engAGED Social Isolation Virtual Summit 2020

 

engAGED held a Social Isolation Virtual Summit on September 24, 2020. The Summit featured national experts and local leaders who shared the latest research on social isolation and loneliness, COVID-19 adaptations and innovations that address social isolation, and how technology is helping foster engagement during COVID-19.

Watch a recording of the Summit below and view the PowerPoint slides. The full agenda is available below the recording.

Agenda

0:00 | Welcome and Purpose Setting
The engAGED Social Isolation Virtual Summit kicked off with opening remarks from Sandy Markwood, CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and Greg Link, Director of the Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services at the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

  • Sandy Markwood, CEO, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Washington, DC 

  • Greg Link, Director, Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services, Administration on Aging, U.S. Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC

13:50| Latest Research on Social Isolation and Loneliness
As an expert on the research base on social isolation and loneliness, Dr. Holt-Lunstad shared the latest findings on social isolation and loneliness to provide further framing and context.

  • Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

36:10 | COVID-Adaptations to Address Social Isolation
Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging CEO Donna Harvey moderated a panel discussion with Aging Network stakeholders on their lessons learned during the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Moderator: Donna Harvey, CEO, Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Waterloo, IA

  • Sue Lachenmayr, State Program Coordinator, Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence – A Division of MAC, Inc. AAA, Easton, MD

  • Elizabeth Pawloski, National Director–Tutoring Partnerships and Expansion, OASIS Institute, St. Louis, MO

  • Jennifer Tripken, Associate Director, Center for Healthy Aging, National Council on Aging (NCOA), Arlington, VA

  • Lauren Pongan, National Director, Diverse Elders Coalition, Oakland, CA

01:30:06 | How Technology is Fostering Engagement During Coronavirus
Speakers highlighted ways that organizations can tap into technology to support the engagement needs of older adults.

  • Moderator: Lori Gerhard, Director, Office of Interagency Innovation, U.S. Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC

  • Alex Glazebrook, Director of Operations, Older Adults Technology Services, Brooklyn, NY

  • Carolyn P. Phillips, Director of Services & Learning and Director & Principal Investigator of Tools for Life and the National Pass It On Center, Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

02:18:42 | Closing Commentary