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January 2020 engAGED Newsletter
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| Healthy Aging and Social engAGEment |
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| Several researchers have noted the positive impact that social engagement has on overall health, improving both physical and mental health outcomes. Given the importance of social engagement to health, there are several new and innovative programs from health care providers aimed at addressing social isolation. These programs include services that will refer patients who are social isolated to community services and using health navigators to support patients at risk of loneliness. A recent article from Kaiser Health News highlights the importance of varying the approaches to addressing social isolation. There are different reasons for and degrees of loneliness, and social engagement approaches should not take on a one-size-fits-all approach. |
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| Healthy & engAGING Programs |
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Bringing Generations Together: Campus Dining Program
The Campus Dining Program provides an opportunity for older adults and college students to engAGE over meals at The Ohio State University. Through a partnership of the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Ohio State University at Mansfield and North Central State College, older adults have access to fresh food choices, intergenerational programming that promotes lifelong learning, and socialization. The college students have the opportunity to interact with older adults, some of whom are former OSU students and alumni, and the arrangement also provides a wider variety of fresh foods than traditional meal sites sometimes can. |
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Age-tastic! An Evidence-Based Game Play Program
While educational activities are important, some older adults are reluctant to attend programs that are not fun and engAGING. Age-tastic is a board game that engages players by awarding them “dollars” for completing eight one-hour health-related sessions. The game also has group discussions and activities that can be completed at home. The topics covered in the game include preventing falls, staying socially engaged, watching out for financial mistreatment, managing medications and exercising. This program is being used in approximately 200 senior centers funded by the New York City Department for the Aging. |
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This month’s blog post focuses on using technology to engage older adults in rural communities. And remember, we post a new blog on the first Tuesday of every month! Have an idea for a future blog or want to hear more on a topic? Let us know.
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Upstream Approaches to Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will now require skilled nursing facility providers to ask patients “How often do you feel lonely or isolated from those around you?” Other health systems and community providers are increasingly interested in what they can do to address isolation with those they serve, according to this industry journal. Suggested strategies include:
- Begin screening patients for social isolation and loneliness at admission or in emergency departments.
- Stratify data by age and place to pinpoint demographics most in need.
- Create support groups for patients that focus on social connection. For nonprofit hospitals and health systems, this can be part of their community benefit strategy.
- Promote and offer volunteer opportunities within the organization to encourage social interactions.
- Develop innovative and sustainable community partnerships. For example, a local arm of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can connect patients with pets who need a home. Research has shown that owning a pet improves well-being, including easing loneliness.
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engAGEment Activities for Brain Health
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The Global Council on Brain Health developed a list of 12 recommendations to promote social engagement, emphasizing that people maintain a variety of approaches to social engagement. These recommendations for older adults include:
- Focus on the relationships or social activities you enjoy the most.
- If you have no one around who can help you engage socially, turn to professionals who can assist. (Examples: telephone hotlines, drop-in centers, a chat with a local religious leader, etc.)
- If you feel lonely, you can try to change this by making a new connection or by seeking different opportunities to engage with others.
- Help others, whether informally or through organizations or volunteer opportunities. For example, visit a lonely neighbor or friend, shop for/with them, or try cooking together.
- Maintain social connections with people of different ages, including younger people. Keep in touch with grandchildren or volunteer to help people at a local school or community center. Think about the skills you have that might be valuable to pass on to others. Offer to help teach a younger person skills you may already have, such as cooking, organizing an event, assembling furniture, saving for the future, investing in the stock market, etc.
These and the other recommendations included in the report can be very useful for older adults in your community, share them in a newsletter or use as discussion topics during a congregate meal.
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