University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community’s Post

There are various efforts being made to address older adult loneliness. Here are some of them: 1. Community Programs: Many community-based initiatives have been developed to provide social support and engagement for older adults. These programs may include social clubs, senior centers, and volunteer opportunities, allowing older adults to connect with others and participate in meaningful activities. 2. Technology Solutions: Technology can play a significant role in reducing loneliness among older adults. Virtual communication tools, such as video calls, social media platforms, and online communities, enable older adults to stay connected with family, friends, and broader social networks. 3. Intergenerational Programs: Intergenerational programs bring together people of different age groups, fostering interaction and connection between older adults and younger generations. These programs may involve activities like mentoring, tutoring, or joint projects, creating opportunities for meaningful connections and mutual support. 4. Transportation Services: Lack of transportation can contribute to social isolation among older adults. Providing transportation services, such as accessible public transportation or volunteer-based transportation programs, can help older adults maintain social connections by facilitating their mobility. 5. Mental Health Support: Addressing mental health issues among older adults is crucial in combating loneliness. Accessible and affordable mental health services, including counseling, therapy, and support groups, can provide emotional support and help older adults cope with feelings of loneliness and isolation. 6. Age-Friendly Communities: Creating age-friendly communities involves designing neighborhoods, infrastructure, and public spaces that promote social interaction, accessibility, and inclusion for older adults. This can include features like walkable streets, benches, and community gathering areas. By implementing these various strategies, we can work towards reducing loneliness among older adults and fostering a sense of connection, belonging, and well-being in their lives.

Impacts Of COVID-19 On Children! Now, according to the World Health Organization, we are almost a year out of the COVID-19 pandemic which caused extreme chaos around the world. Allow me to highlight something I did not notice until working in retail. As mentioned in a previous post, I moved to the States last year to continue my career path within the Analyst marketplace. To make some extra cash, while exploring corporate opportunities, I started working part-time in retail. While enjoying this part time experience, there is something that caught my attention concerning consumer behavior. Working in a makeup store I’ve had the opportunity to observe various types of behavior across different demographics. It is important to mention that a substantial portion of our consumers consists of teens and tweens. Simply paying attention to how some of them behave made me think of what could have caused this type of behavior within that demographic. Specifically, I am referring to how some of our younger guests are at times loud and even sample products that are not testers. There have been lots of videos on TikTok displaying exactly about what I am writing. That is when I connected COVID-19 and being in lockdown could have negatively impacted some aspects of socialization in young children. Unable to leave their homes and consistently interacting with their peers may have led children to lag in developing the necessary skills for integrating into society. COVID-19 cannot completely be blamed for this lack of socialization, it simply exacerbated an existing problem by increasing the average social media screen time for many people. Please, take the time to read this insightful Mayo Clinic Press article providing a better understanding the returning to social norms and how children socialize post COVID-19. https://lnkd.in/eRb-E8GG

For The Ones & Onlys - It’s National Only Child Day 👧🏽❤️🧒🏾 There’s no reason to feel left out if you weren’t able to celebrate National Siblings Day that just went by on April 10. After all, today is National Only Child Day! Like everything else, being an only child comes with certain rewards and some pitfalls. Those who have grown up with siblings understand the pain (or joy) of sharing –whether it is clothes, stationery, food, games, the TV remote or your very room. Single kids get to enjoy everything by themselves! They get their own room, space and don’t have to share their belongings. There’s also no sibling rivalry or unfavourable comparisons made by adults; they get to enjoy their parents’ undivided attention and are always going to be their parents’ favourite child, no questions asked! Many only children will vouch for the fact that it’s great to never have to wait their turn to use the restroom—that is, unless their home is shared by multiple generations. Parental attention is rarely divided—that is, unless, the only child was raised by a single parent who worked full-time. As finances aren’t split between siblings, single children are also likely to pick from a variety of extracurricular activities to participate in as they get older. The extra advantage of these activities is making new acquaintances and fostering social interaction. Several decades ago, when the infant mortality rate was at its peak, people rarely had a single child. Gradually, population control took over and the average family size reduced to just one child somewhere around the 1970s. Worldwide demographics started to change around this time as well. According to researchers, the world wars, standard of living and rising living costs may have contributed to the fall in birth rates. Eventually, one-child homes became the norm in many countries across the globe.

Credit Bailey Schulz USA TODAY July 30, 2024 New study shows why growing share of US adults aren't having kids https://lnkd.in/gT2dhzSP Lisa and Michael Harris decided early in their relationship that children weren't likely in their future. The Alexandria, Virginia-based couple married in 2019, when Michael was 60 and Lisa 49. While Lisa made clear during one of their first dates that she "reserved the right to adopt," the couple said there was little discussion of having kids after that. Instead, the Harrises have poured their time and resources into their social life, careers and travel. Both work in cybersecurity, and Lisa said getting her two master's degrees would have been more difficult with children. What does 'DINK' stand for?What the label means for couples and their finances. DINK stands for “dual income, no kids,” which means that a cohabiting or married couple both work full-time jobs without plans to start a family. The U.S. fertility rate reached a historic low last year, with a growing share of women between 25 and 44 having never given birth. A new survey from the Pew Research Center looks into the reasons. Pew’s recent study examined two groups of U.S. adults: Americans ages 18 to 49 who say they are unlikely to have children and those 50 and older who do not have children. 1). The study follows a 2023 Pew survey that found 47% of U.S. adults younger than 50 without kids said they were unlikely to have children, up 10 percentage points from 2018. 2). The Pew survey found nearly 40% of the older group said parenthood “just never happened,” while the majority of the younger group without kids (57%) said they “just don’t want to” have children. 3). Other popular reasons for not having children among those 49 and younger include: * Wanting to focus on other things (44% versus 21% for the older group) * Concerns about the state of the world (38% versus 13% for the older group) * Costs of raising a child (36% versus 12% for the older group) * Concerns about the environment (26% versus 6% for the older group) 5). The effects of a child-free life The majority of adults in both age groups said not having kids has made it easier to afford the things they want, save for the future and have time for hobbies.

There is a gap between the now-institutionalized aspirations outlined in the Older American's Act (OAA-1965) and the actual delivery of services to communities and individuals needing these services. This is not to vilify or find fault with agencies and partners involved in distributing funds and implementing services called for in that legislation, rather it is to acknowledge that much has changed since 1965. The hallmark of aging in the 21st century is adapting to the rapid changes across all aspects of aging: we are living longer, we are healthier, we have access to more information than ever before. Yet, some older adults, especially those aging with disabilities, remain among the most vulnerable. There remain huge gaps in services. These include housing, healthcare, transportation, and access to long-term care (including caregivers). These gaps cannot be addressed solely through legislation. They need to be addressed at the local level with optimal flexibility offered, so that the unique needs of aging adults can be addressed at the community level, not from a top-down framework, but from a collaborative framework. The need for oversight and guidance is, perhaps, even more essential, since the problems needing to be solved involve so many Americans. Traditionally, government has provided this oversight. Yet, based on outcomes, even the oversight has become problematic. The solution? Government must become more collaborative. This is a tall order, particularly given the current state of impotence in both federal and state legislatures. The good news is that we have done this in the past. When given the option, creative, caring men and women designed programs that addressed the immediate challenges presented, and then went about codifying and insuring continuation of funding and resources to sustain the dignity and quality of life in communities throughout the United States. It was called the New Deal. The Administration for Community Living has just issued a report to Congress, "AGING IN THE UNITED STATES: A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR A NATIONAL PLAN ON AGING". (https://lnkd.in/gKX6fUTZ) Read it! Heed it! Take it to your local city council, your town hall meeting, your clubs, churches, and schoolboard meetings and share it with friends. Post it on Facebook and Instagram. This is the path forward in what is going to be a remarkable opportunity for all of us.

How do you overcome ageism in today’s society? Corinne Auman, Ph.D. joins us for a conversation to talk about ageism and her new book, “Keenagers”. She is the founder of Choice Care Navigators based out of Greensboro, NC, where her company is dedicated to helping families navigate the aging process. Her passion lies in helping us reshape how we perceive older adulthood, a vision she has beautifully encapsulates in her book “Keenagers”. She is on a mission to change the conversation around aging. Especially in a culture where many avoid thinking about older adulthood until the last minute, she urges us to embrace aging in a positive light. During our conversation, Corrine explained where ageism comes from and how we have the largest demographic of people over 65 years of age with 10,000 people daily turning 65 and the highest number of people wanting or needing to continue to work. Research shows that those living a powerful and purposeful life gain a longer life by at least 7 ½ years. If we don’t have purpose that is when we start to see that negative downhill effect usually after the 18-month honeymoon phase. Dr. Becca Levy shares a lot of research and stats on ageism and more about the impact of the 7 ½ years. Corinne urges us to get educated and to better understand that living with purpose helps increase our vitality but also how older generations impact business and healthcare. She speaks with us about stereotypes and how what we say matters. Some of those stereotypes in business might include things like: Older people can’t learn. Older workers cost more money. Work is too much for them. But the benefits of keeping older adults include: Maintaining a strong knowledge bank. The social acumen. If we take an example like technology, the older generation is being left out and with having the largest population ever in an older demographic, this becomes highly impactful. Especially when a youngster is creating apps and algorithms’ s that are focused on a specific demographic. And with the acceleration of AI (Artificial Intelligence) it’s even more important to influence the knowledge of older generations to help us shape correctly and with fewer biases. Healthcare is another area that is impacted greatly as we will often hear doctors explain things away because of age versus the actual problem at hand. It becomes imperative that you advocate for yourself or at least have someone with you to help advocate and get the answers you need. Corinne urges us to educate and arm ourselves for the day that each of us will eventually get to, ageism impacts everyone and we owe it to ourselves to prepare and enter it prepared. If you have questions for Corinne that we did not answer in this podcast you can find her on her social feeds on IG, FB, and LI. Want to know who has been on our most recent podcast or want to learn more about our community events, visit us at www.wilempowered.com and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Between 2010 and 2020, the 65 and older population grew by nearly 50%, per the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition, a study published by the The National Institutes of Health indicates that demand for behavioral health care is expected to outstrip the supply of behavioral health providers for older Americans (https://lnkd.in/eEwHs_Ej). While licensed providers are still a crucial part of the solution for older Americans, the study affirms that non-licensed providers may be able to reach patients traditionally less likely to access mental healthcare through traditional pathways. A means of important non-licensed care is senior peer case management. Case management offers tailored, person-centered care to assess, plan, and facilitate access to health and social services. It enhances coordination and continuity of care, especially for those with multiple and complex needs. Think goal setting, resource identification, service coordination and monitoring, referrals, system navigation and linkage, and advocacy. The Albuquerque Center for Hope and Recovery largely serves Latino/a communities, offering senior peer case management for those 55+, including those in recovery or with active substance use disorders. Heading Home works with unhoused seniors 65+ living with behavioral health concerns, connecting them with resources and - in the words of Heading Home - “moving from isolation and institutionalization towards connection and stability.” Through funding from Bernalillo County's Behavioral Health Initiative (BHI), Apex Evaluation is working with both agencies to understand how they set up programs; how clients move through programming; plus successes, challenges, and lessons learned. We prioritize relationship-building and transparency via: - Utilization-focused evaluation to create accessible, meaningful products - Systems learning to illustrate the client’s perspective through a user journey map - Communication science to deliver reader-friendly reports - Equitable evaluation to center the experiences of those most impacted while minimizing the burden of engagement for those in crisis With 1 in 5 New Mexicans aged 65 or older, peer case management is an important alternative to support our aging population. Our partnership with the Albuquerque Center for Hope and Recovery and Heading Home is changing lives by investing in the health of seniors from all walks of life, taking an empowerment approach, and decreasing stigma. Apex’s accessible reporting is fostering continuous improvement and aiding decision-making. See examples of Apex reporting in action via interim and final deliverables for Albuquerque Center for Hope and Recovery here: https://lnkd.in/eJtZZ6qp. Want to make data understandable and accessible for your organizational team? Reach out to us at information@apexeval.org. Ken Jones Timothy Sawina Michael W. Bowen Lesley Nash Maxine Henry, MSW, MBA Steven Brooks Elena Schmidt, Ph.D. Patience Misner Hana Ferronato

We're thrilled that Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed an Executive Order to establish Illinois' Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA). The Governor's directive solidifies Illinois' position among early adopters, joining the national movement that recognizes the importance of preparing now for opportunities, growth, challenges, and service needs that families and communities will face as the number of older adults rises quickly in Illinois and nationwide. Equity in aging is crucial as our population demographics shift, and it is the underlying objective driving the groundswell of momentum toward multisector plans for aging — across the country and here in Illinois.   RRF Foundation for Aging is proud to have served as the principal funder for Illinois Aging Together, with its foundational research and coalition building that informs Illinois' MPA considerations as planners propel equity in aging forward.   Aging is living, and as the number of older adults continues to grow, coordination of services will be essential.    We must establish a comprehensive, cross-cutting, multisector plan for aging. As noted in the Executive Order below, "[Illinois'] MPA will proactively prepare government, nonprofit, and private sector organizations to meet a growing number of older adults' evolving needs, including unmet needs related to health, safety, social and financial well-being, housing, transportation, and more."   To be ready for what is ahead, the time to plan and act accordingly is now. https://lnkd.in/gYnna5XC

As Ireland’s population ages, the issue of older people’s housing has never been more important. Older people are more likely than other groups to live in poor housing. They are also particularly affected by poor housing conditions as they often spend more time at home and therefore face greater exposure to hazards such as falls or being affected by the cold. With this in mind, a group of researchers investigated the link between common housing conditions and hazards and the health and well-being of older people. The project was funded by The Meath Foundation and involved a team from Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), Age Friendly Ireland, TrinityHaus and Building Research Establishment who partnered with a range of organisations including The Housing Agency, Age Action Ireland, South Dublin County Council, Meath County Council and The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) at the National Disability Authority. The report, Housing Conditions and Integrated Care for Older People, was launched at a webinar hosted by The Housing Agency today. Speaking at the launch, Professor Des O’Neill of TUH, said Ireland is fortunate to have increasing healthy life-expectancy, however around half of older people have concerns about their homes. "We’re all growing older and planning for us all to have age-friendly homes is something we all have skin in the game for,” he added. Also speaking at the webinar, Jennifer O Donoghue of TrinityHaus Research Centre at Trinity College Dublin, said the researchers strove to ensure the voice of older people was heard in their work. “One of the major things we found were hazards around falls. A lot of homes we were in had a lack of toileting or sanitation facilities on the ground floor,” she added. Tom Grey, also of TrinityHaus, said: “The serious implications that poor housing conditions have for older people can’t be over-emphasised. And the consequences for their health and well-being outcomes is a huge consideration.” He told the webinar there was an urgent need for a national housing conditions survey to be conducted, similar to surveys in Northern Ireland, to collect comprehensive data on housing. “It would be an amazing resource and I think that needs to be a priority here in Ireland.” Also speaking at the webinar, Eimear McCormack of Health Age Friendly Homes, said the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme has gone nationwide so now every local authority in the country has at least one, if not two, local coordinators who are working with local health workers. The full report can be read here - https://lnkd.in/esu7t3HR

From CNN, “Goodbye child care centers, hello elderly homes: South Korea prepares for aging population” @ https://lnkd.in/eK8RpJ8a ********Is there a message here for us in America?******* Here’s a snippet… South Korea is getting older – and its care facilities are changing to match. In 2017, there were more than 40,000 child care facilities, by the end of last year, that number had fallen to roughly 30,900. Meanwhile, as the population rapidly ages, the number of elderly facilities has boomed from 76,000 in 2017 to 89,643 in 2022, . The shift illustrates a years-long problem South Korea has thus far failed to reverse. It has both one of the world’s fastest aging populations and the world’s lowest birth rate. Experts attribute this low birth rate to various factors, including demanding work cultures, stagnating wages, rising costs of living, the financial burden of raising children, changing attitudes toward marriage and gender equality, and rising disillusionment among younger generations. Many elementary, middle and high schools are closing around the country due to a lack of school-age children. The rapid rise in elderly facilities in recent years may help alleviate some of these problems. But longer-term concerns remain about the future of Korea’s economy, as the number of young workers who are crucial in propping up the health care and pension systems slowly dwindle. ################# From the EducationWeek website, a thread entitled, “As Enrollment Declines, Districts Consider Closing Schools” @ https://lnkd.in/e69M6Cg9 Districts large and small, from California to New York, are considering closures as they confront enrollment drops that have accelerated in recent years. And there’s no sign of the trend reversing. For many districts, enrollment declines aren’t what’s surprising—projections dating as far back as 2012 showed birth rates stalling, with the decline often most pronounced in urban districts, presaging smaller student populations in the years to come. And then there’s this… Within the next decade, children in the U.S. will be outnumbered by elderly Americans, according to projections from the U.S. Census Bureau. In fact, the number of seniors (people age 65 and older) will roughly double between now and 2030. With this dramatic demographic shift, we will have to face a new challenge: caring for those older people. But what do we do when the number of people needing caregiving exceeds the number of people who are willing or able to provide that care? We need innovative new ways to meet this growing senior living challenge. Read on @ https://lnkd.in/eXgyatkM