Most people think of medicine as a pill “we might take in the morning or the evening to promote our health,” said Kim Van Orden, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

But she says social connection is medicine, too. Maintaining relationships with friends and family members and being part of a community can “have a range of benefits for our health, our well-being, and even how long we live.”

“Social connection is really just as important as having food and water and shelter,” Van Orden said during a recent webinar organized by AARP Virginia. … [My article for AARP]