It wasn't only close friends Keenan missed seeing during 15 months of staying home and trying to avoid Covid-19. It was also dozens of casual acquaintances and people whom he ran into at social events, restaurants, church and other venues. Like Keenan, who admitted he's an unabashed extrovert, many older adults are renewing these connections with pleasure after losing touch during the pandemic. Casual relationships have several benefits , according to researchers who've studied them. Also, older adults with broad, diverse social networks have more opportunities to develop new relationships when cherished friends or family members move away or die.

Source: CNN July 27, 2021 10:07 UTC