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Food and
Friends: Innovative Nutrition Practices to Combat Social
Isolation
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Food is
not only essential to a person’s physical health, but it can also
be a key way that people can connect to one another. Research
shows that without these critical connections, people may
experience reduced appetite, lower food intake and increased risk
of under-nutrition. These negative consequences were amplified
during the COVID-19 pandemic when, in addition to experiencing
increased social isolation due to physical distancing, many older
adults who were unable to get to congregate meal sites and grocery
stores were also unable to get nutritious food.
In recognition of March as National Nutrition Month, our March
blog post and webinar highlight the intersection of nutrition and
social engagement. The post features an interview with the
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs
(NANASP), a member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee. The
interview explores how nutrition programs have always helped
promote social engagement of older adults, how this has been
amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic—and what the future of
nutrition programs and social engagement may look like. To learn
more about how nutrition programs responded to the pandemic,
lessons learned and social engagement innovations that may
continue in a post-pandemic environment, read the full blog post.
In addition to the blog post, engAGED staff brought together
speakers from NANASP, Meals on Wheels America and the Northern
Arizona Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging for a webinar
to discuss ways nutrition programs have innovated to address
social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interested in
learning about innovation nutrition program adaptations and the
future of social engagement through nutrition programs? Listen to
or watch the recording.
The Administration for Community Living has
developed a new Senior Nutrition Program Community Toolkit
and other resources to help Aging Network organizations support
and enhance the socialization of nutrition program participants
in recognition of the March anniversary of the Older Americans
Act nutrition program.
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New
Report: Socially Connected Communities, Solutions for Social
Isolation
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A
new report, produced by participants in the Social Isolation
Learning Network, led by Healthy Places by Design in partnership
with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, focuses on strategies to
create healthy, socially connected communities. Seeking to address
the overlapping health, economic and racial justice crises
further illuminated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the report,
Socially Connected Communities, includes key recommendations
that communities can use to create resilient, equitable and
healthy environments that foster social well-being, which impacts
overall health. The Social Isolation Learning Network explored
key challenges, trends and themes to develop cross-sector,
cross-community and cross-country lessons meant to inspire
collective action to mitigate social isolation. Read their recommendations and learn
more about how communities can address this complex issue through
a systemic lens.
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More Than
Books: Libraries as Hubs for Social Connection
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In
communities across the country, libraries provide valuable
services, programs and initiatives that enhance the quality of
life of community members. Libraries can also serve as a key
partner for the Aging Network in helping older adults stay
engaged and connected to their communities. The April engAGED
webinar will feature speakers from three Area Agencies on Aging,
including a member of the American Library Association, and
highlight innovative partnerships their AAAs have formed with
libraries, how they have enhanced partnerships during COVID-19 to
address increased social isolation and how other Aging Network
organizations can create similar partnerships and programs. Register now for the webinar,
which will take place April 19 from 1:00-2:00 pm ET!
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More
Deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias in 2020
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According
to a report released by the
Alzheimer’s Association, preliminary reports from the CDC
indicate that there were at least 42,000 more deaths from
Alzheimer’s and other dementias in 2020 compared with the average
of the five years prior, which is approximately 16 percent more
than expected. The biggest spike in deaths among people with
dementia occurred early in the COVID-19 pandemic, but the
pandemic may have more ravaging effects to come for people with
cognitive impairment. The pandemic uprooted routines and
effectively eliminated most social interactions that are vital to
health and well-being. An increase in social isolation,
especially for individuals living in care facilities, has been
shown to lead to further impairment. To read more about recent research
surrounding the isolating effects of the pandemic, read the full article here.
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Addressing
the Mental Health Needs of Older Adults Special Symposium on May
6
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According
to the CDC, before COVID-19, an estimated 20 percent of older
adults experienced some type of mental health concern. The social
isolation and loneliness that so many older adults have felt
during the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically increased those
numbers. To increase awareness of the mental health concerns of
older adults, the National Council on Aging, Administration for
Community Living and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration are hosting the 4th Annual Older Adult Mental Health
Awareness Day Symposium on May 6. Join the free, all-day virtual
event which will feature engaging, informative sessions and
discussion topics addressing the most pressing needs in older
adult mental health. Professionals in the Aging Network, public
health practitioners, mental health providers, health care
professionals and anyone interested in ensuring the mental health
of older adults are encouraged to attend. Register for this free
event here.
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engAGED
March Twitter Chat Focused on Social Engagement Adaptations
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Interested
in hearing from other Aging Network organizations on social
engagement lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and what
the future of social engagement programming may look like? Make
sure you view the engAGED Twitter Chat, which
took place March 9. As we met the one-year mark of many social
engagement programs shifting to virtual outlets due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, engAGED held this Twitter Chat to provide a
space for organizations, including engAGED Project Advisory Committee
members the Administration for Community Living, Diverse Elders
Coalition, National Alliance for Caregiving and SHIP National
Technical Assistance Center, to share how social engagement programs
have been adapted as a result of the pandemic and successful ways
to reach older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in
their homes.
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Support
to Expand Broadband Access Available
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The FCC
is seeking outreach partners to help drive awareness of the new
Emergency Broadband Benefit—a FCC program being developed to
provide relief to households that are struggling to pay for
internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. While many members
of the Aging Network have transitioned their social engagement
programs to virtual formats in response to the pandemic, this
shift has proven to be a barrier for older adults with
limited-to-no internet access. As part of the effort to inform
consumers about the upcoming Emergency Broadband Benefit, the FCC
has established a new website where stakeholders
can sign up to help promote the program.
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A new
blog post from the Administration for Community Living details
updated nursing home visitation guidance from the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services that will make it easier for
residents to stay connected. Read the full post to learn more about
the updated guidance and how the guidance will impact the
critical work of Ombudsmen, protection and advocacy systems and
others working to support the rights of older adults and people
with disabilities.
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- Companionship that spans generations
and reduces isolation for seniors (Penn Today,
February 17, 2021)
- How Social Isolation and Loneliness
Impact Brain Function (Psychology Today, February
21, 2021)
- Empathetic Phone Call Program Reduces
Loneliness, Depression & Anxiety in Older Adults: Study
(Forbes, February 28, 2021)
- Social Isolation and risk of heart
disease and stroke: analysis of two large UK prospective
studies (The Lancet, March 1, 2021)
- Program aims to help veterans fight
loneliness (Boulder City Review, March 3, 2021)
- Mental Health Is A Matter of Public
Health, Too (Bloomberg CityLab, March 3, 2021)
- Long-term care reunions: What families
need to know (KARE11, March 4, 2021)
- Boost Yourself and Others By Staying
Connected (Psychology Today, March 8, 2021)
- The benefits of virtual reality for
seniors (Cincinnati Business Courier, March 8,
2021)
- Battling older adults’ greater social
isolation during COVID-19 (WHYY, March 20, 2021)
- Loneliness adds to at-risk seniors’
vulnerability: report (Investment Executive,
March 22, 2021)
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