aarp research

Last fall my mom got an iPhone so she could text with her children and grandchildren. It turns out she’s part of a trend of older Americans embracing technology to keep in touch with family and friends.

How we cope with stress is an important factor in our mental well-being which, in turn, impacts our brain health as we age. How we personally view getting older is also related. Adults who look at aging positively report higher mental well-being scores, says a new survey.

New AARP research shows that people of all ages are using technology to keep in touch with friends and family. The way people use their devices differ somewhat based on whether they are in their 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. The full survey can be accessed here.

Notice to travelers: If your family is traveling with three generations, it’s a multigenerational trip, according to AARP. One third of travelers have made multi-gen travel a family tradition because it provides quality time together. I can relate.

In 2012, AARP released a study titled “Beyond Happiness: Thriving,” which explored what happiness means to adults and what it takes to thrive as they age. AARP surveyed more than 4,000 Americans ages 35-80, including African Americans/blacks. Regardless of age, relationships were found to be universally important and key drivers of happiness.

As we just start to hit the depths of winter in most parts of the United States, I long for spring. I am sure many of you have heard that the best time to go to Paris is in April. The recent AARP Romantic Getaways Survey shows springtime (35 percent) is the most anticipated season for romantic travel, and 30 percent of those romancers want to go to Europe, specifically France (13 percent). The top two activities romantic travelers engage in are dining out and sightseeing, and it’s hard to beat Paris if you are a foodie and like strolling along the Seine River.