A Quick Pivot: New Approaches to Social Connectedness During COVID-19

As a result of the COVID-19 national health crisis, engAGED is looking at new ways to promote social engagement at a time when senior centers, adult day care centers, congregate meal programs,  evidence-based health promotion programs and other aging services have been modified to address the new reality the nation is facing. As more communities adopt measures such as physical distancing, quarantines and stay-at-home orders, the importance of social connections for all of us, but particularly older adults who face a heightened threat from the disease, must be addressed.  

This time calls for new approaches and strategies that address the social isolation of older adults. engAGED remains committed to providing resources and support to the Aging Network during this time and is actively monitoring developments and initiatives that are being launched or retooled by the Aging Network and communities to ensure that older adults feel connected and not alone during this pandemic.

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and our partners in the engAGED initiative (Generations United, Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS)/Senior Planet) have been working on various approaches to older adults during this pandemic. In fact, Generations United (COVID-19) and OATS (Coronavirus Resource Guide) have developed COVID-19 landing pages containing resources and webinar recordings to support older adults during this time.  

In addition to its resource page, OATS has launched a national calling campaign and is checking in with centers to determine what technological and general needs they have. As part of its efforts, Senior Planet has launched a ‘Stuck at Home Guide’ series of blog entries that cover an array of topics from online banking, low-cost internet connectivity and even safe grocery shopping.

At the local level, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are adapting their programs to focus on supporting older adults in their homes. engAGED is collecting these and other innovative practices and partnerships from the Aging Network and will promote ways community-based organizations can adapt these programs to help older adults stay connected to the community even during this pandemic.

Here’s one example from the Aging and Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington, the AAA in Spokane, WA: As Washington state became a hotspot for the COVID-19 crisis, Aging and Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington developed a partnership with the Washington State University nursing program that helped expand its outreach and telephone reassurance calls to vulnerable older adults Through a new partnership with Washington State University’s nursing program, older adults in the community have been able to sign up to receive calls from a member of the agency’s staff or nursing program student. Older adults receiving the calls are asked a series of questions to determine how they are coping and whether they have any needs or concerns. If needs are identified, a member of the agency’s staff will follow up with additional resources. This partnership is a win-win-win. Older adults can receive regular contact with agency staff, the ability of Aging and Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington to reach more older adults during this critical time has expanded and nursing students have a way to fulfill their practicum requirements.   

For more innovative examples of what the Aging Network is doing as well as tips that older adults can use to stay connected to the community, stay tuned to our website—and make sure you sign up for our newsletter!

Working together, staying connected, keeping engaged, we will all weather this crisis.