Allies in Aging Blog

Helping others does more than strengthen communities—it can also support long-term brain health. New research shows that even a few hours per week of volunteering or helping others may slow cognitive decline while building purpose and connection

In the small towns scattered across Yellowstone County, the rural meal sites in Custer, Worden, Shepherd, Huntley, and Broadview are more than places to eat—they’re places where people come to feel known. They are rooms where familiar faces gather, where empty seats are noticed, and where conversations linger long after the plates are cleared. The roots of these sites reach back to the 1970s, when seniors first began meeting for meals in local cafés: the Kozy Korner Kafe in C