A Podcast by a 90 Year-Olds for Everyone-Loneliness in Seniors

From My CNN Readings this Week A podcast by 90-year-olds, for everyone

Alberto Chab was sick of feeling alone. Chab, a 97-year-old doctor from Argentina, felt cut  off from people his own age and misunderstood by the young people in his life. So, in a  TikTok plea shared by his granddaughter, Chab encouraged people his age to get in touch and share their stories.   Nonagenarians from across Latin America heard him. He received 1,500 emails in return  from seniors who related to his loneliness.   Emails turned into in-person meetings, which turned into a popular podcast —“90 and  Counting.” With the help of Gen Z journalist Guadalupe Camurati, Chab gathered a rotating  cast of 10 people in their 90s with whom he discusses topics related to aging and thriving.  From learning to tango to connecting with younger generations, Chab and his costars  share what’s on their minds in hopes that 90-year-old listeners will relate — and younger  listeners will better understand older family members.  “There was a very real need for  people, for seniors, to get together and talk to each other,” Chab told CNN.  This news from CNN reminded me of a recent article on the difference between loneliness and social isolation as follows: What is the difference between loneliness and social isolation? The number of older adults age 65 and older is growing, and many are socially isolated and regularly feel lonely.  Loneliness and social isolation are different, but related. Loneliness is the distressing feeling of being alone or separated. Social isolation is the lack of social contacts and having few people to interact with regularly. You can live alone and not feel lonely or socially isolated, and you can feel lonely while being with other people. Older adults are at higher risk for social isolation and loneliness due to changes in health and social connections that can come with growing older, hearing, vision, and memory loss, disability, trouble getting around, and/or the loss of family and friends. How can feeling lonely or being isolated affect older adults’ health? People who are socially isolated or lonely are more likely to be admitted to the emergency room or to a  nursing home. Social isolation and loneliness also are associated with higher risks for: Spread the word about social isolation View the Social Isolation and Loneliness Outreach Toolkitfor social media images and posts, animated graphics (GIFs), educational materials, and more. High blood pressure Heart disease Obesity Weakened immune function Anxiety Depression Cognitive decline Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease Death People who are lonely or socially isolated may get too little exercise, drink too much alcohol, smoke, and sleep poorly, which can further increase the risk of serious health conditions. People who are lonely experience emotional pain. Losing a sense of connection and community can  change the way a person sees the world. Someone experiencing chronic loneliness may feel threatened  and mistrustful of others. Emotional pain can activate the same stress responses in the body as physical pain. When this goes on  for a long time, it can lead to chronic inflammation (overactive or prolonged release of factors that can  damage tissues) and reduced immunity (ability to fight off disease). This raises your risk of chronic  diseases and can leave a person more vulnerable to some infectious diseases. Social isolation and loneliness may also be bad for brain health. These have been linked to poorer  cognitive function and higher risk for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Also, too little social  activity and being alone often may make it more difficult to perform everyday tasks such as driving,  paying bills, taking medicine, and cooking. For Details visit: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/loneliness-and-social-isolation/loneliness-and-social-isolation-tips-staying-connected Meanwhile, here's an episode in the TV Show, Survivor that also Made Me Cry  A moment of comfort stops ‘Survivor’( From CNN News) “Survivor” can be as cutthroat as its title suggests. But this week, the drama stopped when a contestant paused to comfort a competitor on another team. Contestant Eva, shortly after winning a critical immunity challenge, started to become visibly uncomfortable. She was sobbing, struggling to breathe and squeezing her body — symptoms that her competitor Joe noticed as signs of overstimulation.  Eva disclosed to Joe earlier this season that she has autism and can become “ungrounded” in certain situations where she feels out of control. Host Jeff Probst gave the OK for Joe to approach Eva with a hug, and she collapsed into his arms.  Their interaction was brief but significant: Joe encouraged Eva to breathe deeply and slowly, holding her tightly as she regained composure. She asked him to squeeze her hands as they touched foreheads.   “You’re in a safe place,” he told her. The heartfelt exchange brought Probst and several contestants to tears.  “That’s beyond this game,” Eva told the tribe. “We’re on different teams, but he was willing to make sure that I’m OK.”  Lastly, Did you know that..... The terno, the Philippines' national dress, has evolved significantly through centuries of history! Pre-colonial roots – Early Filipinas wore baro, saya, and tapis, which the Spanish layered and reconfigured to reflect their modesty standards. Mestiza dress – The traje de mestiza (often called the "Maria Clara") emerged, featuring long sleeves, a pañuelo, and intricate embroidery. Modern reinvention – Today, the terno lives on in Filipiniana fashion, with designers keeping its iconic butterfly sleeves while reimagining it for the contemporary era. The terno’s evolution reflects the resilience and artistry of Filipino culture—merging tradition with modern style.