The Live Long Podcast

Oct 22, 2018

Making new friends as we get older

About this episode

Maureen Feldman runs the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s (MPTF) Social Isolation Impact Project. The program brings together volunteers and entertainment veterans who are in need of some company. It may come as a surprise, but even in Hollywood, loneliness is at chronic levels amongst older adults. The project is working to unite isolated senior citizens with younger, like-minded professionals through its Daily Call Sheet. The service helps older film industry members make new friends. In this LLAMA podcast interview with Peter Bowes, Maureen explains why most of us are ignoring a vital pillar of healthy aging; how we should focus on social connections early in life, to avoid loneliness in old age; and what the MPTF is doing to make sure the oldest members of society are never without friends.

Connect with Maureen and the MPTF’s Social Isolation Impact Project: Website | The Daily Call Sheet | email | LinkedIn

In the episode we cover:

  • Why people in high pressure, demanding jobs, such as in the entertainment industry, often find themselves lonely and isolated in old age.
  • Why looking after ourselves physically, sleeping enough and preparing financially for our retirement, is not enough.
  • How older people can suddenly feel isolated in the home they have lived in for decades.
  • How growing to a great age and outliving our friends is a recipe for acute loneliness.
  • Why intergenerational programs are so valuable to reduce social isolation.
  • It is never too late to make new friends.
  • How the MPTF’s Daily Call Sheet is helping the aging Hollywood community find new meaning in their lives.
  • How volunteers are teaching older adults to use mobile technology to help them integrate with the outside world.

Background paper:

The Social Isolation Impact Project: Motion Picture & Television Fund Engages the Industry and Community in Staying Connected

Related podcasts:

  • Scott Kaiser (Ep.77) Chief Innovation Officer, Motion Picture & Television Fund.
  • Kerry Burnight (Ep. 71) Chief gerontologist, GrandPad – the tablet designed for over 75s
  • Sophie Andrews (Ep. 42) The Silver Line, UK hotline offering friendship and advice to older people

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This podcast is supported by affiliate arrangements with a select number of companies. We have arranged discounts on certain products and receive a small commission on sales. The income helps to cover production costs and ensures that our interviews, sharing information about human longevity, remain free for all to listen. See our SHOP for more details.

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The Live Long podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice. If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.

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