There are unique considerations for developing social engagement activities to help older adults and caregivers living in rural and tribal communities. This blog post highlights key takeaways from the November engAGED webinar that featured the UMaine Center on Aging, Jefferson Area Board for Aging and the Wyandotte Title VI Aging Program.

This blog post highlights key takeaways from the October 2021 engAGED webinar focused on ways community-based organizations can contract with health plans to address the health impacts of social isolation on older adults.

This blog post spotlights a recent article written by Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy about the mental and physical health impact of social isolation and loneliness and why these issues have risen to the top of his priorities. The post also highlights innovative programs and interventions developed by Area Agencies on Aging.

This engAGED blog 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.

September’s engAGED blog post, written by Generations United, a member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee, describes intergenerational programs, how they foster social engagement and the benefits they offer to people of all ages. The post highlights how programs across the country have successfully adapted their programming for continuity throughout the pandemic and includes several resources to help your organization expand or develop intergenerational programming, including intergenerational shared sites.

Written by an engAGED Project Advisory Committee member, Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) & the National Center for Aging and Disability at TIRR Memorial Hermann Research Center, this blog post focuses on the serious isolation experienced by individuals with disabilities and how Centers for Independent Living have adapted to continue providing meaningful interactions and core services.

Providing opportunities for older adults to develop and expand their technology knowledge and skills helps to support social engagement. This engAGED blog, written by the Older Adults Technology Services—a member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee—speaks to the importance of harnessing the power of technology to facilitate and strengthen social engagement.

Being socially isolated puts people at more risk of being defrauded. The July engAGED blog, written by the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) National Resource Center—a member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee—provides insight into how social isolation can put older adults at risk for Medicare fraud and highlights some of the serious consequences of identity theft.

Park and recreation agencies are key leaders and partners providing social engagement opportunities for older adults in communities across the country. With Park and Recreation month approaching in July, engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults conducted an interview with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)—a member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee—to highlight how park and recreation agencies are promoting social engagement opportunities to older adults.

Older Americans Month (OAM) honors older adults every May. To commemorate the 2021 OAM theme Communities of Strength, which celebrates the critical role older adults play in helping to build strong communities, engAGED is featuring a blog from the Administration for Community Living and AmeriCorps that salutes older adults for their contributions and service in their communities over the past year.

To commemorate National Library Week, engAGED invited Fatima Perkins, Vice Chair, Reference Services Section-RUSA, American Library Association and Director, Community Outreach & Advocacy, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging to write a blog post highlighting how the Aging Network can work with libraries to support the social engagement of older adults.

In recognition of National Nutrition Month, engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults conducted an interview with Bob Blancato, Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP)—and member of the engAGED Project Advisory Committee—to highlight the intersection of nutrition and social engagement.