Some people in nursing homes go weeks without a visitor. An afternoon of yours could mean more than you’d guess.

Loneliness late in a life is rarely dramatic. It is a long stretch of days where nobody new comes through the door. An hour from someone young is worth far more there than it costs you, and the gap between those two numbers is easy to underestimate.

If there is a home or a hospital near you, you could ask whether visitors are welcome and go once. Bringing nothing but your attention is plenty.