Connected Health: Dr. Soriano’s Insights on Wellness & Community

Each month, Grouper’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Theresa Soriano, explores the powerful connection between wellness and community, offering insights and tips on how staying socially engaged supports a healthier, happier life.

April 2025

For most of us, April means blooming flowers and warmer days, but it’s also a time to focus on our health—April is Alcohol Awareness Month. This month encourages us to understand how alcohol affects our well-being and make smart choices, especially as we age. Safe drinking isn’t just about being healthy; it’s also about enjoying life responsibly and feeling your best so you can keep doing what you love and keep being there for others.

 If you drink alcohol, how will you make sure you are doing it safely? Can you help someone be more aware about safe drinking?

Why Alcohol Awareness is Important for Older Adults

As we get older, our bodies change. Things like slower metabolism, daily medications and health conditions like diabetes, liver or heart disease, or arthritis can make alcohol affect us more strongly than before. Even drinking small amounts of beer, wine or liquor can impact balance, memory, and overall health. Learning about these changes and talking with your healthcare provider about your specific conditions or concerns can help you make better decisions and stay healthy.

Safe Drinking Tips for Older Adults

For older adults, drinking safely becomes even more important to your health. Sticking to low-risk drinking guidelines can make a big difference in your overall safety and well-being. If you don’t drink, do not start drinking now – you have made it this far so keep doing what you are doing!

If you enjoy some alcohol, do it safely. This means:

  • Limiting alcohol to about one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men, as recommended by health experts. 
  • Be mindful of medications, as alcohol can interact with many prescriptions, causing unwanted side effects.   Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
  • If you drink, drinking with food rather than on an empty stomach can help reduce its effects on your body. 
  • Stay hydrated— drink water alongside alcoholic beverages to keep your body in balance.  One glass of water per alcoholic drink is a good rule of thumb.


How to Observe Alcohol Awareness Month

  1. Learn Together: Find and share information about how alcohol can affect older adults. Share what you learn with friends and family!  Some good resources are the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  2. Keep up Healthy Habits: In addition to what you already do, try a new activity like gardening, playing card games, or making arts and crafts. These activities bring joy and help you feel your best without alcohol.
  3. Build Connections: Reach out to someone who may be struggling and offer support.


Spotting Signs of Alcohol Misuse or Abuse

Sometimes, alcohol becomes a way to handle stress, anger, sadness, or a more serious mental health issue, which can lead to bigger problems. Signs to watch for in yourself or others for alcohol misuse include:

  • Drinking excessively
  • Drinking to cope with feelings
  • Losing interest in loved ones or hobbies; or
  • Emotional outbursts or mood swings 

Family and friends can help by noticing these signs and offering help by contacting a healthcare provider or a community resource.

The Health Connection

April is a great time to think about growing and making positive changes. Alcohol Awareness Month reminds us to take care of ourselves and support each other in living healthier, happier lives.

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November 2024

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, marking an important time for us to understand how this disease affects almost 40 million Americans. If diabetes is not managed properly, it can result in heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputation and blindness. Diabetes is preventable, and for most Americans can be managed with a combination of diet changes, weight loss, regular physical activity and, if necessary, medication. Getting screened for diabetes or prediabetes by keeping up with your provider visits, and staying active physically and socially with your friends and family, is the best way to keep healthy.

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, remember that you CAN manage this disease and prevent complications by:

  • Keeping up with your healthcare appointments
  • Watching what you eat
  • Taking any prescribed medications for diabetes
  • Getting regular blood tests and eye exams 

Talk to others who have diabetes to get tips on how they manage their diet, physical activity and medications. Get support from friends and loved ones to keep physically and socially active however you enjoy most. Remember, even 10 minutes a day of physical activity – like walking – can improve your diabetes control!

Here are some options for additional resources on diabetes education, prevention, treatment, and research support:

Could you be at risk for diabetes or prediabetes? Take this quiz from the American Diabetes Association and discuss the results with your provider.

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October 2024

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while October is about to come to a close, breast cancer awareness is critical during all 12 months of the year! 

This year’s theme for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month  is “No One Should Have to Face Breast Cancer Alone”. Grouper could not agree more. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate people in our lives who are survivors of breast cancer and remember those who have passed away from this disease, knowing we can do better.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women, and in rare instances, can also affect men. With early detection through regular screening, many breast cancers caught early can be cured.

We can all show support for breast cancer awareness this month and all year long in the following ways. Share what you do and let us know of other ways you are getting active!

  • Support people you know with breast cancer by reaching out and offering to help run an errand or just spend time together to talk and listen. Did you know that walking or other exercise after a cancer diagnosis can help patients with cancer live longer?
  • Encourage women in your life (including yourself!) to go for regular breast cancer screening, or talk to your provider about it and make an appointment if you don’t already have one
  • Talk to your friends and loved ones about joining an awareness event together, like a breast cancer awareness walk, or make time to talk about the importance of screening the next time you get together in a group
  • Learn more about breast cancer and how you can get involved in volunteering or fundraising. Here are some reputable resources:

Let’s agree to stay healthy together so we can enjoy the group activities that keep us connected with friends!