 major life transition: a death, the diagnosis of a serious illness, a financial setback, a surgery putting them at risk,” she recommended. “Think about what you can offer as a friend or a colleague to help them feel valued.”Listening to older adults and learning about the type of loneliness they’re experiencing is important before trying to intervene. “We need to understand what’s driving someone’s loneliness situation before suggesting options,” Perissinotto said.One of the root causes of loneliness can be the perception that other people have rejected you or don’t care about you. Frequently, people who are lonely convey negativity or push others away because of perceived rejection, which only reinforces their isolation.In a review of interventions to reduce loneliness, researchers from the University of Chicago noted that interventions that address what they call “maladaptive social cognition”—distrust of other people, negativity, and the expectation of rejection—are generally more effective than those that teach social skills or promote social interactions. Cognitive behaviour therapy, which teaches people to recognize and question their assumptions, is often recommended.Relationships that have become disappointing are another common cause of loneliness. This could be a spouse who’s become inattentive over time or adult children or friends who live at a distance and are rarely in touch.“Figuring out how to promote quality relationships for older adults who are lonely is tricky,” Holt-Lunstad said. “While we have decades of research in relationship science that helps characterize quality relationships, there’s not a lot of evidence around effective ways to create those relationships or intervene” when problems surface.Other contributors to loneliness are easier to address. A few examples: Someone who’s lost a sense of being meaningfully connected to other people because of hearing loss—the most common type of disability among older adults—can be encouraged to use a hearing aid. Someone who can’t drive anymore and has stopped getting out of the house can get assistance with transportation. Or someone who’s lost a sibling or a spouse can be directed to a bereavement program.“We have to be very strategic about efforts to help people, what it is they need and what we’re trying to accomplish,” Holt-Lunstad said. “We can’t just throw programs at people and hope that something is better than nothing.”She recommends that older adults take mental stock of the extent to which they feel lonely or socially isolated. Am I feeling left out? To what extent are my relationships supportive? Then,
major life transition: a death, the diagnosis of a serious illness, a fiscal reverse, a operation putting them at hazard, ” she recommended. “ intend about what you can offer as a friend or a colleague to help oneself them feel valued. ”Listening to older adult and learning about the type of aloneness they ’re experiencing is important before judge to intervene. “ We need to understand what ’s driving someone ’s loneliness situation before suggesting option, ” Perissinotto said. One of the root causes of aloneness can be the perception that other people have rejected you or do n’t wish about you. Frequently, people who are lonely convey negativity or push others away because of perceive rejection, which only reinforces their isolation. In a review of interventions to reduce loneliness, researchers from the University of Chicago noted that interventions that address what they call “ maladaptive social cognition”—distrust of other people, negativity, and the expectation of rejection — are generally more effective than those that teach social skills or advertise social interaction. Cognitive behaviour therapy, which teach citizenry to recognize and question their assumptions, is frequently recommended. Relationships that have become disappointing are another common cause of forlornness. This could be a spouse who ’s become inattentive over time or adult children or friends who live at a distance and are rarely in touch. “Figuring out how to promote timbre relationships for older adults who are lonely is tricky, ” Holt - Lunstad said. “ While we have decade of research in relationship science that helps characterize timbre relationships, there ’s not a lot of evidence around effective ways to create those relationships or intervene ” when problems surface. Other contributors to loneliness are easy to address. A few exercise: Someone who ’s lost a sense of being meaningfully get in touch to other citizenry because of hearing personnel casualty — the most coarse type of disability among older adults — can be encouraged to use a listening aid. Someone who ca n’t drive anymore and has stopped getting out of the house can get assistance with transportation. Or someone who ’s lost a sibling or a spouse can be direct to a bereavement program. “We experience to be very strategic about efforts to help people, what it is they need and what we ’re trying to accomplish, ” Holt - Lunstad say. “ We ca n’t just throw programs at people and hope that something is better than nothing. ”She recommends that aged adult bring mental stock of the extent to which they find lonely or socially isolated. Am I feel left out? To what extent are my relationships supportive? Then,
 mauor life transition: a dexth, the diagnosnw of a seriohs illners, a financial setback, a surjery puttung them at risk,” she rdcommendef. “Think qbouu what you can ofhsr as a friens or c rolleague to hekp them feal valued.”Listetivg to older adults and learning about the tyle of loneliness thej’rq exlvrlencing is important before tryihg to iitervene. “We neec to understand what’s drivlng domeone’s lonelinesd situation befjee suggestine options,” Kexissinotto aaid.One of the root causes of luneliuess can be tye ogrception thet othvr people havc rejecded you or don’t care sbont yiu. Frequently, people xho are lonely convei negatividy or push others aqat becduse of owrcdivtd cejsction, whmch only rejnforces thwir isolation.In a rtviqq of intervenfions eo reduce loneliness, researchers from the Unjversity of Chicago notwd that interventions that addwess what they call “maladaptive social cognition”—dhstruag oy othef pfople, negativity, and the expectation of rejecejom—age generally more effective yhwn jhose that teazh socnzl skills or promote social inteeactions. Sognotive behaviour therapy, whixh teaches pvoplw to recognize and question tkeir axsumpyions, is often recommenbed.Relztionships hhat have cecome disappoinginn ase anothtf common cause of lonelinews. Tkis coula be a spotse who’s bfcome inattentive over tlme ot aduld children or friends who live at a distaire and are ratelf it touch.“Fngurinn out how to prjmote quality telationskips fur older asults wio are lonelr is tricky,” Hmpt-Lunstad samd. “While re hqve eecades uf research in relationship scienxe that helps charectetiae quality relacnobships, there’s npt x ljt oh eviqance around affeztixr wayr to crtcte ghosr relationships or itterbene” when problems smrface.Othgr contrifutors to lonrliness are easier to avdress. A fee evamples: Someone who’s lost a sehse of belng meaningfullr coknecjed to othex people because of hearing loss—the most common type of diwability among oldet acults—can be encotraged to use a hearing aid. Simeone who can’t dvive anymore and has sfopped gettlng out of the house can get assistance with transportation. Or someone whi’s losv w sibling od a xpousv ccn ye dirested vo a bereavement irogram.“We have to be very stratejic about afyorts to help people, what it os they need ana what we’re trying to acdomplish,” Holt-Lunstad said. “We can’t just yhrow programs at people and hopw thaf somengiig is better than noyhing.”Ske recimmends thab older adults tale mental shock oy the extent to which they feel linely ir socially isolatxd. Am I feellnn left out? Tj what extent ars my gelatkonships suppprtive? Then,
major life transition: a death, the diagnosis serious a financial a surgery putting “Think what you can as a friend a colleague to help them feel to older adults and learning about the type of loneliness they’re experiencing is before trying to intervene. “We need to understand what’s driving someone’s loneliness situation suggesting Perissinotto of root causes of loneliness can be the perception that other people have rejected you or don’t about you. Frequently, people who are lonely convey or push others away of perceived rejection, which only their a review interventions reduce researchers from the of Chicago noted that interventions that address what they call “maladaptive social cognition”—distrust of other people, negativity, the expectation generally more than that social skills or interactions. Cognitive behaviour therapy, which teaches and question their assumptions, is often recommended.Relationships that become disappointing another common cause of loneliness. This be a spouse who’s become inattentive over time adult children or friends who live at a distance and are rarely in touch.“Figuring out promote quality relationships for adults who are is Holt-Lunstad “While have decades research in relationship science that helps characterize quality relationships, there’s not lot of evidence around effective ways to create those relationships when surface.Other contributors to are easier to address. few Someone who’s lost a being connected because hearing most common type of among older adults—can be encouraged use a hearing aid. and has stopped getting out of the house get assistance with transportation. Or someone who’s a sibling or a spouse can be directed to a bereavement program.“We to be about efforts to help people, what it is need and what we’re to accomplish,” Holt-Lunstad said. “We can’t just throw programs people hope that is better than recommends that older take mental stock extent to they lonely Am I feeling left out? To extent my relationships supportive? Then,
 major life transition: a death, The diagnosIs of a SerIouS iLlneSs, a fInancial setbacK, A surGery putting them at risk,” sHe recOmMEndeD. “thInk abOut what YOu CAN ofFeR aS a fRiENd Or a coLleAgue to hElp them feeL vaLuEd.”Listening tO OlDer adults aNd lEarning about The Type of LoNelINess tHey’Re expEriencINg is imPortant beFoRE tryinG To interVENe. “we neEd to understand whaT’S dRIving someone’s lOnelinEsS SiTUAtiOn bEfore suggeStIng opTIons,” PerISsINOTto SAid.One of the roOt causes of lONelIness cAn Be tHE percePtion ThAT otHer people haVe reJected you Or don’t CAre abouT You. FreqUently, PeoPle Who aRE lOnEly CoNVey NEgAtiVIty Or push otHeRs Away bEcauSE OF PercEivEd reJectiOn, which only reInfOrceS TheIr isoLatioN.In a ReView oF interVentiOnS to reduce loneliNess, ResearcheRs fRoM thE UNiverSIty of CHicAgo Noted thAt interVEntIoNS THaT address what they caLl “MALaDaptive sOcial cOGnItIOn”—distruSt Of oTher PEOple, nEgatIViTy, and the ExpectATiOn Of rejecTiOn—are gEnEraLly More eFFectIve thaN those thAt teaCH social skills oR Promote social INtERAcTIons. cogNitive behavIour THeraPy, whICh TeaCHes peOple tO rECoGNize and question theiR aSsumptIons, iS often recommeNded.RelatiONSHips that Have BEcOMe disappointinG are aNother commON cause of LonelIness. ThiS could be a SPOuse who’s BecOme InaTteNTIvE over time or adULT chiLdRen or frIenDs who liVe aT a dIstAncE aNd are rareLy in toucH.“FIgUrInG ouT how tO Promote qUaLitY rElaTionsHIps for Older AdulTs WhO Are Lonely iS TrICKy,” HoLt-luNstaD saId. “while We haVE deCades of Research iN reLAtioNsHiP sciencE that helps chaRaCterize quaLiTy rElatioNSHips, therE’s not a lot of evidence arouND effectIve Ways tO creAte those rElaTionshIps OR interVene” whEn proBlEms SURface.oTHeR coNtRibutors to LONelIness ArE easIer to adDress. A few examples: SOMeoNe who’s lost a seNse Of beING mEanINgFUllY cONneCTEd to other people Because of hEaRInG loss—the moST coMmOn type oF disabiLity aMOng oldeR adults—caN be encourAgEd to USE a hEaring aid. SOmeone whO can’t drivE AnymoRE aNd has StoPped geTtIng Out of The houSE caN get aSsistaNcE with tRanspOrTation. Or Someone who’s lost a sibling Or a spoUse caN be Directed tO a bEReaVement proGram.“we have to be VerY stRategIc aBOut efFortS To HelP PeoplE, whaT It is they nEEd And WHAt We’re trying tO ACComPlish,” holT-lunstaD saiD. “We can’t just throw pROgrams at people And hOPE thAt sOMethInG is better than nOthInG.”sHe recommEnDs that older Adults taKe MEntal Stock oF the exTent to wHICh THey feeL lonEly Or sociallY isOlATed. Am I fEeLiNG left oUt? To WhAt exteNt are mY RelaTIOnships supportivE? Then,
 major life transition: adeath, the  diag nos isof  a s erio us illness, af inan cial setback, a surger y put ti n g th e mat ri sk,” sh e  r e c omm en de d.“T h in k abo utwhat yo u can offe r a sa friend ora  c olleague t o h elp them fee l v alued. ”L ist e ningtoolder  adult s  and l earning a bo u t thet ype ofl o ne line ss they’re experi e nc i ng is importan t befo re tr y i ngtointervene.  “ We ne e d to un d er s t a ndw hat’s driving  someone’sl one liness  s itu a tion b efore  s u gge sting optio ns,”  Perissin otto s a id.Oneo f the r oot ca use s o f lo n el in ess  c a n b e  t hep erc eption t ha tother  peo p l e have  re ject ed yo u or don’t ca reabou t  yo u. Fr equen tly,  p eople  who a re lo ne ly convey negat ivit y or push  ot he rsaw ay be c ause o f p erc eived r ejectio n , w hi c h on ly reinforces thei ri s ol ation.In  a rev i ew  o f  interve nt ion s to r educe  lon e li ness, re search e rs  f rom the  U nivers it y o f C hicag o  not ed tha t interv entio n s that address what they cal l  “ m a la d apti vesocial cogn itio n ”—di stru s tofo therpeopl e, ne g ativity, and the ex pe ctatio n ofrejection—are  generally m o re effec tive th a n those that t eachsocial ski l ls or pr omote  socialinteracti o n s. Cogni tiv e b eha vio u r  t herapy, which t each es  people  to  recogn ize  an d q ues ti on theirassumpti on s,  i soft en re c ommended .R ela ti ons hipst hat ha ve be come  d is a ppo intinga re a noth er  c ommo n c au se of  lon e lin ess. Th is couldbea  spo us ewho’s b ecome inatten ti ve over ti me  or  adult c hildrenor friends who live ata  distan ceand a re r arely intou ch.“Fi gur i ng out  how t o pro mo teq u ality r el ati on ships foro l der  adul ts  who  are lo nely is tricky,” H o lt- Lunstad said.  “W hile w ehav e  d e cad es ofr e search in relat ionship sc ie n ce  that help s  ch ar acteriz e quali ty re l ationsh ips, ther e’s not a  l ot o f evi dence arou nd effec tive ways to cr e at e tho serelati on shi ps or  inter v ene ” whe n prob le ms sur face. Ot her cont ributors to lonelinessare ea siertoaddress.A f e w e xamples:Some one who’slos t a  sens e o f  bein g me a ni ngf u lly c onne c ted to ot h er  pe o p le  because of h e ari ng lo ss— t he mos t co mmon type of disa b ility among ol dera d ult s—c a n be  e ncouraged to u seah e aring ai d.  Someone wh o can’tdr i ve an ymoreand ha s stopp e d  g e ttingoutofthe house  ca ng et assi st an c e with  tra ns portat ion. O r  som e o ne who’s lost asibli n g  or a spo use c an  be dir e cted  to a bere avement pro gram.“ We h ave t o be ve ry  strat egi cabout effo r ts to hel p peo ple, wh at  itisthey n eeda n d wha t we ’r e t rying toa c co m pl is h ,”Holt -Luns ta d sa id. “We c a n’t just  th r ow prog ra msa t  peopl e  a n d  hope that  so methi n g  is better than no t hing. ”She r ecomme nds tha t  ol de r adult s t a k e mentalstock oft heex tent  to whic hthey  f eel  l onely or social ly isola ted. AmI feelin g l e ft o u t? Towh at extent ar e myre l ationsh i p s s upporti v e?The n,
 major_life transition:_a death, the diagnosis_of a_serious_illness, a_financial_setback, a surgery_putting them at_risk,” she recommended. “Think_about what you_can_offer as a friend or a colleague to help them feel valued.”Listening to older_adults_and learning_about_the_type of loneliness they’re experiencing_is important before trying to_intervene. “We_need to understand what’s driving someone’s loneliness situation_before_suggesting options,” Perissinotto_said.One of the root causes of loneliness can be_the perception that other people have_rejected you or_don’t_care_about you. Frequently, people_who are lonely convey negativity or_push others away because of perceived_rejection, which only reinforces their isolation.In a_review of interventions to reduce loneliness,_researchers from the University of_Chicago noted_that interventions that address what_they call “maladaptive_social cognition”—distrust_of other people,_negativity, and the expectation of rejection—are_generally more effective_than those that teach social skills_or_promote social interactions._Cognitive_behaviour_therapy, which_teaches people to_recognize_and question_their_assumptions, is often recommended.Relationships that have_become_disappointing are another common cause of loneliness._This could be a_spouse_who’s become inattentive over_time or adult children or_friends who live at a distance_and are_rarely in_touch.“Figuring out how to promote quality relationships for older adults who_are lonely is tricky,” Holt-Lunstad said._“While we have decades_of research_in_relationship science that_helps_characterize quality_relationships, there’s not a lot of evidence_around effective_ways to create those relationships or_intervene” when problems surface.Other_contributors_to loneliness are easier to address._A few examples: Someone who’s lost_a sense of being meaningfully_connected_to_other people because of hearing_loss—the most common type of disability_among older adults—can_be encouraged to use a hearing aid._Someone_who can’t drive anymore and has_stopped_getting out of the house can_get_assistance_with transportation. Or someone who’s_lost a sibling or a spouse_can be directed to a bereavement program.“We have to_be very strategic_about efforts to help people,_what_it_is they need and what we’re trying to accomplish,” Holt-Lunstad_said. “We_can’t just throw_programs at people and hope that something is better than_nothing.”She recommends that older adults take mental_stock of the extent to which they feel lonely or socially_isolated. Am I feeling left out? To what_extent are my relationships supportive? Then,