It's only been a few months since Shirley McMinn and Mary Wearsler rekindled their friendship, but some call the pair inseparable.

Shirley and Mary grew up in the same part of Alliance, went to the same church, danced, and twirled batons as majorettes in the Alliance High School marching band.

Now in their nineties, the two were reunited when Shirley moved into Brookdale Alliance senior living community this spring and discovered Mary lived there, too.

"I heard that Mary was here, so that eased my way in, since I knew someone," McMinn said.

The two enjoy sharing meals, activities, and laughter, but still keep their own separate hobbies.

Their friendship brings to light a critical issue affecting many seniors: loneliness. The US Surgeon General has declared loneliness an epidemic, as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

But Shirley and Mary say the connections they share with family and others in the senior living community keep them going.

"Everybody waves at each other like they're old friends," McMinn noted.