Our Mission

engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults, is a national effort to increase the social engagement of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers by expanding and enhancing the Aging Network’s capacity to offer social engagement. engAGED is administered by USAging. Activities of engAGED are supported by USAging and, in part, through a contract with the Administration for Community Living. engAGED identifies and disseminates information about emerging trends and best practices and develops social engagement resources and replication strategies that the Aging Network can customize for use in their communities. Learn more about how engAGED can help support your organization’s social engagement programming!

Why we are focused on social engagement

Much has been learned about the individual and collective impact of social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation is commonly described as based on objective indicators, such as a lack of relationships or infrequent social contact while loneliness is defined as the subjective perception of being alone. Research suggests that remaining socially engaged improves quality of life and is associated with better physical, mental and emotional health, avoiding the negative impacts of social isolation and loneliness. In addition, people who are socially engaged in their communities can share their knowledge, talent, skills, experience and wisdom, having a positive and powerful impact on their communities.

As the national dialogue on the impact of social isolation grows, especially because of the COVID-19 crisis, many are analyzing ways to address social isolation. engAGED develops and promotes resources that help organizations and communities increase social engagement opportunities and the size of social networks for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers, to address the root causes of social isolation and loneliness.