News from engAGED
September 2021
| |
|
Upcoming Webinar: Addressing Social Isolation Through Health Care Contracting
To maximize their members’ health, health care plans recognize the importance of addressing social isolation. Join engAGED and USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute for a webinar on October 20 at 1:00 pm ET, which will focus on the health impacts of social isolation on older adults and highlight opportunities for community-based organizations to contract with health plans to address this growing concern. The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio will discuss their partnership with Molina Healthcare to provide social engagement programming to older adults. This event is free and open to the public; however, attendees will need to create an American Society on Aging account to complete the registration process.
| |
|
Fostering Social Engagement Through Intergenerational Programs
Bringing the generations together to promote social engagement has great value and meaningful benefits for all involved. This month's engAGED blog post, written by Generations United, a member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee, describes intergenerational programs, how they foster social engagement and the benefits they offer to people of all ages. The blog post highlights how programs across the country have successfully adapted their programming for continuity throughout the pandemic and includes several resources to help your organization expand or develop intergenerational programming, including intergenerational shared sites.
| |
|
Physical Activity and Older Adult Mental Health During COVID-19
Recent research has illuminated the important role physical activity and exercise at home can have on reducing social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and the resulting isolation have caused significant changes and interruption to physical activity routines, and according to this article, those changes directly affect the self-confidence, autonomy and self-esteem of older adults, all of which are protective factors for good mental health.
| |
|
Social Isolation: Pandemic-Related Stressor for People with Disabilities
A recent study published in the Journal of Stress and Health reports that increased social isolation was the top COVID-19 pandemic-related stressor experienced by people with disabilities. According to the study, the pandemic has had an impact on mental health, and it is likely to disproportionately affect individuals with disabilities because of their risk for morbidity and mortality (UN News, 2020). People with disabilities are more socially isolated, have smaller social networks, report lower levels of social support and experience loneliness at higher proportions compared to the general public—circumstances that have been compounded by the pandemic.
| |
|
NICOA Launches #ConnectedIndigenousElders Campaign
The National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA), a member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee, has launched its Connected Indigenous Elders campaign to address social isolation and loneliness among American Indian and Alaska Native elders. The campaign asks elders, caregivers, youth and tribal leaders to engage and recognize the important role they play in elders’ mental well-being and physical health. The three-month campaign will help educate Native families on the issue of social isolation and point to resources and tips for elders on how to stay socially connected.
| |
|
Promoting Social Engagement in Senior Centers: Local Examples and Looking Ahead
Recognizing the important role that senior centers play in promoting social engagement, the September engAGED webinar featured speakers from the National Institute of Senior Centers, Duxbury Senior Center and City of Calabasas Senior Center, both of which described how their senior centers have developed innovative and creative social engagement opportunities for older adults. They also shared insight into their latest efforts to re-open and their thoughts on the future of hybrid programming.
| |
|
n4a is Now USAging!
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) has a new name! USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for Title VI Native American Aging Programs. USAging members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. USAging will continue to administer engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults. To learn more about USAging, click here.
| |
-
To kick off Suicide Prevention Month, the Administration for Community Living invited Innovations in Nutrition grantees to write a guest blog post about how their projects are helping build Aging Network capacity to address social isolation and loneliness and prevent suicide among older adults.
-
Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, who serves as the engAGED Project Research Advisor, was interviewed on A Second Opinion, a podcast focused on sharing valuable health insights. During the podcast, Dr. Holt-Lunstad and host Senator Frist discuss the loneliness epidemic, including the stigma around social isolation and loneliness and the robust data that points to the importance of social factors as risk factors for health and well-being.
-
Sponsored by iN2L, the 2021 USAging Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards Program highlights successful and innovative initiatives and programs run by Area Agencies on Aging, several of which are social engagement program examples. Check out the 2021 Awards Book to read though program summaries, accomplishments and adaptations.
| |
-
We Need to Understand the Difference Between Isolation and Loneliness (New York Times, August 18, 2021)
-
Addressing Social Isolation in Chicago (AARP, September 1, 2021)
-
Point of View: Why Creative Aging? It’s more than personal—it’s societal. (American Alliance of Museums, September 1, 2021)
-
Minister for Seniors at Famed Church Confronts Ageism and the Shame it Brings (Kaiser Health News, September 2, 2021)
-
Seniors in Philly are Aging in Place With the Help of Community “Villages” (Next City, September 2, 2021)
-
Social isolation can be deadly for older adults (Yale News, September 7, 2021)
-
For Struggling Older Adults, Support from Paid Peers May Alleviate Loneliness, Depression (University of California San Francisco, September 7, 2021)
-
UM School of Medicine Study Finds Social Isolation Increases Risk of Death in Seniors Following Critical Illness (Newswise, September 10, 2021)
-
Legislation Can't Solve Loneliness, But It Can Help (Health Affairs, September 10, 2021)
-
For older adults, isolation can lead to overwhelming loneliness (The Seattle Times, September 19, 2021)
| | | | |
