The Montgomery County, Maryland, Commission on Aging, Task Force to Counter Social Isolation and Loneliness of Seniors (SILoS) is building a community awareness and action campaign bringing together existing county resources, programs and organizations to provide County employee service providers (fire & rescue, A & D, legal aid, APS, EMS) home caregivers, health practitioners, senior living communities and individuals the tools and interventions to make an impact on those suffering from social isolation and loneliness.
WHAT’S WORKING? LET’S LOOK AT SOME SUCCESS STORIES
Montgomery County Partners
African American Health Program
The African American Health Program (AAHP) exists to eliminate health disparities and improve the number and quality of years of life for African Americans and people of African descent in Montgomery County, MD.
Screening tools
Asian American Health Initiative
The mission of the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, is to improve the health and wellness of Asian American communities in Montgomery County by applying equity, community engagement, and data-driven approaches.
Resource Library
Latino Health Initiative
The Latino Health Initiative works throughout the county to improve the health and wellbeing of Latinos by enhancing coordination of health programs and services, developing innovative program models and services, and advocating for policies and practices that enhance the quality of life for all County residents.
Ama tu Vida
Montgomery County DHHS
Montgomery County, Maryland (‘the County’) has provided a Disability Network Directory with hyperlinks to informational resources developed by other agencies or organizations that provide services or programs for the County.
A & D Directory
Seniors Today
Seniors Today shares news and information of interest to senior residents of Montgomery County. Program airs on Comcast/RCN 6, Verizon 30 the following times: Mon – (10:00am) | Tues – (1:00am, 12:30pm, 6:00pm) | Thurs – (2:30am, 6:00pm) | Fri (10:30am) | Sat – (2:00am).
Montgomery County Senior Villages
- Villages are a local, volunteer-led, grassroots organizations that aim to support community members who choose to age-in-place. They foster social connections through activities and events and coordinate volunteer help at home using neighbor helping neighbor model.
- There are close to 200 villages in the nation and around 40 in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Senior Centers
ADD A MAP AND LINKS TO PROGRAMS HERE
Nationwide Resources
AARP Resources @ Connect2Affect Isolation is more than being alone. It’s the result of feeling detached physically or psychologically, or being disconnected from support groups of family, friends and community. Is Isolation affecting me?
Loneliness and isolation are not the same thing.
Loneliness (also known as subjective isolation) denotes how people perceive their experience and whether or not they feel isolated. Objective isolation involves quantifiable measurements, such as the size of one’s social network (and the frequency of engagement with it), availability of transportation, and ability to access resources and information. Learn more at Connect2Affect.
National Institutes of Health
Social isolation and loneliness can be harmful to the physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional health of older adults. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is developing outreach materials to raise awareness about social isolation and loneliness and strategies that may help older adults stay more connected.
Healthy Aging and the Importance of Human Connections.
CircleTalk™ programs are designed to build connections and relationships through high quality interactions with others. Support moments of real connection and great, guided conversations using unique curriculum that is fun and provocative. CircleTalk™ programs are a perfect program compliment in any setting where older adults gather including senior-living communities, adult day programs and senior centers.
Building Intergenerational Connections
Since 1986, approximately 45,000 children and older adults in more than 100 schools and senior facilities have benefited from participation in our programs. Over the years, hundreds of dedicated and caring older adult volunteers, who are the heart of Interages, have made a significant difference in the lives of children.
A community working together to spread wisdom, end social isolation, and make the world a little better— one generation-bridging connection at a time.
Empowering the Ages transforms lives through facilitating and nurturing relationships across all generations. We connect people to each other and their communities to share, learn and feel valued.
Technology Training
Oasis
Oasis is a unique educational program for seniors who want to continue learning and thriving throughout their lives. Membership is free and open to anyone over the age of 50.
Join Oasis to stay sharp by engaging in:
- Lifelong Learning classes
- Computer and Technology classes geared to seniors
- Health and Wellness programs
- Volunteer Opportunities
With Covid-19 and seniors’ health foremost in our minds, all of our programs are now online via Zoom. Zoom is easy to use and we are here to help you with it!
MoCo Covid Corp
The County’s COVID Corps was recently featured on the PBS Newshour and Local DVM. Learn more about COVID Corps.
“COVID Corps” is a summer employment program for residents ages 16 to 23 that hires young people to support the County’s COVID-19 response. MCDOT is working with several of COVID Corps staff to serve as Transit Ambassadors.
Senior Planet
We’re a distinctive, diverse collection of people aged 60 and older who are busy changing the way we age by embracing opportunities to reshape our lives, connect with and help one another, and change the world for the better —all while learning, growing, and having fun!
Forum style Presentations on Social Isolation and Loneliness
Milken Institute, Center for the Future of Aging
More than one of four adults aged 50 to 80 reported that they felt isolated even before the outbreak, MPTF and the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging have joined together to host this conference because we believe, now more than ever, aging service and other community-based organizations seek inspiration and tangible ideas of what they can do right away to reduce loneliness among older adults.
Strategies for addressing Social Isolation During a Pandemic
On December 2, 2020, ProMedica and AARP Foundation hosted a virtual summit to discuss strategies for addressing social isolation during a pandemic, and share promising practices from organizations in the community and across sectors.
Forum to End Social Isolation and Loneliness On October 13-14, 2020 The Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness (CESIL) held an international two day event to publicly raise the visibility of the crisis of social isolation and loneliness, identify key innovations, promote policy solutions, and spur nationwide organizational commitments to action.
AMSS Webinar “Sharing Traditions for Life Decisions (Social Isolation)”
Join AMSS for the second in a series of thought-provoking town hall webinars ” Sharing Traditions for Life Decisions -on Social Isolation”. October 22, 2020 / 7-8:30 pm. This event is in partnership with: The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care(C-TAC); The Asian American Health Initiative(AAHI); The African American Health Program & The Latino Health Initiative. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we are all feeling the effect of being distant from our friends, loved ones, and society – for many of us, a case of extreme social isolation.
– How can we learn and support each other? – What are the similarities within the diverse communities? – How do we understand social isolation from different cultural perspectives? – What are the tools and resources that can be used to address the loneliness, depression and the grief others are facing?
October 22, 2020 | 7:00- 8:30 PM
– Keynote speaker/Dr. Raymond L. Crowel, Psy.D/ Director of Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
– Samikshya Sapkota, MPH, Behavioral Health Coordinator, Asian American Health Initiative, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
– Veronica Zapata Velez, LCPC, LPC, RPT, NCCB.A Psychology, M.A Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
– Naffisa Turay, Medical Daycare Program Specialist, Department of Health, and AMSS Health and Long -Term Care Outreach Ambassador.
Education on Social Isolation and Loneliness
Lemon Tart
zesty lemon tang, creamy custard and topped with meringue
$12.00
Trio of Fruit
Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums and passion fruit
$28.00
Community Best Practices on Social Isolation and Loneliness
Reach out MA
The Task Force to End Loneliness & Build Community’s campaign to mobilize individuals, communities and organizations to address social isolation
SEE WHAT #ReachOutMA IS ALL ABOUT…..We know that, in big and small ways, we can make each other’s days a little bit brighter