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Staying Connected

Keeping up with friendships and social connections — and making new ones — is important. They can help with the feelings of isolation and loneliness associated with depression. Staying busy and connecting with other people may also help protect you from depression. If you are finding it hard to connect, volunteering is another way to bring people into your life. Doing good can help you feel good about yourself. Physical activity also boosts your physical and mental health. Learn more about staying active in later life in our Staying Active section.

Additional Resources

Publications

Women's Mental Health — This special section of womenshealth.gov provides information on taking care of your mental health throughout the different stages of your life. It also links to information on mental health for men, girls, and people with a chronic illness or disability.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/mh/

Age Page: Getting Your Affairs in Order — This brochure discusses the steps you can take to prepare for the future. In addition, it includes information about important legal documents such as wills and trusts, advanced directives, power of attorney, and living wills.

http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/affairs.asp

Exercise for Older Adults — This publication discusses the benefits of exercise for older adults by using both written material and short instructional videos. It provides information on safety, different exercises and charting your progress.

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/exercise/toc.html

Girlfriends' Health and Safety Tips — You and your girlfriends can help keep each other on track to stay healthy — mentally and physically. This fact sheet has information about how you and your social circle can support each other through the good times and the bad.

http://www.cdc.gov/women/girlfriends/index.htm

Resource Directory for Older People — This site lists resources for many different areas of interest to the elderly.

http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/ResourceDirectory.htm

What's your aging IQ? — This booklet discusses what older people are concerned about, how they can get the most out of the rest of their lives, and what normal aging really is.

http://www.niapublications.org/tipsheets/agingiq.asp

Aging in the Know: Physical Activity (Copyright © FHA) — This publication explains what the health benefits of physical activity are, how much exercise you should do, and what the benefits of different activities are.

http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=11

Caring for Someone (Copyright © NHPCO) — This site on caregiving provides an introduction to caregiving and includes information on preparing your home and providing both physical and comfort care. It also discusses the importance of caring for yourself and explains what services are available to help caregivers.

http://www.caringinfo.org/CaringForSomeone.htm

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 5, 2009.