Circle of Friends Program Seeks to Combat Loneliness and Social Isolation While loneliness has long been a serious problem for older adults, more attention is being placed on this due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Realization of the health and mental health issues exacerbated by safer at home orders, closed senior and community centers, suspended church services and events, fewer family gatherings, and visitation restriction at hospitals, nursing and assisted living facilities have all brought a face to the problem of loneliness. Loneliness Linked to Serious Health Conditions Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States. Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.The AARP Foundation and the National Council on Aging have allocated substantial resources to study the issue of loneliness and social isolation. These studies found that older adults who describe themselves as lonely have a 59% greater risk of functional decline and a 45% greater risk of death. Surveys reported 17% of adults age 65 and older are isolated (nearly 1 in 5), with 46% of women age 75 and older living alone.Isolation is a health issue, with research showing that the negative health effects of chronic isolation and loneliness, while harmful at any age, are especially dangerous for people over 50. The health risks of prolonged isolation have been found to be equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Social isolation and loneliness are associated with higher blood pressure, increased susceptibility to the flu, greater risk of heart disease, the earlier onset of dementia, depression and $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending annually. Some of the most prevalent causes of isolation reported by the AARP Foundation are:Transportation challengesPoor health and well-being including hearing loss, mobility impairments, frailty and poor mental health. Societal barriers, such as lack of opportunities for older adults to engage and contribute, to have meaningful activitiesLack of access and inequity, including issues of poverty, rural living and marginalized groupsSo what can help mitigate this? Even when the pandemic ends and the world opens back up more fully, loneliness will continue to be a challenge for older adults. The Area Agency on Aging is increasing resources to address this issue by developing the Circle of Friends program.The Circle of Friends program will include:Intervention by a social worker to address needs and provide home visitation when indicated.Friendly Calling: The telephone reassurance program is aimed at addressing feelings of social isolation and improving mental and emotional well-being through increased socialization and friendships. The Area Agency on Aging RSVP Volunteer program will be expanded to offer friendly phone visitation, and in-person visitation when indicated between matched friends utilizing volunteers who have been prescreened.Social Isolation Resources: To improve social connectedness the Area Agency on Aging will provide the following resources: A home study toolkit and small groups calls for Chronic Disease Self-Management classes,Feeling Good and Staying Connected workbooks to educate older adults about habits they can practice to prevent or reduce loneliness and social isolation, offers engagement activities, and provide methods to develop a self-management plan to improve social connections,On-line resources to include free access to many social, educational and health zoom classes through GetSetUP, Connect2Affect and Trualta. Robotic pet dogs and cats for persons with dementiaThe Area Agency on Aging will offer free GetSetUp virtual senior center classes to older adults who are able to benefit from live zoom social get-togethers, health, travel, educational and technology classes. Trualta classes will also be available free on-line for isolated caregivers. These resources help older adults stay mentally, spiritually and physically fit, with activities that reduce isolation and associated negative health and mental health impacts.Circle of Friends is open to anyone age 60 or over in Mobile County who lives alone or is homebound, has little or no family or friend support, or simply would like someone to talk to on a regular basis. To volunteer for the friendly calling program, to sign up for virtual GetSetUp or Trualta classes or home wellness classes, to enroll in the Circle of Friends program or to obtain a robotic pet for persons with dementia, contact the Area Agency on Aging at 251-706-4680.
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