Resources for Practitioners

This mapping tool allows you to visualize measures of social isolation and loneliness in older adults in the United States. The tool integrates individual measures of social isolation at the state and county level including demographics, health and health behaviors, health care utilization, health system capacity and COVID-19 data.

The National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) has a social isolation and loneliness awareness campaign for elders and their caregivers with a grant from the CDC Foundation to help all members of Native communities understand the issue, which was already a concern and worsened during COVID-19.

This report provides communities and residents with practical resources and ideas for building connections. It includes ideas for building connections among neighbors, families, and friends, and offers insights to strengthen existing opportunities for all residents to participate and be engaged. The report was commissioned by AARP Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Taskforce to End Loneliness and Build Community.

As we physically isolate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our need for social connection remains. The UnLonely Project through the Foundation for the Art & Healing has resources and tools to engage in creative activities and enable social connections. Take a look.

This Valentine’s Day, Wish of a Lifetime from AARP is leading an effort to create cards and safely send some love to older adults who are socially isolated.

OCHIN, a nonprofit health care innovation center, is seeking to improve the ability to detect and address social isolation and loneliness through a project that funds social service resource locator pilots and the use of validated screening tools. The work is supported with funding from AARP Foundation.

This nationwide service connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources.

Whether help is needed with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver needs training and education or a well-deserved break from caregiving responsibilities, the Eldercare Locator is there to point that person in the right direction.

Hear tips from a man who spent a year alone in outer space.

A study found participants of the Leveraging Exercise to Age in Place (LEAP) classes had a decrease in loneliness and an improvement in social connectedness.

This program was supported by a three-year grant from AARP Foundation.