Latest news with #socialisolation
CBS News
5 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Pittsburgh-area volunteers help older adults overcome social isolation
Local volunteers are helping older adults overcome social isolation. Though the temperature outside on Friday felt like it was well into the 90s, indoors at the LifeSpan Mon Valley Senior Center in McKeesport, it was Christmas in July, as dozens of seniors came out to share a meal, a good time, and break away from their social isolation. Kannu Sahni, the vice president of community affairs with Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network, one of the organizations sponsoring the gathering, says that social isolation is a real issue. "I think COVID kind of exacerbated it and made it very apparent to everyone, but we are seeing that social isolation is the leading cause of mental health issues amongst our seniors," Sahni said. Luckily, AHN, along with the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging, is meeting this problem head-on. Not only do they partner for events like this one that get people out of the house, but they also spearhead the volunteer Senior Companion Program, which goes directly into people's homes. "There are over 350 older adults who have been paired with Senior Companions," said Dr. Shannah Gilliam, the Director of Aging Services at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. "They come, they visit, they play games, they spend time, they talk, sometimes they might help them clean up a little bit around the house, but it is really just making a friend." Part of the event was filling up care packages for Senior Companions to take on their house calls. Michele Petit-Hammond from East McKeesport says she has been a Senior Companion for years. She says that it makes her feel good to show people that they are not alone. "It is a great thing to do for your lonely and alone senior family who need somebody to talk to or even need to go for a walk or someone to engage or having a friend," said Petit-Hammond. "Everybody needs somebody to talk to," she added. Senior Companions is always looking for volunteers to go out into the community. People interested in the program, either as a volunteer or recipient, can contact SeniorLine for more information at (412) 350-5460 or this email address.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
P.E.I. approves funding for communal meals for seniors
Several organizations in P.E.I. have been approved for more than $160,000 from the provincial government to host free community meals for seniors. The provincial government made the announcement on Wednesday, saying a total of 41 organizations have been approved for funding through the Department of Social Development and Seniors. 'Our department is committed to improving the quality of life for older Islanders, reducing social isolation, and helping seniors better connect with their communities and peers,' said Social Development and Seniors Minister Barb Ramsay. 'These meals are a great way for older Islanders to visit with friends and neighbours while enjoying a delicious meal, and wonderful hospitality provided by these outstanding community organizations.' A pilot program was launched in 2024 called the provided funding to organizations to host these free communal meals for seniors in hopes of reducing social isolation and supporting meals for older Islanders. The province says the pilot was well received by the public, leading to the program being offered for another year with grants of up to $5,000 being awarded in June. 'We see first-hand the positive impact these meals create, and how healthy it is for seniors to be interacting with their peers and having a good time,' said the chair of the Parkview Senior Citizens Club Jim Steele. 'We are proud to partner with the province to deliver these community meals.' The province says it is also developing a new five-year Seniors Action Plan which will recommend measures in hopes of helping address the needs of P.E.I.'s aging population which the province expects to be released in the fall this year. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
Independent Singapore
21-07-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
Singaporean asks if there's a loneliness epidemic going on
Photo: Freepik (for illustration purposes only) SINGAPORE: 'Do you feel lonely in Singapore too?' a local Reddit user asked in a post on Monday morning (Jul 21). They wrote about feeling 'surrounded yet unseen' despite living in a crowded city, calling loneliness a 'quiet epidemic' that is no longer found only among those who are alone but also strikes even those who live with their families. 'Loneliness has slipped into households filled with people, hidden behind busy schedules, polite small talk, and tired eyes,' u/PenguinFatty in a post on r/askSingapore. They wrote about the difficulties in making new friends in Singapore, given that people are so busy and are always rushing about with 'eyes on their phones.' 'Social circles are often tight and closed, formed long ago in school, work, or childhood, rarely opening to newcomers. Even in shared spaces like gyms, cafes, or churches, connection is fleeting. It's easy to meet people, yes, but hard to truly connect,' they wrote, adding that even when people find communities, they can feel invisible in them, without a sense of real belonging. 'In a city built for efficiency, intimacy feels inconvenient. In a place full of people, many still eat alone, walk alone, cry alone, and maybe it's time we stop pretending we're okay, and start asking each other the one question that could open a door: 'Do you feel lonely too?'' The post spawned quite a discussion among commenters, some of whom wrote that not all people who are alone are lonely, and not all who are lonely are alone. 'It's all about the mindset,' wrote one. Another seemed to agree and added that people who want to be less lonely need to put the work in to make and maintain friendships. 'It boils down to effort as well. You want to have a social circle that is fun; you have to invest as well, time, money, appearance, speech, etc. Nothing comes for free in this world. You can't expect fleeting connections to be deep. You want it to be deep you have to let it flow with time, find common interests, etc.,' they added. A Reddit user who said they understand exactly how the post author feels, having gone through the same experience, gave the following suggestions: 'What has somehow helped was attending social mixers (platonic). Depending on which ones you attend, the people there can be more intentional in getting to know people with no agenda. Friendly and more open to expanding their friendship groups instead of sticking to their original cliques. I also have half a mind to solo travel and stay at a hostel so I can meet people who are not confined to their comfort zone of sticking with people they already know.' Another commenter who appeared to feel the same way asked, 'What does feeling not lonely even mean?' /TISG Read also: 'I feel so, so lonely': Woman earning S$4.9k struggles to find her place among older colleagues () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Key programs for older adults who struggle with social isolation could be at risk
New Orleans — While they're not related, Dorothy Williams provides 90-year-old Lars Williams with something critically important: companionship. For almost 20 years, Dorothy Williams has volunteered with the Senior Companion Program in New Orleans, Louisiana, warding off loneliness in the homes of elderly residents who live alone. Without the company she provides Lars, Dorothy said his day-to-day life "would be kind of a slow pace." Lars Williams told CBS News he isn't lonely, but the company sure is welcome. "I like live people, you know? You need people around you," Lars Williams said. According to a 2020 study from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, social isolation significantly increases the risk of dementia, heart disease, depression, strokes and premature death. States with the highest risk of social isolation among adults ages 65 and older are Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and New York, according to the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings. In New York City, teenagers Elizabeth Gerber and Mabinty Dakeit spend their afternoons building bridges across generations as part of DOROT, a nonprofit companionship program connecting teens with older adults. "It's so easy to, just like, scroll on your phone for hours and kind of not realize you might be in a room with a bunch of people, and yet you're not discussing anything," Gerber told CBS News. "I realized that I actually have a lot of similar hobbies with them," Dakeit added. Andrew MacPherson, founder and executive chair of the Foundation for Social Connection, warns that President Trump's recently passed "big, beautiful bill" could slash federal funding for social programs, jeopardizing vital companionship, meal delivery and health‐monitoring services for isolated older adults. "It is concerning for how we're going to continue to support our seniors who are isolated and lonely in this country," MacPherson told CBS News. MacPherson said his group's "goal is to protect that funding, and to protect those models that do deliver supportive services." Elizabeth Blackwell, director of the Senior Companionship Program in New Orleans, said she worries she could lose almost $300,000 in federal funding under the new domestic policy spending and tax bill and be forced to shut the program down. "Institutionalization will be overcrowded, so deaths will increase, it's not where we want to be as human beings," Blackwell said. Son of man who was violently detained by ICE reacts after release Mike Johnson breaks from Trump, calls on DOJ to release Epstein files Fighting elderly loneliness Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Key programs for older adults who struggle with social isolation could be at risk from Trump's "big, beautiful bill"
New Orleans — While they're not related, Dorothy Williams provides 90-year-old Lars Williams with something critically important: companionship. For almost 20 years, Dorothy Williams has volunteered with the Senior Companion Program in New Orleans, Louisiana, warding off loneliness in the homes of elderly residents who live alone. Without the company she provides Lars, Dorothy said his day-to-day life "would be kind of a slow pace." Lars Williams told CBS News he isn't lonely, but the company sure is welcome. "I like live people, you know? You need people around you," Lars Williams said. According to a 2020 study from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, social isolation significantly increases the risk of dementia, heart disease, depression, strokes and premature death. States with the highest risk of social isolation among adults ages 65 and older are Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and New York, according to the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings. In New York City, teenagers Elizabeth Gerber and Mabinty Dakeit spend their afternoons building bridges across generations as part of DOROT, a nonprofit companionship program connecting teens with older adults. "It's so easy to, just like, scroll on your phone for hours and kind of not realize you might be in a room with a bunch of people, and yet you're not discussing anything," Gerber told CBS News. "I realized that I actually have a lot of similar hobbies with them," Dakeit added. Andrew MacPherson, founder and executive chair of the Foundation for Social Connection, warns that President Trump's recently passed "big, beautiful bill" could slash federal funding for social programs, jeopardizing vital companionship, meal delivery and health‐monitoring services for isolated older adults. "It is concerning for how we're going to continue to support our seniors who are isolated and lonely in this country," MacPherson told CBS News. MacPherson said his group's "goal is to protect that funding, and to protect those models that do deliver supportive services." Elizabeth Blackwell, director of the Senior Companionship Program in New Orleans, said she worries she could lose almost $300,000 in federal funding under the new domestic policy spending and tax bill and be forced to shut the program down. "Institutionalization will be overcrowded, so deaths will increase, it's not where we want to be as human beings," Blackwell said.
