Social Connections Are Vital After 50
How Social Connection Has Helped Me Through Grief—And Can Help You Too
After 50, many of us face life-shaking changes—loss, divorce, health scares, retirement. These shifts can deeply challenge our identity and leave us feeling isolated.
Earlier this year, I experienced the unimaginable: the sudden loss of my 28-year-old son, Andrés. It shattered me, our family, and his circle of friends. I had launched Shine After 50 to help women navigate major life changes—I never imagined I’d be navigating the hardest one of all so soon.
What’s helped carry me through this time? Connection. Lifelong friends, former colleagues, and new acquaintances—all have shown up with calls, cards, and in-person support. Their support has made a profound difference in helping me process and cope with Andrés’ passing.
Why Connection Matters—For Health and Longevity
Science confirms what our hearts know: strong social ties improve emotional well-being, cognitive function, and even physical health.
Research from the Blue Zones Project found that the world’s longest-lived people—those in places like Okinawa and Sardinia—thrive thanks in large part to tight-knit communities and daily social interaction. National Geographic journalist Dan Buettner put it plainly:
“If you don’t have at least three friends you can call on a bad day, research shows you’re shaving eight years off your life expectancy.”
Wow.
Other major studies—from Harvard and the National Institute on Aging—link loneliness to increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, dementia, and early death.
So how can you make new connections—especially after 50 when you may experience many life changes?
My Go-To Solution: Meetup
Meetup.com has been a lifeline. I first used it when I lived in metro Washington, DC to attend concerts and participate in groups for writers and tarot enthusiasts. After moving to Charleston in 2021 (knowing no one except my daughter), Meetup helped me to start creating connections fairly quickly and having lots of fun.
Through walking groups, concerts, and women’s social Meetups, I built a whole new circle of friends. One new friend introduced me to a fabulous book club. Another group helped me discover beautiful and fun locations around Charleston that I likely would not have found on my own.
The best part? You can show up solo—most people do—and you will feel completely welcome and at home.
What Is Meetup?
Meetup is an app and website that brings people together for in-person or virtual events based on shared interests. Founded after 9/11 to foster real-world connections, it now hosts over 100,000 events weekly in more than 190 countries.
Whether you’re into hiking, tarot, language exchange, or just grabbing coffee with others over 50—there’s likely a Meetup group for it.
How to Get Started
Visit Meetup.com or download the app
Search by interest and location (“Women over 50,” “yoga,” “live music”)
Join groups that resonate with you
RSVP to an event—start with something casual and local
Go solo and introduce yourself with a smile.
Over time, you’ll find the group(s) that most resonate with you.
Whether you’re recovering from loss, adjusting to a new city, or simply craving more meaningful interactions, consider giving Meetup a try. You never know what—or who—you might find.