Dear Annie: I am in my late 70s and in reasonably good health, but life feels increasingly lonely. My partner, who was once my companion in everything, now has advanced dementia. He no longer recognizes me, and being around him is no longer safe. Doctors say he has only a few months left to live.

My only child lives two states away in a place I can’t stand, so moving there isn’t a real option. I’ve lived in my current city for over 20 years and once had a wide and supportive circle of friends. But over the last two years, that circle has grown painfully smaller. I’ve lost six friends this past year and 10 the year before. My crafting group dissolved, my lunching and hiking companions drifted away, and now two of my closest friends are gone -- one moving across the country, the other in h

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