND THEY WANTED TO BE HERE.

THEY WANT TO BE HERE.

IT'S THE CAMARADERIE, IT BECOMES A FAMILY AND YES, WE HAVE A FEW LAUGHS.

BUT WE ALSO, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO WORK, WE WORK.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO INCLUDE IS TO HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION WHERE WE REHEARSE IN HERE, BUT AT THE END OF THE SESSION, WHICH IS THE 12th WEEK, WE GO UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR AMPHITHEATER OF THIS WONDERFUL BUILDING AND WE GIVE A GOOD 20, 30 MINUTE CONCERT DIS L. SO ONE OF THE MINGLES OF UPSTATE OASAS IS THE INTERACTION IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HELP PROVIDE THROUGH OUR CLASSES AND THROUGH VOLUNTEERING.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO NOT FEEL ALONE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO FEEL THAT WAY SOMETIMES.

SO WE WANT THIS TO BE A WELCOMING SPACE FOR ANYBODY JUST TO BE AMONG OTHER PEOPLE, MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

>> THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE I'VE MET AND JUST THE JOY OF GETTING TOGETHER.

A GROUP OF US, ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT OF US MEET ANOTHER DAY IN THE WEEK TO GO OVER THE MUSIC AND IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE REFER TO MUSICIANS WHO PLAY IN COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS AS AMATEURS VERSUS PROFESSIONAL.

BUT IN MY CAREER, HAVE I MET MANY AMATEURS WHO PLAY AS GOOD AS A PROFESSIONAL.

BUT I WILL ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THE WORD AMATEUR IS BASED ON THE LATIN WORD WHICH MEANS TO LOVE AND AMATEUR LOVES WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND THAT'S WHY THESE PEOPLE COME BACK.

THESE MUSICIANS, COMMUNITY MISSIONS OR OASAS, THEY COME BACK PLAYING THIS MUSIC AND THEY LOVE BEING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY TO CREATE THE MUSIC TOGETHER.

>> JUST WONDERFUL.

IT'S SUCH A JOY.

YES, MUSIC IS A GREAT GIFT.

♪ ♪ >> WHAT A GREAT GROUP, YOU FOLKS REALLY DO A GREAT JOB.

I SAID BEFORE, YOU ARE A SOCIALIZER EXTRAORDINARY.

YOU NOT ONLY ARE VERY ACTIVE, YOU PLAY MUSIC.

YOU WERE THE CHEF ON OUR SHOW.

HERE YOU ARE ON OUR SHOW AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, JUST SO-- >> I KNOW YOU ARE A WORKING WOMAN, YES, AND YOU WERE A MOM.

>> RIGHT.

>> HOW DID YOU MANAGE THAT TRANSITION INTO RETIREMENT?

>> WELL, I ALWAYS LOVED TO HAVE FRIENDS OVER.

I LOVE TO COOK, SO THAT'S A REAL BIG THING.

AND I USED TO THINK THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE YOUR HOUSE ALL CLEANED UP AND EVERYTHING PERFECT AND SO THAT'S WHY I WAS BROUGHT UP.

BUT I REALIZE I COULDN'T DO THAT BUT I STILL WANTED TO ENTERTAIN.

SO I JUST MOVED MY JUNK ASIDE AND MAYBE MADE A SOUP AND BOUGHT SOME BREAD AND INVITED SOME FRIENDS OVER.

AND USUALLY WE END UP IN THE KITCHEN WHERE I'M STILL DOING STUFF.

AND WE TALK AND HAVE WINE AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

>> SO YOUR MANTRA, AS I REMEMBER IS MAKE SOUP, BUY BREAD, LET'S PARTY.

RIGHT?

AND SANDY, GO.

>> WELL, I WAS JUST THINKING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO INVITE PEOPLE INTO YOUR HOUSE AND HAVE A PARTY.

YOU CAN JUST SEIZE ON NATURAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES WHEN YOU ARE MEETING NEW PEOPLE.

SO, RICH, AS YOU KNOW, I'M INVOLVED IN A WALKING GROUP THROUGH THE YMCA AND WE WALK TWO MORNINGS A WEEK AND VERY OFTEN AFTERWARDS, WE'LL GO SOMEPLACE AND HAVE COFFEE.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S A WAY TO-- THERE IS A GROUP OF US GOING, YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE BETTER.

OR IF YOU'VE BEEN IN AN EXERCISE CLASS, YOU ARE OUT VOLUNTEERING, MEET SOMEONE NEW, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET TO KNOW BETTER, YOU WANT TO GO FOR A CUP OF COFFEE OR YOU WANT TO GO FOR LUNCH, AND IT'S A NEUTRAL SETTING.

IF THEY SAY NO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'RE BUSY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

>> MARGARET EXPL.

THAT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO MEET PEOPLE AND TO BE ABLE TO SOCIALIZE BY TAKING THE COURSES, THIS FILM COURSE I TOOK AT OASAS, WE WOULD GO AFTERWARDS AND HAVE MAYBE LUNCH AND HAVE DISCUSS THE FILMS AND THE DIFFERENT NETWORKING YOU DO WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE YOU MEET, THAT ALSO BUILDS UP A SUPPORT SYSTEM; A NETWORK OF PEOPLE.

AND SOME PEOPLE YOU GET MORE FRIENDLY WITH.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE JUST, THAT'S ONCE A WEEK COFFEE AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING, TO MAKE THAT INITIATIVE.

>> WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW ABOUT DOG WALKING AND HOW THAT CAN BE A VERY BONDED GROUP AS WELL.

AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE-- I THINK WILL YOU BACK ME UP WITH THE RESEARCH, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DEEP, DEEP FRIENDSHIPS ALL THE TIME.

>> RIGHT.

>> SOME OF IT CAN BE QUITE INFORMAL AND SAYING HI TO YOUR MAIL CARRIER OR KNOWING THE NAME OF THE DOG WALKER'S DOG.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ALWAYS THIS DEEP INTENSE INTIMATE CONNECTION.

IT REALLY IS ABOUT SEEING EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING SOME CONNECTION.

>> RIGHT.

AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT INTERESTS, WHETHER IT'S THE BOOK CLUB OR YOU ARE WALKING PARTNERS OR YOUR STRING ENSEMBLE BUDDIES.

>> AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF CONNECTION.

SO WHEN I HAD MY KNEE SURGERY, I COULDN'T GO AND HANG OUT WITH MY EXERCISE BUDDIES ANYMORE.

BUT I COULD GO TO MY BOOK CLUB AND PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT MY FAITH ORGANIZATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING THOSE, THAT VARIETY IS REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE WHEN YOU CAN'T DO ONE, YOU CAN CONNECT WITH ANOTHER.

>> DIVERSIFY.

>> LIKE YOUR PORTFOLIO.

>> EXACTLY.

>> DIVERSIFY YOUR SOCIALIZING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I THINK THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO PLAY IN THIS, TOO.

IT'S NOT JUST UP TO PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER AND MIGHT BE FACING ISOLATION.

I THINK THERE ARE THINGS, IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A FAITH COMMUNITY, REACH OUT TO THE FADES LEADER OR A MINISTER AND SAY WHO HASN'T BEEN COMING TO SERVICES RECENTLY AND COULD I CALL THAT PERSON AND OFFER THEM A RIDE OR ENCOURAGE THEM.

FIND OUT WHO YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE AND CHECK IN, JUST BE FRIENDLY TOWARD THEM AND LET THEM KNOW IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, OR IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM IN A WHILE, CHECK IN ON THEM.

IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY NEED BECAUSE WE NEED OLDER ADULTS TO STAY ACTIVE AND OLDER ADULTS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE VOLUNTEERING, RIGHT?

AND OLDER ADULTS HAVE A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCES TO CONTRIBUTE.

SO WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REACH OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS, TO OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND PROACTIVELY INITIATE CONVERSATIONS OR OFFER SUPPORT TO HELP EVERYONE AGE WELL TOGETHER.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT?

WHAT ABOUT IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS REALLY ISOLATED, WHO DOESN'T-- WHAT DO DO YOU?

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

HOW DO YOU GET ACROSS THAT-- >> COMMUNICATION PERSPECTIVE OR RESOURCES?

>> WELL, EITHER ONE.

>> I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT TO YOU ALL TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE THAT BETTER.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DEFINITELY RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE OFFICE FOR AGING.

EVERY COUNTY HAS AN OFFICE FOR AGING IN NEW YORK STATE HAS SOME GREAT STATEWIDE RESOURCES THROUGH NEW YORK CONNECTS THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REACH OUT TO THEIR OFFICE FOR AGING FIRST TO FIND OUT MORE AND GET CONNECTED WITH PLACES LIKE INTERFAITH WORKS BUT COMMUNICATING IT AND SELLING IT, I THINK IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAT YOU ALL MIGHT BE BETTER OFF.

>> I'M GOING TO HAND THAT TO SANDY.

>> SANDY?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR, IF YOU'VE GOT A RELATIVE OR A FRIEND THAT YOU'VE NOTICED ISN'T COMING TO THINGS ANYMORE, SEEMS TO BE BECOMING ISOLATED, YOU MIGHT GIVE A LITTLE THOUGHT BEFORE TO WHY MIGHT THAT BE.

MIGHT BE THAT THEIR SPOUSE RECENTLY DIED AND THEY HAVE BEEN CARE TAKING FOR YEARS AND THEY'VE KIND OF LOST TOUCH WITH PEOPLE.

>> A MAJOR LIFE TRANSITION CAN ACCOUNT... >> YOU TALKED ABOUT HEARING AND, YEAH.

>> YES, SENSORY IMPAIRMENTS.

PEOPLE WITHDRAW OFTEN WHEN THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE HEARING.

DEPRESSION.

THAT COMES ALONG WITH SOME OF THE LIFE TRANSITIONS BUT CAN COME FROM SOCIAL ISOLATION AS WELL.

SO I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP.

HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION WITH THE PERSON.

HEY, I'VE NOTICED YOU ARE NOT GETTING OUT AS MUCH AS YOU USED TO.

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP WITH THAT?

OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON?

AND TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN BE BEGIN TO DRAW THEM OUT.

AND DON'T GIVE UP AFTER ONE TRY.

I THINK THE OTHER THING IS TO TAKE SOME ACTION STEPS WITH THEM.

CAN I GIVE YOU A RIDE TO CHURCH?

CAN I GIVE YOU A RIDE TO THE SENIOR CENTER SO YOU CAN HAVE LUNCH?

>> TRANSPORTATION MIGHT BE A SOMEONE OR SOMETHING GETTING IN THE WAY.

>> A VARIETY OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT MIGHT BE ANXIETY.

I KNOW MYSELF, IF I'VE BEEN OUT OF SOMETHING FOR A WHILE, I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS BEFORE I GO BACK.

>> SURE.

>> AND SO ESPECIALLY AS A FRIEND, YOU CAN SAY WHY DON'T WE GO DO THIS TOGETHER?

>> COMPANIONSHIP.

THAT YOU WILL GO TOGETHER, NOT ALONE.

>> AND PREVENTION, IN A WAY, YOU WERE TALKING BEFORE ABOUT PREVENTING GETTING INTO THAT-- WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE ABOUT PREVENTING GETTING SOCIALLY ISOLATED.

>> IN TERMS OF PREVENTION, AS YOU ARE RETIRING OR GOING THROUGH ANY TRANSITION, THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE.

AND PART OF THAT IS REACHING OUT YOURSELF.

BEING WILLING TO ACCEPT HELP.

AS A FRIEND OR A FAMILY MEMBER, JUST NOTICING WHEN PEOPLE AREN'T THERE AND REACHING OUT.

TELEPHONE IS GOOD.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS GO AND VISIT.

>> AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO AGE PROACTIVELY.

THERE IS REALLY NO OTHER LIFE STAGE THAT WE WOULDN'T GO INTO WITHOUT KNOWING THE PLAN, RIGHT?

>> SO MAKE A PLAN.

>> WHEN WE HAVE CHILDREN, WE FIGURE OUT WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILD, RIGHT?

WHAT SCHOOL ARE THEY GOING TO GO TO?

IS OUR HOUSE THE RIGHT KIND OF HOUSE FOR HAVING KIDS?

ARE WE LIVING...

BUT VERY FEW OF US, BECAUSE WE LIVE IN AN AGEIST SOCIETY WHERE WE DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS GOING TO BE LIKE WHEN I'M OLDER, WE DON'T HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS.

>> WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE JUST HEARD ABOUT GEEZER HAPPY HOUR.

30 SECONDS.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A GUEST OF MINE, HE IS AN ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AND HE HAS ORGANIZED-- HE IS 72 YEARS OLD AND HE ORGANIZED PLAYING MUSIC, MOSTLY ROCK & ROLL, OLD STYLE ROCK AND ROLL AND DANCING.

>> THE MUSIC WE HAD AS KIDS.

>> EXACTLY.

AND THEY HAVE A BLAST.

>> GEEZER HAPPY HOUR.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE OVER 60 AND IT ENDS AT 9:00 SO EVERYONE CAN GO HOME AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

>> WELL, IN THE SPIRIT OF GEEZER HAPPY HOUR, LET'S DANCE.

HOW ABOUT WE ALL JUMP UP AND DANCE FOR A SECOND.

HERE WE GO!

MUSIC, PLEASE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS... SANDY TARS PSYCHOLOGIST AND GERONTOLOGIST.

NICOLE CHRISTINA, CREATOR AND HOST OF THE ZESTFUL AGING PODCAST LORI KLIVAK, DIRECTOR OF SENIOR SERVICES AT INTERFAITH WORKS, AND MY FRIEND AND FORMER CHEF ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH," MARGRIT DIEHL SOCIALIZER EXTRAORDINARY EXTOWARD NARE MUCH FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON AGING TOGETHER IN NY, PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITES ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF OUR PROGRAM, OR WATCH OUR WEB SERIES CHECKUP FROM OUR NECK UP, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEALTH.

FOR CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M PSYCHOLOGIST DR. RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE Dr. SANDY TARS ON OUR COMPANION RADIO SHOW WITH AN EPISODE COMING UP.

NEXT WEEK ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH,."

>> ATTORNEY'S TOPIC, PSYCHO THERAPY.

HAVE YOU EVER SEARCHED FOR A THERAPIST ONLY TO FIND ALPHABET SOUP FOR THEIR SPECIALTIYS.

CBD, ISD, WHAT DO THEY ALL MEAN?

TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY THREE PANELISTS WHO WILL EXPLAIN WHAT ALL OF THESE ACRONYMS STAND FOR.

>> THERE ARE SOME ELEMENTS THAT CUT ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THERAPIES SO WE CALL THESE THE COMMON FACTORS BECAUSE THEY'RE COMMON TO ALL GOOD THERAPY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪