Healthy Aging and Social engAGEment
The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults - January 2020 engAGED Newsletter • February 6, 2020
Understanding Loneliness In Older Adults — And Tailoring A Solution
For years, Dr. Linda Fried offered older patients who complained of being lonely what seemed to be sensible guidance. “Go out and find something that matters to you,” she would say.
But her well-meant advice didn’t work most of the time. What patients really wanted were close relationships with people they care about, satisfying social roles and a sense that their lives have value. And this wasn’t easy to find.
We need “new societal institutions that bring meaning and purpose” to older adults’ lives, Fried recently told a committee of the National Academies of Sciences investigating loneliness and social isolation among older adults. (Fried is a geriatrician and dean of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.)
The committee’s deliberations come amid growing interest in the topic. Four surveys (by Cigna, AARP, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the University of Michigan) have examined the extent of loneliness and social isolation in older adults in the past year. And health insurers, health care systems, senior housing operators and social service agencies are launching or expanding initiatives. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation.)
Notably, Anthem Inc. is planning a national rollout to Medicare Advantage plans of a program addressing loneliness developed by its subsidiary CareMore Health, according to Robin Caruso, CareMore’s chief togetherness officer. UnitedHealthcare is making health navigators available to Medicare Advantage members at risk for social isolation. And Kaiser Permanente is starting a pilot program that will refer lonely or isolated older adults in its Northwest region to community services, with plans to eventually bring it to other regions, according to Lucy Savitz, vice president of health research at Kaiser Permanente Northwest. (KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)
The effectiveness of these programs and others remains to be seen. Few have been rigorously evaluated, and many assume increased social interaction will go a long way toward alleviating older adults’ distress at not having meaningful relationships. But that isn’t necessarily the case.
“Assuaging loneliness is not just about having random human contact; it’s about the quality of that contact and who you’re having contact with,” said Dr. Vyjeyanthi Periyakoil, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.
A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work for older adults, she and other experts agreed. Instead, varied approaches that recognize the different degrees, types and root causes of loneliness are needed.
Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month, and this year’s theme was “Champion Your Health.” In recognition of the month, the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas hosted three community events in Jacksonville, Marshall, and Athens, bringing together older adults, caregivers, staff, volunteers, and community partners to celebrate healthy aging and support older adults’ independence. More than 420 people attended the three events, where they received information and heard from experts on senior services, exercise programs, fraud and scams, and ways to take an active role in managing their health. Activities included on-site health screenings, evidence-based activity demonstrations, a Dementia Live demonstration, and the TxDOT Car Fit Program for Seniors. At some events, local officials also read proclamations recognizing May as Older Americans Month, including Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis, who presented the proclamation in Jacksonville. “We encourage older East Texans and their caregivers to connect with our agency to learn more about the resources and services available to help them live independently and remain active in their communities,” said Adrian Cornejo, ETCOG’s Director of the Area Agency on Aging. Special thanks to all event partners, sponsors, volunteers, AAA staff, and participants who helped make these Older Americans Month events a success!
Throughout May, the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas (AAA) will join organizations across the nation in celebrating Older Americans Month (OAM), led by the Administration for Community Living, honoring the important contributions of older adults in our communities. This year’s theme, “Champion Your Health,” encourages older adults to focus on the steps they can take to support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, while highlighting the resources and community connections that help people age well. In recognition of Older Americans Month, AAA will host three special events at community locations across East Texas to celebrate older adults and share information about programs and services available to seniors and caregivers. Throughout the month of May, the Area Agency on Aging will also participate in additional events that promote the mental and physical health of our communities and recognize the many contributions older Americans have made, and continue to make, across the country. As the United States marks its 250th anniversary this year, Older Americans Month also offers an opportunity to reflect on the generations of older adults whose service, leadership, and life experiences have helped shape our nation, our state, and our local communities. “Older Americans Month is an important time to recognize the lasting contributions of older adults and the many ways they strengthen our communities,” said Adrian Cornejo, ETCOG’s Director of the Area Agency on Aging. “This year’s theme, Champion Your Health, reminds us of the importance of supporting healthy aging by connecting older East Texans with resources, services, and opportunities that help them live well and remain engaged.” The following OAM celebration events are free and open to the public and will feature information on services and supports available to East Texas seniors: Friday, May 15 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM First Christian Church 1920 Beaumont St. Jacksonville, Texas 75766 Wednesday, May 20 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Marshall Convention Center 2501 E. End Blvd S. Marshall, Texas 75672 Thursday, May 21 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM First Methodist Church of Athens 225 Lovers Lane Athens, Texas 75751 The AAA is the region’s leader in advocacy and services for older adults, providing support such as information and referral, benefits counseling, case management, health education classes, senior nutrition, and the Ombudsman program for people living in nursing and assisted living facilities. These services help older individuals live independent, meaningful, and dignified lives in their homes and communities for as long as possible. For questions about the events, contact the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas at (903) 218-6500.
