What we’ve been reading

Here is a round-up of some interesting pieces we have been reading over the past few months:

• This round-up of research on the impact of having purpose in life on longevity and aging: "Researchers have shown that the related concepts of purpose and meaning in life can also have significant impacts on our physical well-being... if we find purpose and meaning in the current gloom, we may end up not just happier but healthier and longer-lived."

• This article following 96 year-old Ruth Willig's journey through the pandemic, from lockdowns in March to the vaccine rollout: "A surprise of the pandemic has been how well many older adults have adapted to the restrictions... Just before her birthday, Ruth mentioned the prospect of living to 100." 

• This heartwarming story about Young@Heart, a chorus whose members have an average age of 85, and their adaptations to the pandemic: "As 2020 dawned, the Young@Heart Chorus was flying high: Millions of views on YouTube, new concerts in the works. And then, the pandemic... The solution was meeting over Zoom. But video chat can be technologically challenging, no matter how old you are."

• This article describing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes across the globe and the consequences of government inaction: "Many countries had done little to fortify nursing homes before the coronavirus arrived at their borders... Nations often reacted slowly, even after outbreaks erupted."