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Join Us to Learn About Programs and Practices to Help AAPI Older Adults Remain Engaged  

This month engAGED and the Diverse Elders Coalition launched a three-part webinar series focused on meeting the social engagement needs of historically marginalized and underserved communities. The second webinar in the series will take place March 16 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm ET and will focus on social engagement among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) older adults. Speakers will highlight innovative partnerships, culturally competent programming and best practices for outreach to AAPI older adults. 

Office Hours: Social Engagement and Lifelong Learning

Key Takeaways: Promoting Social Engagement Within Senior Housing  



This month’s blog post highlights key takeaways from our December webinar, which focused on unique senior housing initiatives and partnerships that address social isolation within. Read it now. 

Ways to Promote Engagement Among Participants in March



Have you checked out engAGED’s calendar of social engagement opportunities? As part of the engAGED Community Awareness Toolkit, the calendar offers ideas to promote social engagement when highlighting observances and holidays throughout the year. For example, March is recognized as National Nutrition Month as well as National Craft Month. In recognition of National Nutrition Month, your organization may consider planning a shared meal or creating a cookbook of favorite healthy recipes. For National Craft Month, consider engaging older adults with a new craft activity or by encouraging them to attend a craft show.

Save the Date! engAGED and Commit to Connect Joint Virtual Summit



Mark your calendars! engAGED and Commit to Connect will co-host a Virtual Social Engagement Summit May 9-10 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm ET on both days. This two-day Summit will bring together national, state and local leaders for interactive discussions on ways to increase the social engagement of rural communities and family caregivers. The Summit will highlight the latest research, innovative programmatic work, as well as tools and resources for the aging and disability networks and their local partners. engAGED and Commit to Connect are administered by USAging and funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

Social Isolation and Dementia Risk

This study explores the association between social isolation and risk of developing dementia among community-dwelling older adults over the course of nine years. The study found that socially isolated older adults are at a higher risk of developing dementia compared to older adults who are not socially isolated. Want to learn more about engaging people living with dementia? Check out our September 2022 webinar and blog post on this very topic.

Caregiving, Volunteering and Loneliness in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review

A systematic review examined 28 research studies to determine the impact activities such as spousal caregiving, taking care of grandchildren or volunteering have on loneliness in older adults. The review found that older adults who volunteer or care for their grandchildren experienced greater reductions in loneliness than those who provide care for their spouses.

Long-Term Social Restrictions and Lack of Work Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on the Daily Lives of People with Intellectual Disabilities

A study conducted in the Netherlands interviewed eight individuals with intellectual disabilities to better understand the impact lack of regular work activities had on their lives. Findings indicate that participants experienced isolation and loneliness from the lack of connections, as well as difficulty sustaining their sense of self-worth, during prolonged periods without work.

Associations Among Loneliness, Purpose in Life and Subjective Cognitive Decline in Ethnoracially Diverse Older Adults Living in the United States

This study observed the impact feelings of loneliness and one's sense of purpose in life can have on subjective cognitive decline in Black, Asian and Latino older adults in the U.S. The study suggests that increasing purpose and reducing loneliness may help prevent cognitive decline in older adults. 

Supporting Social Engagement Needs Among Diverse Populations: American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Elders

In partnership with the Diverse Elders Coalition, engAGED hosted the first of its series of three webinars focused on social engagement among historically marginalized and underserved communities. The first webinar in the series focused on supporting engagement of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian elders with speakers from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Seneca Nation Area Office for the Aging and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Check out the webinar recording or slides to learn more!

• Catalyst is a competitive grants program seeking social entrepreneurs using the power of 5G and leading-edge wireless technologies to address challenges in American communities. Up to six applicants will be selected to receive financial and non-financial benefits, including a first-place award of $100,000. Learn more and apply by March 7, 2023.

• Are you familiar with the Affordable Connectivity Program? Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP created a short video to inform consumers about the benefits of this program and the opportunity for low-income households to get help paying for internet and devices. The video is available in English and Spanish.



• Are you interested in connecting with peers across the country who are passionate about addressing social isolation and loneliness at the local, state or national levels? The Commit to Connect Nationwide Network of Champions is a no-cost online Virtual Hub with resources, learning opportunities and networking features. Visit the Virtual Hub to find resources, including a webinar recording with tips and tools for engaging on the platform! 

• Pets Help to Protect Your Brain as You Get Older, Study Suggests (Science Alert, January 9, 2023)
• Planning For Early Retirement? Research Finds Cognitive Decline In Retired Adults (Medical Daily, January 10, 2023)
• Unwanted loneliness, a public health problem that increases the risk of mortality (Nation World News, January 16, 2023)
• A new use case for the older VR user: Dealing with death (Yahoo, January 17, 2023)
• Helping students connect with older adults (University of North Dakota, January 17, 2023)
• Isolated elderly 28 percent more likely to develop dementia than peers (The Washington Post, January 17, 2023)
• We were kindred spirits:’ As seniors battle a loneliness epidemic, the friendship of a 76- and 17-year-old shows connection has no limits (Fortune, January 22, 2023)
• Florist’s ‘adopt a resident’ program brings Valentine’s bouquets to nursing home residents (Denver7, January 23, 2023)

• engAGED Office Hours: Lifelong Learning and Social Engagement (March 10 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm ET)
• engAGED Webinar: Social Engagement Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Older Adults: Successful Programs and Activities (March 16 from 12:00-1:00 pm ET)
• Virtual Event: engAGED and Commit to Connect Virtual Social Engagement Summit (May 9, 1:00-4:00 pm ET and May 10, 1:00-4:00 pm ET)  

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.