How does social isolation impact older adults in Minnesota?

Guests discuss how social isolation and loneliness impact the health of Minnesota’s older adults, efforts underway to better understand and address the problem, and the ways everyone can help.

Guests • Steven M. Hoover, PhD, Healthy Aging Coordinator, Central Minnesota Council on Aging • Christin Lindberg, Research Associate, Wilder Research • Rebecca Sales, Research Scientist, Wilder Research

Resources • The Foundation for Social Connection https://www.social-connection.org/ • Commit to Connect: Combatting Social Isolation and Loneliness in all Communities https://acl.gov/CommitToConnect • National Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness https://www.endsocialisolation.org • enGaged: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults https://www.engagingolderadults.org • MinnesotaHelp.info https://www.minnesotahelp.info/SpecialTopics/Seniors/Search?sm=All&q=social+isolation&loc=&geo=&reg= • Senior LinkAge Line® @ 1-800-333-2433 • Mental Health Minnesota CONNECT Initiative provides social connections by phone between volunteers and people who may be struggling with social isolation https://mentalhealthmn.org/support/minnesota-warmline/ • Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly Phone Companions program matches older adults with volunteers https://www.littlebrothersmn.org/programs/ • AARP Friendly Voice program provides trained volunteers who call people who are feeling isolated or anxious https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/friendly-voice/ • Minnesota Compass https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/age/older-adults