Newsday quoted Paul Irving, the chairman of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging and distinguished scholar in residence at the Leonard Davis School. He discussed how faith and religion can serve as important tools for reducing social isolation in older adults. “As interesting as social networks are, there’s no substitute for physical presence and face-to-face connection,” Irving said. “Faith-based institutions can play an important role — as a support group and a connection to the memory of a spouse, and the right clergy can be a great comfort.”
