NURTURE THE GREY MATTER WITH A NATTER

LONELINESS NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTES TO FEELINGS OF UNHAPPINESS BUT IT MAY ALSO INCREASE THE RISK OF DEMENTIA BY 40 PER CENT, ACCORDING TO A STUDY AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY. FEELING LONELY DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN BEING ALONE – WE CAN FEEL ISOLATED EVEN WHEN SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE IF WE LACK MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONNECTION. IT’S ONE OF THE REASONS Country Living HAS CHOSEN THIS BURNING ISSUE FOR OUR 2020 CAMPAIGN. THE CAUSES MAY BE COMPLEX, BUT THE SOLUTIONS DON’T HAVE TO BE: TACKLING LONELINESS CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS STOPPING FOR A CUPPA AND A CHAT. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS LONELY, ENCOURAGE THEM TO VISIT ONE OF THE MANY CAFÉS ACROSS THE UK TAKING PART IN THE CHATTY CAFÉ SCHEME, WHERE CHATTER & NATTER TABLES ARE FOR CUSTOMERS WHO’D LIKE TO TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE. FIND ONE NEAR YOU AT THECHATTYCAFESCHEME.CO.UK. OR GO TO COUNTRYLIVING.COM/UK FOR MORE IDEAS ON STANDING UP TO LONELINESS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.