15 Beautiful Ways Real People Make Sure They Never Feel Lonely

The Babayagas’ House

Living with roommates is required for college co-eds, yet as we get older living alone is seen as a sign of success and independence. But is it, really? One of the biggest risks to health as people age is loneliness, as it increases the risk of many health issues including mental illness, dementia, injury, and heart disease among others. So instead of encouraging older adults to live alone, an innovative group of French women decided to encourage independence and community by building their own type of “dorms” called the Babayagas’ House. “To live long is a good thing but to age well is better,” says 85-year-old Thérèse Clerc of her brainchild. “Growing old is not an illness. We want to change the way people see old age and that means learning to live differently.”