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Don’t Miss Your Chance: Tell engAGED About Your Social Engagement Programs 

Promoting Social Engagement Within Senior Housing 

Register for engAGED's next webinar! Taking place December 15 from 1:00-2:00 PM ET, the webinar will focus on creative initiatives and partnerships to address social isolation within senior housing. During the webinar, the American Association of Service Coordinators will discuss social isolation within senior housing and how Aging Network organizations can partner with housing programs to address this. Attendees will also hear from Aging Ahead and PEP Housing on programs and activities that promote social engagement connections within senior housing.

Key Takeaways: engAGED and NADTC Social Engagement and Transportation Office Hours Call

Our latest blog post highlights some of the key points discussed during the September Office Hours Call that engAGED co-hosted with the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC; co-administered by USAging and Easterseals) on social engagement and transportation. During the call, NV Rides shared tips and best practices for starting and maintaining a successful volunteer transportation program. Find these strategies and resources summarized in this short blog post.

Ways to Promote Engagement Among Consumers in December

Have you checked out our calendar of social engagement opportunities? As part of the engAGED Community Awareness Toolkit, the calendar offers ideas to promote social engagement when celebrating observances and holidays with consumers throughout the year. A number of holidays take place in December, including Christmas, Hanukkah/Chanukah and Kwanzaa. To find ideas on how to foster engagement with older adults during the holiday season, check out this engAGED blog post. 

Join Commit to Connect in Fighting Social Isolation and Loneliness: Become a Champion Today!

Commit to Connect, another initiative administered by USAging, is working to foster a Nationwide Network of Champions at the local, state and national levels who are committed to addressing social isolation and loneliness. The goal is to strengthen the network of partners focused on connecting people living with isolation with programs and resources to build the social connections they need to thrive.

Commit to Connect Champions are passionate leaders and innovators dedicated to ending social isolation and loneliness. Champions engage with and are supported by a collaborative network of their peers via an online networking hub where they stay informed on the latest research, tools and public awareness efforts from Commit to Connect. Learn more about becoming a Champion!

Social Connectedness of Carers: An Australian National Survey of Carers

This quantitative study examined the social connectedness of Australian carers (caregivers) and factors that may be related to their social well-being. The analysis found some of the factors associated with greater social isolation include longer duration of caring, living with the care recipient and receiving no help from others. Some of the factors associated with poorer social connectedness include identifying as female or nonbinary/gender diverse and identifying with a culturally or linguistically diverse background.

Examining the Combined Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Memory: A Systematic Review

This review explored the impact of social isolation and loneliness on memory in middle and older-aged adults. The review found social isolation and loneliness had the largest negative impact on memory, suggesting interventions should be tailored for individuals who are socially isolated and lonely instead of only socially isolated or only lonely.

Loneliness, Loneliness Literacy and Change in Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study analyzed data from a telephone survey of older adults in Taiwan that investigated whether loneliness literacy—an individual’s behavioral, cognitive and social skills to access loneliness-related information—is related to loneliness and a change in degree of loneliness during the pandemic. The results indicated that a higher self-efficacy of loneliness literacy contributed to a lower chance of increased loneliness for older adults during the pandemic and was also a protective factor for mental well-being.

Sociodemographic Factors and Neighborhood/Environmental Conditions Associated with Social Isolation Among Black Older Adults

Using data from the 2014 and 2016 Health and Retirement Study, this study assessed sociodemographic factors as well as neighborhood and environment conditions associated with social isolation among respondents who self-identified as Black. Sociodemographic factors—specifically gender, education and household income—were significantly associated with social isolation. 

Exploring the Impact of The NEST Collaborative’s Remote Social Intervention on Feelings of Depression and Isolation

This study evaluates the impact of the NEST Collaborative, a Nevada statewide initiative that began offering social support for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic via weekly one-on-one phone calls led by volunteers of all ages. The results suggest that the program led to a modest reduction in social isolation and depression among participants, though more research is needed on the outcomes of remote, multi-generational, volunteer-led interventions

Social Engagement and Mental Health: Successful Programs and Interventions



A recent engAGED webinar focused on the intersection of social engagement and mental health. Speakers included the Illinois Coalition on Mental Health and Aging, Rogue Valley Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging and the University of Rochester Medical Center. Check out the webinar recording or slides to learn more on programs and interventions that promote social engagement and positive mental health outcomes!

• Two new video vignettes produced by USAging showcase the unique ways Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American Aging Programs have engaged older adults through high and low-tech methods. Watch Engaging Older Adults Through Virtual Communities and Phone Calls and Mail to Stay Connected and prepare to be inspired with new ideas for your organization’s own programs!

• The International Federation of Ageing (IFA) hosts Global Café conversations, a webinar series featuring experts that discuss hot topics in the field of aging. Check out the IFA Global Café: In Conversation With Dr. Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald to learn more about the impact of social integration on longevity and healthy aging, and the IFA Global Café: In Conversation With Ms. Dina Hashish and Dr. Menna Shawkat to learn more about developing supportive platforms to combat social isolation and improve the quality of life of older people.

• Looking for some inspiration? In the recent publication, Community Care Corps: Building Engagement and Independence in Communities, Community Care Corps highlights the work of its 2021-2022 grantees to address the needs of older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers in their communities through innovative volunteer models. Community Care Corps is administered by the Oasis Institute with support from USAging, the Caregiver Action Network and the Altarum Institute with funding from ACL.

• A recent podcast by the American Hospital Association focused on how hospitals and health systems can partner with Area Agencies on Aging and other community-based organizations to better provide social support and address non-medical needs of older adults within communities. Featured on this episode is USAging's Marisa Scala-Foley, Director of the Aging and Disability Business Institute.



• engAGED partner, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP recently released a report, Fly Like an Eagle: Measuring Transformational Social Outcomes Among Seniors Using Technology, showcasing the positive impact technology devices and training programs can have on older adults. Read this publication to learn more on ways your community can become more digitally inclusive. 

• All the lonely people: Why Americans' isolation is a threat to our democracy (USA Today, September 16, 2022)
• Struggling to make friends as an adult? Why you should try looking to older generations (Phys Org, September 26, 2022)
• Loneliness and unhappiness accelerate aging faster than smoking, study show (Medical News Today, September 29, 2022)
• 11 Meaningful Ways Older Adults Can Volunteer Right Now (Forbes Health, September 30, 2022)
• Chronic loneliness is killing people: The solution is personal (Med City News, October 3, 2022)
• Loneliness may be linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Medical News Today, October 4, 2022)
• Social Connections in Older Age (American Society on Aging: Generations Journal, October 19, 2022)

• engAGED Webinar: Social Engagement and Housing: Effective Programs, Activities and Partnerships (December 15 from 1:00-2:00 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.