Social Isolation Basics & Materials
Nutrition programs are tasked not only with providing access to nutritious food, but with strengthening connections and reducing social isolation for the older adults they serve. Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because of factors like living alone, loss of family or friends, or chronic illness. Discover methods to increase social connection and decrease isolation amongst older adults.
Briefs
- Addressing Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Elevated Suicidality Among Older Adults
During COVID-19 and Beyond — Brief on a partially nested randomized control trial
of the BE WITH Innovation - ONEgeneration Takes Intergenerational Approach to Meet Community Needs—
NCOA senior center spotlight
Quick Guides
- The Benefits of Eating With Others — Graphic on the positive impact of congregate meals
- Project HELLO — Multiphase effort to engage older adults in Rhode Island by utilizing volunteers
- Easing Social Isolation — Tips from New Jersey Division of Aging Services
- Options for Remote Connection — Strategies to promote socialization of older adults
- Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness— CDC information on health risks and links to community resources
- Social Isolation Resource Guide — List of resources to combat social isolation and loneliness, compiled by Dane County AAA
Guides
- Health, Well-Being, and/or Social Connections in a Remote Environment — Highlighting programs demonstrating best practices in the areas of socialization and well checks
- Addressing Social Isolation in Older Adults During COVID-19— Resource from ADvancing States
Fact Sheets
- Social Wellness Tip Sheet — Tips for assessing whether participants are building and engaging in trusting, respectful, and authentic relationships
- Meaningful Connection and Better Health through Congregate Meals — How ACL’s Senior Nutrition Program combats loneliness and social isolation
- Managing Loneliness— NIHCM infographic
- Tools for Reaching a Remote Audience— NCOA comparison of platforms for delivering remote services
- Affordable Connectivity Program— FCC broadband benefit program helping households connect
Tools & Toolkits
- Social Connection: The Healing Effects of Social Connection— HHS framework for how we can all contribute to improving social connection between older adults
- Social Engagement Resources— engAGED's list of external resources for organizations serving older adults
- Senior Nutrition Program Two-Minute Promotional Video (YouTube)— Two-minute video focused on connection and social aspects of senior nutrition programs
- Social Wellness Checklists — NIH resources with ideas for creating positive social habits
- Commit to Connect — ACL campaign to combat social isolation and loneliness
- Connect to Affect Social Isolation Assessment— Tool from AARP Foundation to measure your risk of social isolation
- Social Isolation and Loneliness Outreach Toolkit— Resources from NIA
- Partnership to help older adults and their pets
- Meals on Wheels America and PetSmart Charities partnership— Partnership to help older adults and their pets live healthy, nourished lives, together
- Pets for the Elderly— Charity that helps older adults adopt companion pets from shelters
- E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging— Center with materials to support behavioral health in older adults and families
- Emergency Broadband Benefit— FCC program to help families and households afford broadband internet service
- Mental Health Resources— NCOA articles and other resources
Presentations
- Beyond the Delivery of the Meal (YouTube)— 15-minute video spotlight on Liberty Meals on Wheels
- Engaging Home-delivered Meal Participants (YouTube)— Five-minute spotlight on Meals on Wheels of Ocean County, whose participants contribute to and learn from each other via Connections newsletter
- Equipping the Aging Network to Address SILES During COVID-19 and Beyond— 20-minute video with strategies for addressing social isolation, loneliness, and elevated suicide risk (SILES) among older adults using "BE WITH"
- Addressing Nutrition & Social Connections Needs of Rural Older Adults (YouTube)— One-hour webinar on nutrition & connection activities at three older adult nutrition programs during the pandemic, with accompanying presentation Addressing Nutrition & Social Connections Needs Slides
- Food for Thought Dialogue (YouTube)— 70-minute IAFNS webinar on the effects of food and nutrients on mental well-being
- Nutrition and Socialization — The value of socialization at congregate meal sites, with accompanying presentation Nutrition and Socialization Takeaway Sheet and Nutrition and Socialization Tip Sheet
- Socialization (YouTube)— One-hour video on the challenges faced by the network in combatting social isolation, with accompanying presentation Socialization Slides, Socialization Takeaway Sheet and Socialization Tip Sheet
- Saving Lives Literally (YouTube)— 15-minute video on research being done at Georgia State University to enhance social connectedness and decrease risk of suicide in older adults
Reports
- The Role of Religious Coping in Understanding the Suicide Risk of Older Adults During COVID-19— Georgia State University study on the increase of suicidal behaviors and ideation in older adults due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Pandemic Effect: A Social Isolation Report— AARP Foundation exploring the impact of the pandemic on adults of all ages and the effects of social isolation
- Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System— Report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine