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=®=

• 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