Three Social Engagement Program Examples To Inform Your Work!
How is your organization providing social engagement opportunities to older adults in your community? No matter what the activity, these moments allow clients the chance to interact with each other and often prevent them from falling into patterns of social isolation and loneliness. A robust social engagement program builds connections and creates lasting memories for all involved.
If you’re looking for ways to bring exciting and fresh ideas to your lineup of activities, the Social Engagement Innovations Hub is the best place to start.
Last week, we shared that engAGED and Commit to Connect have added 24 new examples to the Innovations Hub. The addition of these programs brings us to more than 100 social engagement examples to inform and inspire your work!
This week, we are highlighting three of these new program examples. Each of these programs puts a fresh spin on a particular service or activity so that participants want to keep coming back for more. Read on to find out how your peers across the country are increasing social engagement—and consider recreating any of these examples.
Learn to Play Mahjong
Learn to Play, developed by the Town of Lexington, MA, offers older adults the opportunity to learn a new game, meet new friends and find social connection. Alongside the Town of Lexington Senior Services Director and Senior Services Coordinator, Lexington High School student volunteers facilitate a group to teach older adults this brain-boosting game. The game fosters meaningful interactions that help to cultivate friendships, strengthen bonds and gain understanding across generations.
Senior Connections
The Agency on Aging Area 4 in Sacramento, CA developed and implemented a person-centered case management and isolation reduction program called Senior Connections for older and/or dependent adults who meet the criteria for Adult Protective Services. Senior Connections connects participants to social engagement opportunities, recreational activities and informational services to enhance their quality of life and reduce social isolation.
Tasty Tuesday
Tasty Tuesday, developed by Northwoods Partners, is a free monthly cooking and nutrition program for older adults living in and around Ely, MN. The program offers monthly gatherings for people who enjoy cooking discussions and demonstrations to learn about budget-friendly healthy recipes. Cooking is a common bond for both participants and program volunteers in a tourist town with a single grocery store, deli and a handful of year-round dining options.
Learn More
Interested in learning more about these three programs or any of the 100 plus examples included on the Innovations Hub? Visit www.engagingolderadults.org/hub to get started!
The Innovations Hub is easy to use. Search via keywords or filter programs by social engagement intervention type, geographic area served, partners involved and more so you can effortlessly find examples to replicate.
In addition to learning about new programs, take the time to share your own programs with others. If you have a social engagement program, intervention, or service your peers can learn from, consider submitting it to the Innovations Hub as well!