In honor of National Volunteer Month in April, this blog post highlights ideas, activities and resources to inspire organizations’ work in commemorating National Volunteer Month while also promoting social connection.
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Every February, we commemorate Black History Month to celebrate, share and understand the achievements, impacts, heritage and culture of Black Americans. Black History Month also provides a meaningful opportunity to host social engagement activities for older adults. This blog post provides organizations with ideas and inspiration for Black History Month engagement programming.
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In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, this blog post shares examples of activities that organizations can offer to support family caregivers and promote social engagement.
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In recognition of National Arts & Humanities Month, this blog post provides ideas for ways organizations can celebrate the arts and promote social engagement and connection among older adults.
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This blog post focuses on ways that organizations can identify, plan and incorporate social engagement activities into their holiday programming. The post also highlights creative methods to engage older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers throughout the holiday season to help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
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This blog post highlights three new program examples featured on the Social Engagement Innovations Hub. 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!
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We recently added 20+ examples to the Social Engagement Innovations Hub! This blog post highlights the newest additions to the Innovations Hub, including partners involved, intervention types and organizations implementing these programs.
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Remaining socially engaged can be a challenge for people living with dementia and their care partners. This blog post highlights key takeaways from the June engAGED webinar on tips, strategies and resources for developing social engagement programming for people living with dementia.
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Throughout 2022 engAGED continued to expand our work supporting the Aging Network and other partner organizations as they develop programs that help consumers stay socially engaged and connected in their communities. As your organization sets its 2023 goals, here are a few highlights of our latest resources that can help support your social engagement efforts!
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Faith communities can be a trusted source of information and are uniquely positioned to engage older adults and caregivers, a practice that enhances the well-being of both older adults and their communities. This blog post highlights key takeaways from the March engAGED webinar to help the Aging Network and faith-based communities work together to create opportunities for social engagement.
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Park and recreation agencies provide recreation opportunities for individuals across the country—and can serve as an important partner for organizations developing social engagement programs for older adults. This blog post highlights key takeaways from the February engAGED webinar to highlight collaborative ways in which the Aging Network and local park and recreation agencies can create opportunities for social engagement.
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Volunteering provides older adults with a way to expand their social circles, strengthen ties to their communities, contribute skills and time to support others, connect with peers—and improve their health. This blog post highlights key takeaways from the January engAGED webinar to help Aging Network and partner organizations develop volunteer opportunities for older adults.
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Arts activities provide opportunities for group participation and social support. This blog post highlights key takeaways from the December engAGED webinar to help organizations in the Aging Network develop arts and creative engagement programming for consumers.
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In 2021, engAGED continued and expanded our work of supporting the Aging Network and other partner organizations as they develop programs that help consumers get and stay connected to their communities. As your organization sets its 2022 goals, we want to share a few highlights of resources we developed in 2021 that can help you enhance, expand or implement social engagement programs in the new year.
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To commemorate Black History Month, engAGED invited Angie Boddie, Director of Health Programs at the The National Caucus & Center on Black Aging, Inc. to write a blog post highlighting the social isolation and loneliness that African American and Black older adults experience and how organizations can help address this.
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Volunteerism benefits communities across the country through the contribution of time and skills to support others. But volunteering also benefits the individuals volunteering, offering them a way to give back while finding meaning and purpose. The January engAGED blog focuses on the benefits volunteering offers older adults and how older adults can continue to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Eldercare Locator recently launched its Home for the Holidays campaign—an annual campaign that elevates issues of importance to older Americans and their families—and provides consumer-friendly tools that organizations can use to help start important conversations. This year’s campaign highlights ways older adults can maintain social connections to prevent social isolation and stay healthy.
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To commemorate National Family Caregivers Month, engAGED invited C. Grace Whiting, President/CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving to write a blog post highlighting the unique value that friend and family caregivers bring to society and the loneliness and social isolation they experience.
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As the Aging Network continues to navigate the challenges and opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic created for social engagement programs, engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults recognized a space was needed for the Aging Network to come together to share insights, experiences and resources. That’s why we held the engAGED Social Isolation Virtual Summit on September 24, 2020—to bring together more than 2,000 Aging Network leaders for an afternoon of learning, connection and information sharing.
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