The Engaged Resource Center, 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. Check out our training and technical assistance opportunities and our outreach materials to learn more about how the Engaged Resource Center can help support your organization’s social engagement programming.
Nominations are now open for the John A. Hartford 2026 Business Innovation Award! This award recognizes community-based organizations and networks for their contracting and strategic partnerships with health care entities to improve social connection while serving older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. Submit a nomination by May 13.
USAging’s Strengthening Social Connection in Communities (SSCC) has awarded 12-month seed grants to 11 organizations within the Aging Network. The goal of SSCC is to improve the health of older adults and their caregivers through social connection programs in communities and promote alignment with Age-Friendly Ecosystem initiatives.
Social isolation and loneliness have widely been recognized as an issue disproportionately affecting older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. This blog post explores the status of social connection in the United States and how the Aging Network has become a staple in promoting social engagement.
This article examines the relationship between loneliness, frailty and functional limitations among older adults. Through the survey of more than 4,000 older adults in China, it was found that there is a positive correlation among all factors indicating older adults who are lonely are more likely to have functional limitations. Additionally, this study found that frailty is an important mediating factor for older adults’ loneliness and functional limitations.
A recent study found that the caregivers of adults who recently suffered strokes have a significantly higher risk of experiencing social alienation. This includes higher reported feelings of loneliness and lower levels of perceived social support. The study calls for targeted interventions to address the needs of this population.
This cross-sectional study analyzed the effects of both the quality and quantity of relationships among older adults and their perceived loneliness. Findings suggest that though both factors play an important role, the quality and type of relationship had more of a significant effect on reported loneliness.
