Published on May 01, 2024
Healthy Tips Video: Creating Connections
Video Transcript
Everyone needs social interaction to survive and thrive. As we get older, we tend to spend more time alone. And being alone for older adults tends to leave them vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation.
Each year, the Administration for Community Living declares "May is Older Americans Month". This year, the theme for "Older Americans" month is powered by connections, recognizing that it's important for older adults to stay connected. In fact, studies show that the more isolated you are, you tend to have more health problems like heart disease, depression, cognitive decline. And so we want to talk about a few things that are simple, that you can do to stay connected.
I'm Melinda Cornell and I'm the Manager of Volunteer Services and Connections for Owensboro Health. Just a few simple things that you can do to stay connected is visit often with family and friends, go out to eat with friends, invite them over for a card game, or just to sit and talk, join a health club, like the fitness center. You can join your local senior center. You can travel, see the world. There are a lot of possibilities out there to prevent spending time alone.
You could even join Owensboro Health's Connections Program, which wants to help you better your health by staying active through education, socialization, fitness, and travel. If you would like more information on the Connections Program, you can call 270-688-4855 and we'll be happy to send you information.
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.