News from engAGED

May 2023

News

Get Tips for Helping People Living with Dementia Stay Socially Engaged and Connected

Next month, we’re combining our webinar with our regular Office Hours session to make sure you get the details you need—and have an opportunity to join an in-depth conversation with our speakers. This unique 90-minute learning opportunity will take place on June 7 from 1:30 to 3:00 PM ET and will focus on ways to socially engage people living with dementia. Following the 60-minute webinar, engAGED will host a 30-minute Office Hours conversation to allow for open discussion with the webinar speakers and your peers.

Tips on Supporting the Social Engagement Needs of LGBTQ+ Older Adults

Check out our latest blog post to learn about resources and tips to consider when developing culturally appropriate and affirming social engagement programs and activities for LGBTQ+ older adults. The blog post may also spur ideas for how to celebrate Pride Month, taking place in June! You can also use the engAGED calendar of social engagement opportunities to find ways to promote social engagement throughout the year.

How Do You Stay #SociallyengAGED?

Mark your calendars! To highlight the importance of social engagement for older adults, engAGED is hosting a fill-in-the-blank social media campaign. Taking place June 12-16 in recognition of Loneliness Awareness Week, the campaign is open to all, so we hope you share the information widely with your colleagues, volunteers and those you serve. Get the details.

Recent Research

Evidence for National Health Guidelines for Social Connection

This article highlights evidence on the health impacts of social connection and potential opportunities and challenges to establishing and implementing national health guidelines for social connection. The article also details a possible roadmap to establishing national guidelines, which includes evidence-based examples.

Pilot Trial to Reduce Loneliness in Dementia Caregivers

A clinical trial examined the impact of a brief behavioral intervention, Engage Coaching for Caregivers, on the social isolation and loneliness of family caregivers for people living with dementia. Results demonstrated improvements in loneliness, relationship satisfaction and perceived social isolation among caregivers.

Age-Friendly Community Interventions for Health and Social Outcomes

A scoping review explored the interventions that target health and social outcomes within the purview of the age-friendly cities and communities’ framework. The review showed that social participation and engagement is a key component in successful interventions.

Innovations Hub Spotlight

This month we are spotlighting Connecting Older Adults and Students Through Inter-Generational Telecare (COAST-IT) developed by the University of Colorado Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging. COAST-IT pairs college health professional students with older adults for weekly intergenerational social phone calls and mentorship. To learn more about this project and other replicable social engagement innovations from across the country, visit the engAGED Innovations Hub.

Resources

An advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy explores the destructive impact the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation has had on the nation's collective health and the healing power of social connection and relationships.
Gentle Generations is a youth-led nonprofit organization working to foster connection between older adults and youth volunteers. Learn about the organization’s programs and how you can share information about this resource with those you serve.
The National Indian Council on Aging’s Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaska Native Communities Toolkit Guide is intended to increase awareness and knowledge of the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native persons living with disabilities. Read the toolkit to find suggestions for improving services, providing protections and utilizing resources in local tribal communities.
A recent webinar from ADvancing States focused on how the Systems Approach of Cross-Sector Integration and Action Across the Lifespan (SOCIAL) Framework addresses critical intersections that impact social connections and key strategies, ideas and resources to increase social connection within communities.

Articles

Music: A Prescription for Health and Social Connection (Nonprofit Quarterly, April 4, 2023)
Community Engagement Tied to Less Inpatient Care in Older Adults (Physician Weekly, April 7, 2023)
Does Loneliness Weaken the Immune System? (News-Medical Net, April 11, 2023)
Happier times: Mental health for the later years (CVS Health, April 13, 2023)
How to Stay Connected with Elderly Loved Ones from Afar (The Open News, April 15, 2023)
Seniors Gain Purpose Through Childcare and Dog Rescue Programs (Provider Magazine, April 18, 2023)
Study indicates link between tech use, anxiety, and depression in older adults (Medical Xpress, April 19, 2023)
How — and why — you should increase your social network as you age (The Washington Post, April 22, 2023)
They May Be Just Acquaintances. They’re Important to You Anyway. (The New York Times, April 22, 2023)
Loneliness poses profound public health threat, surgeon general says (The Washington Post, May 2, 2023)

Social Engagement Events

engAGED Webinar and Office Hours: Social Engagement Among People Living with Dementia: Successful Programs and Interventions (June 7, 2023 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm ET)
Conference: engAGED will be presenting at USAging’s 48th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, July 16-19 in Salt Lake City, UT.
Strategies and Resources to Enhance Volunteer Engagement Opportunities | Tuesday, July 17 from 10:30-11:30 AM MT
Learn more and register.

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.