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News From engAGED

December 2025

News

Share Your Social Connection Innovations With engAGED and Commit to Connect!

In partnership with Commit to Connect—a federal initiative led by the U.S. Administration for Community Living and coordinated by USAging—engAGED recently launched a Call for Innovations to identify model interventions, programs and services that address social isolation and loneliness. If your organization has an innovative intervention, program or service that promotes social connection, consider submitting to the Call for Social Engagement Innovations by January 30!


All submissions will be considered for inclusion in the Social Engagement Innovations Hub—a searchable clearinghouse of best practices and data-driven interventions, programs and services promoting social connections across populations. Contributing to the Innovations Hub will encourage adoption, replication and awareness of programs to address social isolation and loneliness. 

Register Now for an Upcoming Webinar Highlighting Innovative Work Around Social Connection Contracting With Healthcare 

Join USAging's Aging and Disability Business Institute on January 21, 2026, 3:004:00 PM ET for “The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) Business Innovation Award Winners: Achieving Success in Social Connection Contracting,” a special webinar featuring the three 2025 recipients of The JAHF Business Innovation Award. Leaders from United Disabilities Services, Elder Services of Worcester Area, and Senior Connection will share their innovative approaches to contracting and partnerships that strengthen social connection for older adults and caregivers. Hear how these award-winning organizations built successful collaborations with health care entities, tackled challenges and achieved meaningful outcomes that can be replicated nationwide.

Get Ideas for Promoting Social Engagement This Holiday Season  

Use the engAGED Calendar of Social Engagement Opportunities to find ways to promote social engagement during the holidays and throughout the year. The holiday season is fast approaching, with a variety of cultural, religious and secular holidays like Diwali/Deepavali, Christmas, Hanukkah/Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day on the horizon. To find ideas on how to foster engagement with older adults during the holiday season, check out this engAGED blog post.

Recent Research

Relationship Between Social Disconnection and Depression 

This study examined the relationship of social disconnection and depressive symptoms among varying age ranges in the United States. Findings suggest that individuals at all ages with higher levels of reported social disconnectedness were more likely to experience symptoms of depression.  


How Social Media Affects Older Adults' Psychosocial Status 

A systematic review was conducted to analyze the relationship social media can play on psychosocial outcomes for older adults. Although the findings were not conclusive, several studies did point to positive outcomes. More research in this area will be needed to strengthen understandings of social media's role. 


Reported Disconnection of Older Adults With Lupus 

A cross-sectional study of older adults with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus found that this population may be disproportionally affected by isolation and loneliness. The study found that participants commonly reported feeling lonely and had lower scores on health-related quality-of-life measures. 


Effects of Spousal Support to Combat Loneliness 

This article analyzes the role spousal support can play in mitigating negative life experiences for adults later in life. Research found that older adults with lower levels of spousal support had greater difficulty coping with negative life experiences, which in turn led to increased feelings of loneliness. Conversely, older adults with higher levels of spousal support developed more relational resilience. 

Innovations Hub Spotlight


In its most recent needs assessment, the WellWise Services Area Agency on Aging identified loneliness and isolation as the most challenging issues facing older adults in the region. To address this, WellWise established a Connection Café, offering one-hour interactive activities to help older adults meet others. Participants attending the Connection Café gain increased social connection, enhanced communication skills, emotional support and a sense of purpose and belonging. To learn more about this program and other replicable social engagement innovations from across the country, visit the Innovations Hub.

engAGED Resource Spotlight


Online Safety for Older Adults: Socializing Safely Online is a customizable consumer fact sheet, developed by engAGED in partnership with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP. This fact sheet provides older adults with tips, best practices and helpful resources to socialize safely online. 

Resources

  • engAGED has added 25 new programs to the Social Engagement Innovations Hub. This searchable clearinghouse includes more than 100 model programs that promote adoption, replication and awareness of best practices, interventions and services addressing social isolation and loneliness. 




Articles

Social Engagement Events

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This project #90EECC0002 is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $450,000 (or 74 percent) funded by ACL/HHS and $161,554 (or 26 percent) funded by non-government sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.