Social connection

Nearly one-fifth of older adults live in rural areas and, as a result of their geography, are at higher risk of experiencing social isolation and loneliness. The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Commit to Connect Initiative recently released a topical guide titled “Rural Communities and Building Social Connection for Older Adults and People with Disabilities,” aimed at assisting staff and volunteer leaders from organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities in rural areas seeking to enhance or initiate social engagement efforts.

The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Commit to Connect (CTC) initiative recently released a resource dedicated to supporting social connections for people who have dementia. This resource highlights easily replicable programs such as memory cafes and art or music-focused activities, providing practical examples for enhancing social engagement. In addition, it provides valuable communication tips for interacting with individuals with dementia and encourages active participation in the Commit to Connect Nationwide Network of Champions, fostering a collaborative approach to combat social isolation across diverse demographics.

The Foundation for Social Connection has created a catalog of interventions with the primary goal of advancing social connection, which is now live on their website. The intervention catalog is for companies and non-profit organizations that provide specific interventions (e.g. products, services, and programs) to directly address social isolation, loneliness, and social disconnection. The primary outcome of the intervention should be to foster and build social connection or address social isolation and loneliness.