diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 3238d8bf..ecfd044c 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -15,7 +15,13 @@ mongoose.Promise = Promise;
 
 // connect to mongo db
 const mongoUri = config.mongo.host;
-mongoose.connect(mongoUri, { server: { socketOptions: { keepAlive: 1 } } });
+mongoose.connect(mongoUri, {
+  keepAlive: true,
+  useNewUrlParser: true,
+  useCreateIndex: true,
+  useFindAndModify: false
+});
+
 mongoose.connection.on('error', () => {
   throw new Error(`unable to connect to database: ${mongoUri}`);
 });