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Participate in National Good Neighbor Day
n4a is joining the AARP Foundation's Connect2Affect initiative in celebrating National Good Neighbor Day, which will take place on Friday, September 28. The day will kick off a weekend of activities to encourage communities around the country to say “Hello” and reconnect with their neighbors—particularly older adults living in the community.
Connecting on Good Neighbor Day and every day is about more than goodwill; it's about good health. Research shows that the effects of long-term isolation and loneliness, particularly in adults older than age 50, are worse for health than smoking or obesity. Higher blood pressure, increased susceptibility to the flu and other infectious diseases, greater risk of heart disease, earlier onset of dementia—are linked to social isolation. Older adults who struggle financially are at an even greater risk of isolation, and thus are more vulnerable to its negative effects.
This helpful video describes ways communities can participate in National Good Neighbor Day. For more information, tools and resources, visit connect2affect.org/GoodNeighborDay. To participate in National Good Neighbor Day on social media, use #goodneighborday2018 as the hashtag.