News from engAGED
July/August 2025
| | USAging Receives a New Grant to Support Social Connection Efforts | | |
In April 2025, USAging was awarded a two-year grant, the Strengthening Social Connection in Communities Project, from the John A. Hartford Foundation aimed at improving the health of older adults and their caregivers by replicating evidence-based and evidence-informed social connection programs within communities, as well as aligning with Age-Friendly Ecosystem initiatives. More recently, the RRF Foundation for Aging and the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York awarded two new grants to USAging to further support this project.
USAging's Aging and Disability Business Institute and engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults will partner on this new initiative. As part of this initiative, USAging will be awarding grants to communities to test evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies. An RFP is expected to be released this fall. Learn more about this opportunity in engAGED's recent blog post.
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Ideas for Promoting Social Engagement This Season
Summer and early fall are great times for people of all ages and abilities to get out and engage with their neighbors, loved ones and community. Whether it is celebrating National Family Day in August or National Grandparents Day in September, we encourage you to find ways to connect people of all generations. For more ideas on ways to engage older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in your community, check out the engAGED Calendar of Social Engagement Opportunities. This guide includes inspiration for activities that align with upcoming observances throughout the calendar year.
| | USAging Celebrates The John A. Hartford Foundation 2025 Business Innovation Award Winners | | |
The John A. Hartford Foundation Business Innovation Award acknowledges the achievements of community-based organizations that partner and contract with health care entities with the goal of replicating these successful partnerships nationwide. This year, applicants were asked to identify interventions that are not only associated with a current health care contract but also promote social connection and/or address social isolation and/or loneliness. The following winners were announced by engAGED and USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute at the 2025 USAging conference.
Winner: United Disabilities Services Advanced Care Management Solutions, Lancaster, PA
Runners-Up: Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc., Worcester, MA, and Senior Connection, Inc., Worcester, MA
Learn more about these award winning programs and the excellent work they do on the Aging and Disability Institute website.
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Loneliness, Frailty and Functional Limitations
This article examines the relationship between loneliness, frailty and functional limitations among older adults. Through the survey of more than 4,000 older adults in China, it was found that there is a positive correlation among all factors indicating older adults who are lonely are more likely to have functional limitations. Additionally, this study found that frailty is an important mediating factor for older adults’ loneliness and functional limitations.
Social Alienation of Caregivers
A recent study found that the caregivers of adults who recently suffered strokes have a significantly higher risk of experiencing social alienation. This includes higher reported feelings of loneliness and lower levels of perceived social support. The study calls for targeted interventions to address the needs of this population.
Social Connectedness as a Preventative Factor in Sedentary Behavior
This study looked at the perceptions of sedentary behavior among older adults and examined factors that may prohibit or promote sedentary behavior. It was found that having a strong social support system can be a positive factor in deterring sedentary patterns in older adults, whereas being socially isolated was associated with a higher risk for engaging in more sedentary activities for longer periods of time.
Relationship Between Anxiety and Depression in Older Adults Living Alone
This cross-sectional study examined the feelings of anxiety and depression among older adults living alone in China. Findings suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship among these conditions and highlight the importance of identifying common symptoms to prevent comorbidity in individuals at risk or currently experiencing these conditions.
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Innovations Hub Spotlight
Founded in 2014, the Mind&Melody program was established to provide in-person and online musical programming for older adults aging in place or living in long-term-care facilities. Recognizing that music is a universal language and tool that can spark memories and connection, Mind&Melody uses music to help older adults—with and without neurological impairments—regain pieces of themselves while instilling purpose and empathy in musicians from younger generations. To learn more about this program and other replicable social engagement innovations from across the country, visit the Innovations Hub.
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engAGED Resource Spotlight
Connecting Generations: Finding Intergenerational Activities Within Your Community—developed by engAGED, Generations United and the Eldercare Locator—is a consumer guide designed to help individuals learn more and engage in activities that connect people across multiple generations. This guide includes a list of types of intergenerational activities, tips on getting started in your own community and additional resources to support opportunities to connect.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) released a new report, "From loneliness to social connection: chartering a path to healthier societies," highlighting the widespread and damaging effects of social disconnection. This report from the WHO Commission on Social Connection shares the most recent evidence on this topic and provides action steps for every level from individuals to policymakers.
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Commit to Connect, a federal initiative led by the U.S Administration for Community Living (ACL) and coordinated by USAging, works to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. Check out its recent webinar focused on promoting social connection among veterans. This webinar features resources to ensure veterans in your community stay socially engaged.
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A recent webinar from Healthy Places by Design addressed how social connection can be deeply interwoven with public health efforts to enhance community safety and provided strategies to improve both safety and connection in communities.
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ACL has announced several opportunities for funding around evidence-based programming for falls prevention, chronic disease self-management and nutrition for older adults with behavioral health conditions. Interventions addressing these topics can also serve as opportunities to provide social connection to older adults.
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Presentations from USAging's 50th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, Answers on Aging, are now available. Explore presentations from the Promoting Healthy Aging and Social Connection track to learn how organizations across the country are supporting older adults in their communities.
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Loneliness: How It Affects Senior Men (U.S. News & World Report, July 17, 2025)
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Forget Bingo. These 90-Year-Olds Just Want to Dance. (New York Times, July 22, 2025)
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Handwritten Letters Combat Senior Loneliness: Love for Our Elders Movement (MSN, July 22, 2025)
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From Isolation to Inclusion: Community-Based Mental Health Care (World Health Organization, July 24, 2025)
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Loneliness May Drive Depression, Poor Physical Health (Medscape, July 24, 2025)
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Pittsburgh-Area Volunteers Help Older Adults Overcome Social Isolation (CBS news, July 25, 2025)
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Why Feeling Lonely—Not Just Being Alone—Can Affect Your Cognition (Consumer Affairs, July 25, 2025)
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How to Make Friends in Later Life and How It Impacts Health and Wellness (BreakingNews.ie, July 27, 2025)
| | 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. | | | | |
