ABSTRACT

The value of social connections lies in opportunities to engage with friends and family on an everyday basis, to attend regular social activities like club meetings, church services, or social engagements, to contribute to community activities, and to attend special occasions such as family celebrations or funerals. Social networks in this context are understood as webs of social relations and interactions that structure our social lives. Work from various perspectives additionally provides perspectives on the important aspects of social connections including their lifelong development, cultural and structural embeddedness, and variations in need among different people. Loss of social engagement is often considered in terms of feelings of loneliness reported by older people. The World Health Organization's model of age-friendly communities includes a strong focus on opportunities for social participation which allow older people to contribute their abilities and skills and enjoy the respect of their community.