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Webinar Series: Supporting the Social Engagement Needs of Underserved Populations

Don’t miss the next webinar in our series on ways to socially engage older adults from underserved communities. Hosted in partnership with the Diverse Elders Coalition, our next webinar will be held April 13 from 12:00 to 1:00 ET and will focus on social engagement among LGBTQ+ older adults. Get the details and register now!

Did you miss the first two webinars in the series? Watch the recording from the March webinar on social engagement among Asian American and Pacific Islander older adults and read our latest blog post that highlights key takeaways from the February webinar on ways organizations can engage tribal elders. 

Join engAGED and Commit to Connect for a Virtual Summit on Social Engagement

It’s No Joke! Get Ideas for Promoting Social Engagement in April



Use the engAGED calendar of social engagement opportunities to find ways to promote social engagement throughout the year. Because April is National Volunteer Month, organizations may consider hosting a volunteer appreciation celebration or holding a volunteer fair. Other observances your organization may wish to recognize in April include National Library Week, National Walking Day and Earth Day.

The Impact of the Built Environment on Loneliness

A systematic review examining how city designing and planning impacts loneliness found that there is no one design attribute that can protect people from loneliness. The review also found that social interaction within the built environment depends on both structural factors, such as the design of a space, and individual factors, such as how a person takes advantage of a space.

Social Isolation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults During COVID-19: Understanding the Role of Resilience

A study found that factors that supported older adults’ resilience to prevent social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic include maintaining positivity, willingness to learn and develop new skills, and continuing to connect with the community. 

• The 6th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium on May 11 will feature engaging and informative sessions, and a diverse array of topics addressing the most pressing mental health needs in older adults.

• A recent episode of the Conversation Weekly podcast featured Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, the engAGED Project Research Advisor. Dr. Holt-Lunstad and two other researchers discussed the impacts of social isolation and loneliness on health and society.



• A new guide from the National Alliance for Caregiving includes information on how caregivers’ cultures may impact their caregiving role and highlights how organizations can provide culturally responsive resources, support and information to caregivers. 

• Rural Seniors Benefit From Pandemic-Driven Remote Fitness Boom (KHN, January 17, 2023)
• Travel to your home town or play chess with your grandkids 3,000 miles away: Can virtual reality help older adults battle loneliness (Morningstar, February 4, 2023)
• Loneliness in later life lessens when older adults spend many hours volunteering, study shows (Medical Xpress, February 13, 2023)
• Social Isolation May Be a Modifiable Risk Factor for Dementia in Older Adults (Neurology Advisor, February 13, 2023)
• Connecting with neighbors may be good for older adults’ health (Family Safety & Health, February 17, 2023)
• The pandemic loosens its grip, but loneliness epidemic keeps a tight hold (OSF Healthcare, February 17, 2023)
• The Checkup With Dr. Wen: 8 ideas from the surgeon general to address loneliness (The Washington Post, March 9, 2023)

• engAGED Webinar: Social Engagement Among LGBTQ+ Older Adults: Successful Programs and Strategies (April 13, 2023 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm ET)
• Virtual Event: engAGED and Commit to Connect Social Engagement Virtual 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.