Sarah Ordover: Why I’d Like To Start The “Third Chapter” Movement To Prevent Social Isolation and Loneliness Among The Elderly

I would start a “Third Chapter” movement to make more socially acceptable the idea of congregate living from about the age of 75 onward. The number one contributor to mental and physical decline is isolation. Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.
People who find themselves unexpectedly alone due to the death of a spouse or partner, separation from friends or family, retirement, loss of mobility, and lack of transportation are at particular risk. And yet, I hear continually “I promised mom I would not move her from her house.” For what? So she can watch television all day and eat over the sink? We’ve got to change the narrative! Moving to a congregate setting is not the end of life, it should be the beginning of a new chapter.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Ordover. Sarah is a senior living expert with particular specialization in dementia care. Sarah sits on the City of Los Angeles Task Force for Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, and volunteers as a facilitator and public speaker for the organization. She holds CSA and CDC certifications in aging and dementia care, and authors “The Senior Living Insider” blog. As owner of Assisted Living Locators, Los Angeles, a no-cost senior living placement service, Ordover helps families tackle the confusing subject of eldercare honestly and with compassion. Ordover attended American University and New York University. She…