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There’s Still Time: Submit Your Social Engagement Programs! 

Does your organization run an innovative social engagement program that serves older adults, people with disabilities and/or caregivers? The annual engAGED Call for Innovations closes in just a few days—this Friday, October 28! Read through the eligibility criteria and submission questions and submit your social engagement program(s)!

Social Engagement and Mental Health: Successful Programs and Interventions 

Register for engAGED's next webinar! Taking place November 18 from 1:00-2:00 PM ET, the webinar will focus on the intersection of social engagement and mental health. The Illinois Coalition on Mental Health and Aging will provide a framer on how remaining socially engaged and connected positively impacts mental health and what organizations interested in developing programs that address social engagement and mental health should know about potential partners and coalition building. Attendees will also hear from Rogue Valley Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging and the University of Rochester Medical Center on programs and interventions that promote social engagement and positive mental health outcomes. 

New on the Blog: Social Engagement Tips for Serving People Living with Dementia

This month’s blog post highlights key takeaways from our September webinar, which focused on social engagement strategies for engaging people living with dementia. Check out the blog post for brief takeaways from the 60-minute webinar.   

Ways to Promote Engagement Among Consumers in November

Did you know the engAGED Community Awareness Toolkit includes a calendar of social engagement opportunities? Organized by month, the calendar offers organizations ideas to promote social engagement when celebrating observances and holidays with consumers throughout the year. One of the many observances recognized in November is National Family Caregivers Month. According to a 2020 report from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, more than one in five caregivers said that they felt alone.

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, your organization may consider planning a special respite activity or event to promote social connection and thank caregivers for all that they do!

Coming Soon! Year Three Poll Launching November 1

Next week, engAGED will launch a poll to learn more about current social engagement programs offered by the Aging Network and partner organizations, including types of programs, partners involved, communities served and outcome measurements. Results from the poll will help engAGED identify social engagement program trends and tailor future resources. Be sure to keep an eye out for this poll!

Understanding Social and Emotional Loneliness Among Black Older Adults: A Scoping Review

A recent literature review drew on 27 studies conducted across the globe to examine the influence of factors contributing to loneliness in black older adults. The article mapped the data across Weiss’ Social Provision Framework, which includes provisions such as social integration and attachment. Given the lack of knowledge on addressing loneliness in this population, the authors indicated that there is a need for further research to pinpoint relevant interventions.

How Well Do Remote Programs Reduce Loneliness Among Older Adults?

In this systematic review, the authors sought to uncover the effects of remote-delivered interventions in reducing loneliness in older adults. Results showed that remote interventions could reduce feelings of loneliness and that factors such as method of delivery, format of intervention and measurement time points can impact effectiveness. 

Reducing Stress and Loneliness Among Older Adults: Can Remote Programs Deliver?

This article summarizes a pilot trial looking at a new remote intervention focused on instilling resilience and wisdom in older adults to combat perceived stress and loneliness. The 20 participants experienced a reduction in perceived stress and loneliness. Replication in a larger sample is the next step in testing and disseminating this intervention across older adults.

• Earlier this month, the Foundation for Social Connection and the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness held their third annual End Social Isolation and Loneliness Action Forum. This three-day event took a deep dive into the social isolation and loneliness crisis to raise awareness, identify key innovations and discuss policy solutions to spur global action. Watch Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, provide an update on the USAging and engAGED Commitment to Action. 

• Generations United alongside the National Indian Child Welfare Association and the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging recently co-hosted the Cultural Responsiveness in Intergenerational Programs webinar. Watch the webinar recording to gain insights into what these organizations are doing to unite younger and older generations in diverse communities.



• Another webinar recently co-hosted by Generations United with Nesterly and the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies focuses on innovative approaches to intergenerational living. Check out Reimagining Intergenerational Housing Webinar to learn more!

• Old People's Home For Teenagers brings generations together to fight loneliness (ABC News, August 29, 2022)
• Isolated and disconnected, more older adults are dying by suicide. Here are the signs, and what you need to know (Fortune Well, September 6, 2022)
• Never too old to participate - six ways to successfully engage older adults (WSP, September 7, 2022)
• Report: Increased social and community connections are important for health of Colorado seniors (The Fort Morgan Times, September 7, 2022)
• Improving Older Adults’ Mental and Emotional Well-Being with Home Health Care (swhelper, September 16, 2022)
• FSU study uses computer tech to combat loneliness in older adults (Tallahassee Democrat, September 19, 2022)

• engAGED Webinar: Social Engagement and Mental Health: Successful Programs and Interventions (November 18, 2022 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.