Family Focus: Baton Rouge grandmother gets help in fighting loneliness, isolation

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — People of all ages from across the nation can experience loneliness. But there are options available to address that concern.

Tammy Gordon, 81, is thrilled that she found the Humana Neighborhood Center, saying, “I wish I could add an extra day of me coming here.”

The culinary expert said she started to feel lonely after retiring and needed to get out and find something to do.

“I just felt kind of like what else is there to life? I think you get kind of confused and wake up like what am I going to do today,” said Gordon.

The U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness an epidemic. Loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease by 29%, stroke by 32%, and dementia by 50% among older adults.

Gordon discovered the Humana Neighborhood Center almost a year ago and said her bloodwork numbers are the best they’ve ever been.

“It’s great, and I’ve made so many friends here,” she said.

The Associate Director of the Humana Neighborhood Center, Tricia Grayson believes it’s great to have things like the Humana Center in place.

“It’s more important than ever to have resources and places to go so that we can make connections and meet new people,” said Grayson.

The center offers in-person and online classes on managing common health conditions and preparing healthy meals, in addition to lifestyle classes to improve members’ mental, emotional and physical health. You don’t have to be a Humana member to participate.