Time is unforgiving. It passes swiftly and with each day we age, becoming part of one of the fastest-growing population segments in the U.S.

In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, I talk with my dear friend Vimarie Monopoli, Director of Development at Age Matters in Brevard, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping mitigate the challenges faced by people 60+ in Brevard County (Florida) with the goal of supporting independence, health, safety and quality of life.

As a fierce advocate for all things good, Vimarie points out that in the next 20 years close to one-third of our population will be seniors and that among the many issues that come along with aging, two standouts are hunger and isolation.

“One in five senior adults say that they feel lonely,” she states adding that we are having fewer children and we don’t necessarily live close to them once they leave home.

This poses serious challenges that require all-hands-on deck to address. Following are some key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Plan ahead of time with your family what living as an older adult looks like for you and your loved ones – the who, when, what, where, and how of caregiving.
2. Expose children/youth to opportunities to visit and help elders in the community to create a better support system as a collective and inclusive society. Developing understanding, empathy, and a realization at a young age that we are all heading to becoming seniors might help us in the future.
3. Donate money at the local level to organizations that are directly impacting the lives of people who are aging and are homebound suffering from hunger and loneliness. If you don’t have time to volunteer, support people who can.
4. Volunteer once a week to deliver one meal to an older adult. Aside from bringing much-needed nutritious food, this may be the only contact the person will have with another human being that day.
5. Start learning now how to put aside your pride and ask for help. You’re gonna need it eventually. While we all want to be independent as long as we can, at some point there will be areas of your life you will need assistance with.