As Older Americans Month comes to a close, the National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adutls (engAGED) has launched a Community Toolkit with resources that can be used year-round to promote social engagement among older adults in your community. Continue reading
Tag Archives: social isolation
Access to Amenities Impacts Social Isolation and Sense of Community
Americans who live in closer proximity to community parks, libraries, restaurants, and theaters are more content with their neighborhood, more trusting of others, and less lonely regardless of whether they live in large cities, suburbs, or small cities or towns.
This according to a report from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) based on their Survey on Community and Society. Continue reading
National Poll on Healthy Aging Finds Feelings of Isolation Among Older Adults with Health Issues
One in four older adults say they feel isolated from other people at least some of the time, and one in three say they lack regular companionship, according to a new national poll. Continue reading
ACL Announces Theme and Resources for Older Americans Month
In preparation for Older Americans Month in May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) has announced a theme that compliments the Age- and Dementia Friendly Movement. The 2019 theme is “Connect, Create, Contribute,” which encourages older adults and their communities to:
- Connect with friends, family, and services that support participation.
- Create by engaging in activities that promote learning, health, and personal enrichment.
- Contribute time, talent, and life experience to benefit others.
In Good Company Challenge Announces Winners of 2018 Optimal Aging Challenge
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative joined a group of industry, academic and government partners affiliated with Governor Charlie Baker’s Council to Address Aging to announce the winners of the In Good Company: The 2018 Optimal Aging Challenge, a global competition designed to identify breakthrough solutions to social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Continue reading
Wintermission Competition Accepting Applications to Help Improve Public Life in Winter
8-80 Cities is accepting proposals for Wintermission project partners in three U.S. cities. The organization will support these partners to become national leaders in winter city planning, design, and programming. These cities will become Winter City Vanguards, and work with 8-80 Cities and other partners to:
1. Lead a city-wide conversation about public life and social isolation in winter
2. Implement winter city pilot projects
3. Develop a unique winter city strategy Continue reading
Loneliness and Social Connections: A National Survey of Adults 45 and Older
About one-third of U.S. adults age 45 and older report feeling lonely — and, due to an increased number of aging adults, the number is growing.
A survey by AARP Foundation finds that those who have low income are especially vulnerable. Nearly half of midlife and older adults with annual incomes of less than $25,000 report being lonely. A full 10 million people over the age of 50 live in poverty in the United States. Continue reading
Massachusetts Tech, Innovation, and Aging Service Leaders Launch Global Competition to Improve Healthy Aging and Social Isolation
A global innovation challenge for the improvement of well-being in aging populations was announced today by a group of industry, academic and government partners affiliated with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Council to Address Aging.
The In Good Company: The 2018 Optimal Aging Challenge seeks to develop breakthrough technologies, community resources and solutions that reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Continue reading
Elder Abuse Awareness Videos Urge Involvement from Entire Community
A collaboration of the FrameWorks Institute and the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) are yielding great resources for raising awareness and combating Elder Abuse. In the process, with their latest resource, they are also explaining the benefits of Age-Friendly Communities. Continue reading
Tufts Health Plan Foundation Awards $1.1 Million to Advance Policies and Practices Supporting Healthy Aging
The Tufts Health Plan Foundation today announced new community investments of more than $1.1 million. The eight new grants reflect a commitment to advancing inclusive policies that create thriving and vital communities that work for people of all ages. For 2017, Foundation community investments top $3.15 million, including 30 new grants and on-going support for 15 multi-year initiatives.
“Communities have greater interest in age-friendly initiatives. There’s a growing understanding of the critical role older people play. They are an asset to community, and their voices and insights are invaluable to the public discourse on what communities need,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, vice president, corporate citizenship for Tufts Health Plan and president of its Foundation.
The Foundation’s new grants support initiatives to engage and train more advocates to participate in policy discussions; extend dementia-friendly programs to new communities; and address gaps limiting access to services and healthy, nutritious food. All are aligned with the Foundation’s focus on support for communities that work for everyone.
Grants in Policy and Advocacy
- Healthy Waltham (Waltham, MA)
Waltham Connections for Healthy Aging
To build momentum for the second and third years of this city-wide, age-friendly initiative. Two-year grant for $100,240. - Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (Boston, MA)
Older Adult Nutrition Access Project
To improve older people’s participation in the SNAP program by training enrollment agency staff and promoting systemic advocacy and coalition building to defend federal nutrition programs. One-year grant for $60,000. - Massachusetts Senior Action Council (Quincy, MA)
Seniors Power Up!
To organize and train diverse low-income older people in Massachusetts to use their collective voices to influence key public policy issues affecting their lives and their communities. Two-year grant for $150,000. - Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (Providence, RI)
Senior Voices for Aging in Community – Year 3
To engage low-income seniors and develop them as community leaders with the capacity to effectively advocate for policy change. One-year grant for $50,000.
Grants focused on collaboration and community engagement (James Roosevelt, Jr., Leadership Fund):
- Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging and Senior Center Directors (Easthampton, MA)
Dementia Friendly Massachusetts – Scale and Sustainability Phase (2018-2020)
To scale the Dementia Friendly Initiative so more Massachusetts communities embrace and become active dementia-friendly communities. Three-year grant for $302,068. - Rhode Island College Foundation (Providence, RI)
Building an Age-Friendly Rhode Island, 2018-2019
To build a powerful community coalition to advocate, design innovative solutions and develop programs/services for an Age-Friendly Rhode Island. Two-year grant for $252,400. - SeniorCare, Inc. (Gloucester, MA)
Age and Dementia Friendly Cape Ann
To work with four Cape Ann communities to establish the first combined age- and dementia-friendly effort. Three-year grant for $190,650.
The Foundation also awarded a grant focused on Systems and Best Practices.
- Alzheimer’s Association of Rhode Island (Providence, RI)
State of RI Alzheimer’s Five Year Plan Update
To support the update of Rhode Island’s five-year plan on Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders. One-year grant for $15,000.
The new grants engage nearly 80 community organizations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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