Liv, from your public media studios, WVIA presents studios, WVIA presents Keystone Addition Reports, Keystone Addition Reports, a public affairs program a public affairs program that goes beyond the that goes beyond the headlines to address issues headlines to address issues northeastern and central northeastern and central vents.

Silvania.

This is vents.

Silvania.

This is Keystone, in addition Keystone, in addition reports and now moderator reports and now moderator Larry Void go.

Hello, I'm Larry Void go.

Hello, I'm Larry Ford, co.

In many Larry Ford, co.

In many instances, social isolation instances, social isolation and loneliness are two and loneliness are two things that get mentioned things that get mentioned together when speaking of together when speaking of elder issues, though, the elder issues, though, the two do not always go two do not always go hand-in-hand.

Some who live hand-in-hand.

Some who live alone are not lonely at all alone are not lonely at all Yet at the same time, Yet at the same time, someone suffering from someone suffering from isolation loneliness can isolation loneliness can find themselves alone in find themselves alone in the proverbial crowded room the proverbial crowded room of friends and family.

One of friends and family.

One especially vulnerable and especially vulnerable and growing obstacles dealing growing obstacles dealing with social isolation.

with social isolation.

Older adults with cognitive Older adults with cognitive impairments who live on impairments who live on their own social isolation their own social isolation and loneliness can take a and loneliness can take a toll on the body as well as toll on the body as well as the mind illnesses such as the mind illnesses such as high blood pressure, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, stroke depression, anxiety, stroke obesity, as well as obesity, as well as premature death are among premature death are among the risks.

But there are the risks.

But there are ways to combat the issue.

ways to combat the issue.

It could be as simple as It could be as simple as volunteering for a favorite volunteering for a favorite cause connecting with a cause connecting with a book club at a local book club at a local library or engaging in library or engaging in hobbies with friends.

But hobbies with friends.

But what about those that are what about those that are able to take part in such able to take part in such activities?

How can we activities?

How can we better help those better help those individuals who may not individuals who may not need a hand out, but rather need a hand out, but rather a hand up?

It's a broad a hand up?

It's a broad topic, but one that affects topic, but one that affects every corner of our every corner of our coverage area for Keystone coverage area for Keystone Addition Reports.

Tom Reece Addition Reports.

Tom Reece takes a closer look More than one third of More than one third of adults aged to 45 and older adults aged to 45 and older feel lonely.

And nearly a feel lonely.

And nearly a quarter of adults 65 and quarter of adults 65 and older are considered older are considered socially isolated.

That's socially isolated.

That's according to the Centers according to the Centers for Disease Control.

and for Disease Control.

and Prevention.

Older adults Prevention.

Older adults are at a higher risk for are at a higher risk for loneliness and social loneliness and social isolation.

because they're isolation.

because they're more likely to live alone, more likely to live alone, face the loss of family or face the loss of family or friends or experience a friends or experience a chronic illness.

Mental chronic illness.

Mental health professionals, health professionals, therapists and support therapists and support groups are available to groups are available to help those who deal with help those who deal with these issues.

But opening these issues.

But opening up to loved ones, staying up to loved ones, staying physically active and physically active and keeping the mind engaged keeping the mind engaged can also help.

Public can also help.

Public libraries, local social libraries, local social service agencies, and service agencies, and senior and community senior and community centers are also great centers are also great resources for those who are resources for those who are looking to find a way to looking to find a way to connect with the world connect with the world around them.

If you feel around them.

If you feel socially isolated.

A trip socially isolated.

A trip to your primary physician to your primary physician can get you connected to can get you connected to resources that can help.

resources that can help.

More information on More information on loneliness, social loneliness, social isolation, and its effects isolation, and its effects can be found at CDC, DAC of can be found at CDC, DAC of for Keystone Addition for Keystone Addition Reports.

I'm Tom Reese.

Reports.

I'm Tom Reese.

Thank you so much, Tom.

Thank you so much, Tom.

Well, let's Welcome our Well, let's Welcome our guests who are here to guests who are here to share their expertize on share their expertize on the topic.

Joining us here the topic.

Joining us here in the studio, Mike in the studio, Mike Castellanos, special case Castellanos, special case manager with the United Way manager with the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne and of Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike Counties.

Lindsay Pike Counties.

Lindsay Script Keesha, executive Script Keesha, executive director, Meals on Wheels director, Meals on Wheels of Northeastern of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Mary Pennsylvania and Mary Schell, director of Social Schell, director of Social Services of the Loser, Services of the Loser, Wyoming County Area Agency Wyoming County Area Agency on Aging.

Thank you so much on Aging.

Thank you so much for being with us.

And the for being with us.

And the statistics that we heard in statistics that we heard in that opening package.

Quite that opening package.

Quite astonishing.

We found that astonishing.

We found that one third of adult middle one third of adult middle age or older experience age or older experience loneliness and one in four loneliness and one in four individuals 65 years or individuals 65 years or older are socially isolated older are socially isolated So that's about one one in So that's about one one in six Americans or 60 five six Americans or 60 five years old or older.

So years old or older.

So that's about 56 million that's about 56 million people.

So if you have people.

So if you have twenty five percent of that twenty five percent of that that's 14 million older that's 14 million older Americans who are socially Americans who are socially isolated.

That's a stunning isolated.

That's a stunning 40 million people.

Think 40 million people.

Think about that in terms of about that in terms of other issues, other kind of other issues, other kind of health concerns and and of health concerns and and of mental health issues and mental health issues and things of that sort.

That's things of that sort.

That's a huge issue.

And I'm a huge issue.

And I'm thinking, Mary, Mary Schell thinking, Mary, Mary Schell the issue has been in the the issue has been in the shadows for for way too shadows for for way too long.

I think yes, I agree.

long.

I think yes, I agree.

You know, I think one of You know, I think one of the things that has come the things that has come out of Cauvin in particular out of Cauvin in particular was we all sort of was we all sort of recognize that feeling of recognize that feeling of isolation, of, you know, isolation, of, you know, being trapped in our homes being trapped in our homes or being trapped and away or being trapped and away from the community.

And so from the community.

And so it gave a special awareness it gave a special awareness I think for those that deal I think for those that deal with the older adult with the older adult population, and the what population, and the what that must be like to lose that must be like to lose as you know, friends, loved as you know, friends, loved ones, and your world gets ones, and your world gets or sometimes as you get or sometimes as you get older.

And so, you know, I older.

And so, you know, I know the work that we do.

know the work that we do.

We focus on how to keep We focus on how to keep people safe.

And pendant in people safe.

And pendant in their community as long as their community as long as possible in any way that we possible in any way that we can possibly help that to can possibly help that to happen.

Ed, do you think happen.

Ed, do you think that perhaps this number of that perhaps this number of people and and seemingly people and and seemingly ever increasing number of ever increasing number of people that are people that are experiencing this isolation experiencing this isolation is it?

Is there a factor is it?

Is there a factor that is contributing that that is contributing that we're living longer, that we're living longer, that medical advances have medical advances have allowed us allowed allowed us allowed individuals to live in individuals to live in their homes and on their their homes and on their own more than in the past?

own more than in the past?

Would have to go to a an Would have to go to a an assisted living condition assisted living condition or assisted living facility or assisted living facility Could that be working into Could that be working into that, Lindsay?

Yes, that, Lindsay?

Yes, absolutely.

So not only is absolutely.

So not only is there more older adults there more older adults every day, there is more every day, there is more adults that are living adults that are living longer with multiple longer with multiple comorbid Condi missions.

So comorbid Condi missions.

So all of those things all of those things combined, you the amazing combined, you the amazing medical technologies, mean medical technologies, mean that people are living that people are living longer and they're also longer and they're also tend to be living a bit tend to be living a bit more socially isolated as more socially isolated as well.

So we're talking well.

So we're talking about social isolation and about social isolation and loneliness, and they seem loneliness, and they seem they're connected, but they're connected, but they're not necessarily they're not necessarily exact the same thing.

Like, exact the same thing.

Like, can you give us a little can you give us a little bit more information or bit more information or define a little bit better define a little bit better about the difference about the difference between social isolation between social isolation and loneliness?

Yeah, I and loneliness?

Yeah, I think the key word you just think the key word you just you know, that is connected you know, that is connected I think that, you know, I think that, you know, social isolation really, so social isolation really, so that social connectedness that social connectedness man lacking connections, man lacking connections, lacking those connections, lacking those connections, within your community, within your community, within family, whatever it within family, whatever it may be.

Whereas loneliness may be.

Whereas loneliness again, as it was stated again, as it was stated before, you can be lonely before, you can be lonely in a crowded room.

You can in a crowded room.

You can be connected and still be be connected and still be lonely.

But again, I think lonely.

But again, I think that that isolation is that that isolation is really just lacking, really just lacking, lacking connection, lacking lacking connection, lacking social connection, So how social connection, So how are we to say those of us are we to say those of us who are not professionals, who are not professionals, as you how are we to as you how are we to identify how how can we identify how how can we help identify a friend, a help identify a friend, a neighbor, family member who neighbor, family member who is either lonely or is either lonely or socially isolated?

I mean, socially isolated?

I mean, are there hallmarks or some kind of hallmarks or some kind of criteria that we can turn criteria that we can turn to?

Mary Shelton, can you to?

Mary Shelton, can you give us an idea of how give us an idea of how those of us can identify those of us can identify someone in need?

I think someone in need?

I think it's paying attention.

The it's paying attention.

The first thing is paying first thing is paying attention to the people attention to the people around you and changes that around you and changes that you may see.

Does somebody you may see.

Does somebody look like they're, you know look like they're, you know the people in our lives?

Do the people in our lives?

Do they look like they're they look like they're losing weight?

or gaining losing weight?

or gaining weight or are they more weight or are they more withdrawn?

How do we notice withdrawn?

How do we notice changes in their mood?

You changes in their mood?

You know, and sometimes those know, and sometimes those things are subtle.

We can things are subtle.

We can always detect them just in always detect them just in the casual conversation.

the casual conversation.

You know, it's I think it's You know, it's I think it's really just trying to pay really just trying to pay attention to the changes attention to the changes that we see.

And then being that we see.

And then being consistent in reaching out.

consistent in reaching out.

You know, I speak to family You know, I speak to family members all the time.

Some members all the time.

Some little say, you know, I put little say, you know, I put a reminder on my phone to a reminder on my phone to call my mother every Sunday call my mother every Sunday at 10:00 or, you know, at 10:00 or, you know, every Tuesday I go over to every Tuesday I go over to my parents house to to have my parents house to to have dinner.

And those things dinner.

And those things that if you're seeing them that if you're seeing them consistent the same time, consistent the same time, what changes are you what changes are you noticing?

Are they you know noticing?

Are they you know is the house.

Does it look is the house.

Does it look like they're keeping up like they're keeping up with the house?

Are they with the house?

Are they able to do things able to do things independently?

as they once independently?

as they once did?

We have a very robust did?

We have a very robust system of active adult system of active adult centers that our, you know, centers that our, you know, centers are heavily centers are heavily populated.

And so the populated.

And so the directors will say, you directors will say, you know, I notice this person know, I notice this person hasn't been there and they hasn't been there and they might be checking up on might be checking up on them or, you know, who is them or, you know, who is not consistent in showing not consistent in showing up and do we need to reach up and do we need to reach out to them?

Do we need to out to them?

Do we need to check in with them or their check in with them or their family?

to see what's going family?

to see what's going on with them?

Well, of on with them?

Well, of course, one really well course, one really well known organization that has known organization that has been in practice for many, been in practice for many, many years and serving many years and serving clients for many years is clients for many years is Meals on Wheels.

It's been Meals on Wheels.

It's been around for four decades.

around for four decades.

Most of us are aware of it.

Most of us are aware of it.

even though we may not have even though we may not have really seen it or made use really seen it or made use of the services for a of the services for a friend or family.

But friend or family.

But Lindsay script guys here Lindsay script guys here knows all about Meals on knows all about Meals on Wheels.

Tell us about how Wheels.

Tell us about how meals on Wheels operates meals on Wheels operates and how perhaps how the and how perhaps how the services have been Benyus services have been Benyus used and maybe the increase used and maybe the increase in the number of people in the number of people asking for those services.

asking for those services.

Shipper.

So what we do, Shipper.

So what we do, Meals on Wheels is so much Meals on Wheels is so much more than riding a more than riding a nutritious meal.

We're nutritious meal.

We're providing a warm, friendly providing a warm, friendly smile and we are checking smile and we are checking on these older adults and on these older adults and sometimes it is the only sometimes it is the only interaction that these interaction that these individuals have is seeing individuals have is seeing the meal delivery person, the meal delivery person, whether it's a staff member whether it's a staff member or a volunteer, and the or a volunteer, and the most common way that a most common way that a person gets involved with person gets involved with Meals on Wheels is through Meals on Wheels is through a referral.

So somebody a referral.

So somebody sees that a person is a sees that a person is a need.

So they need a meal need.

So they need a meal or they need that friendly or they need that friendly smile and they give us a smile and they give us a call and the meals are call and the meals are usually delivered Monday usually delivered Monday through Friday, around through Friday, around lunchtime.

So it is a a lunchtime.

So it is a a lunch meal and it's a lunch meal and it's a nutritious meal along with nutritious meal along with the wellness check, to make the wellness check, to make sure that the person OK and sure that the person OK and you have talked to me off you have talked to me off camera about the importance camera about the importance of making sure you send a of making sure you send a nutritious meal.

But you nutritious meal.

But you take into account the take into account the special needs special special needs special nutrition needs of of folks nutrition needs of of folks as well.

We do so we ensure as well.

We do so we ensure that all of our meals are that all of our meals are heart healthy and diabetic heart healthy and diabetic friendly.

So we do not cook friendly.

So we do not cook with any added salt or with any added salt or sugar.

And there's a sugar.

And there's a variety of other diets that variety of other diets that we also accommodate, such we also accommodate, such as lactose free, gluten as lactose free, gluten free in special RINO free in special RINO friendly diets for friendly diets for individuals that are individuals that are undergoing dialyze this.

undergoing dialyze this.

Well, meals on Wheels has Well, meals on Wheels has been making that difference been making that difference in lives of those who deal in lives of those who deal with social isolate with social isolate loneliness for over half a loneliness for over half a century.

WVIA news.

Hey, century.

WVIA news.

Hey, O'Brien recently went on a O'Brien recently went on a meal run with a Meals on meal run with a Meals on Wheels representative in Wheels representative in Scranton, where we find Scranton, where we find that during the visit that during the visit people received more than people received more than just a meal.

As Lindsay just a meal.

As Lindsay pointed out.

They also get pointed out.

They also get a warm conversation.

And a warm conversation.

And human interaction Meals on Wheels building is Meals on Wheels building is the community outreach the community outreach coordinator at Meals on coordinator at Meals on Wheels of any P.A..

He Wheels of any P.A..

He delivers an essential delivers an essential service.

Morning.

How are service.

Morning.

How are you doing?

Meals on Wheels.

you doing?

Meals on Wheels.

Yeah.

Happy New Year.

Have Yeah.

Happy New Year.

Have good week.

He brings meals good week.

He brings meals to seniors at Mulberry to seniors at Mulberry Towers in Scranton.

She has Towers in Scranton.

She has an apartment 713, but more an apartment 713, but more than that, he checks in on than that, he checks in on them.

Pellissier, mostly them.

Pellissier, mostly home meals on Wheels.

I see home meals on Wheels.

I see them at the door.

Rita, how them at the door.

Rita, how are you doing?

It's a are you doing?

It's a little heavy when a little heavy when a doorbell goes on answered.

doorbell goes on answered.

Lynn makes a call.

Yes, hi.

Lynn makes a call.

Yes, hi.

It's filled with Meals on It's filled with Meals on Wheels.

I'm at your front Wheels.

I'm at your front door because some of them door because some of them do have here.

I deficits do have here.

I deficits the phone is answered.

Good the phone is answered.

Good They'll come through the They'll come through the door if they don't.

As we door if they don't.

As we had in a previous example.

had in a previous example.

Then I called back the Then I called back the office, the office staff office, the office staff has either a family number has either a family number or an emergency aid or or an emergency aid or emergency number, and then emergency number, and then they take care of that.

they take care of that.

Good morning.

This has an Good morning.

This has an extra weight delivery man extra weight delivery man says for some recipients, says for some recipients, the Meals on Wheels the Meals on Wheels representative is the only representative is the only person they see that day.

person they see that day.

That safety check is very That safety check is very valuable because I had one valuable because I had one experience where a client experience where a client had fallen out of bed and I had fallen out of bed and I didn't know that.

But in didn't know that.

But in the morning when I went to the morning when I went to deliver, the door was deliver, the door was locked, which it was always locked, which it was always open for me and his paper open for me and his paper from the day before was from the day before was there that triggered the there that triggered the call.

The office brother call.

The office brother came over.

Who was the came over.

Who was the contact and finally get for Well, perhaps you're Well, perhaps you're looking for a way to give looking for a way to give back.

There's always room back.

There's always room for you to take that for you to take that particular that particular particular that particular service.

And Mary, are.

service.

And Mary, are.

Lindsay, I'm sorry.

Lindsay Lindsay, I'm sorry.

Lindsay tell how someone who wants tell how someone who wants to be Meals on Wheels to be Meals on Wheels Representative would Representative would involve themselves.

Sure.

involve themselves.

Sure.

So they could give us a So they could give us a call at five seven zero call at five seven zero three four six two four two three four six two four two one, and we could give them one, and we could give them more information.

And I more information.

And I just want to note that we just want to note that we always need volunteers always need volunteers besides meal delivery.

So besides meal delivery.

So if you're not able to drive if you're not able to drive if you would like to get if you would like to get involved in other aspects involved in other aspects like, for example, if you like, for example, if you are a professional and you are a professional and you would like to donate your would like to donate your time helping us write time helping us write grants or edit papers, we grants or edit papers, we would be more than happy to would be more than happy to accommodate that as well.

accommodate that as well.

So we have a wide variety So we have a wide variety of volunteer needs and it of volunteer needs and it really goes to show our really goes to show our commitment to service that commitment to service that we integrate directly into we integrate directly into our organizational model.

our organizational model.

Mary.

Tell us about more Mary.

Tell us about more about your programs at the about your programs at the area agency on aging that area agency on aging that particularly helps people particularly helps people in social isolation or in social isolation or loneliness.

Sure.

So, as I loneliness.

Sure.

So, as I mentioned before, we have mentioned before, we have the active adult centers the active adult centers that have a congregate meal that have a congregate meal where they can have lunch where they can have lunch together, play bingo or or together, play bingo or or different games.

They have different games.

They have exercise classes that are exercise classes that are evidence based.

And so they evidence based.

And so they know work on things like know work on things like range motion and just being range motion and just being able to connect with one able to connect with one another.

As Mike said another.

As Mike said before, the connection is before, the connection is so important.

But, you know so important.

But, you know as some folks age, they're as some folks age, they're not able to get out and and not able to get out and and they're increasingly at they're increasingly at home and they have the home and they have the mobility issues that we mobility issues that we talked about were illnesses talked about were illnesses that, you know, they're that, you know, they're just not able to get out as just not able to get out as much and we work with.

We much and we work with.

We have a staff of care have a staff of care managers who are managers who are outstanding and they will outstanding and they will assess individuals to see, assess individuals to see, you know, do you need help you know, do you need help with your activities of with your activities of daily living?

If that's the daily living?

If that's the case, if somebody needs case, if somebody needs help bathing, dressing, help bathing, dressing, grooming, some of the the grooming, some of the the things that we do or we things that we do or we connect them with personal connect them with personal care aides, that will come care aides, that will come in about six hours a week, in about six hours a week, six to eight hours a week.

six to eight hours a week.

to help with that.

We work to help with that.

We work with, you know, some home with, you know, some home modifications to somebody modifications to somebody need a stair glide or a need a stair glide or a wheelchair ramp that again, wheelchair ramp that again, can help them to have that can help them to have that independence.

And the care independence.

And the care managers that I referenced, managers that I referenced, they will reach out to to they will reach out to to the older adults on the older adults on schedules intervals just to schedules intervals just to check in.

How are you doing check in.

How are you doing Are you happy with maybe Are you happy with maybe the home delivered meals the home delivered meals you're getting or the, you you're getting or the, you know, the personal care?

Is know, the personal care?

Is it meeting your needs?

Is it meeting your needs?

Is there a change needs?

They there a change needs?

They also do a scheduled also do a scheduled reassessments to go and reassessments to go and visit with them and you visit with them and you know, the feedback that we know, the feedback that we get from from the older get from from the older adults is that it's really adults is that it's really meaningful for them to have meaningful for them to have that connection.

And those that connection.

And those relationships with trained relationships with trained professional.

If they professional.

If they notice something that, you notice something that, you know, somebody needs an know, somebody needs an additional service, such as additional service, such as you know, a peer counselor you know, a peer counselor or we we have a peer or we we have a peer counseling service that we counseling service that we refer to or other, you know refer to or other, you know just organized missions just organized missions throughout the community.

throughout the community.

We we as as a link to that, We we as as a link to that, as well.

Well, one of the as well.

Well, one of the things that brought this things that brought this issue to the for for WVIA issue to the for for WVIA and one of the reasons we and one of the reasons we we decided to take on this we decided to take on this issue was some work and issue was some work and study that was done by study that was done by Moses Taylor Foundation and Moses Taylor Foundation and Mike, you can speak to this Mike, you can speak to this Tell us about those efforts Tell us about those efforts by the Moses Taylor by the Moses Taylor Foundation.

and bring this Foundation.

and bring this issue to fore and the study issue to fore and the study They they they conducted They they they conducted and where that led to.

Yeah and where that led to.

Yeah absolutely.

So Christy absolutely.

So Christy Bakos with the Moses Taylor Bakos with the Moses Taylor Foundation.

We're very Foundation.

We're very fortunate enough to be able fortunate enough to be able to partner with them with to partner with them with some of the programs that some of the programs that we offer for older adults.

we offer for older adults.

Now, I know there was a lot Now, I know there was a lot of research that had gone of research that had gone into the project itself.

I into the project itself.

I think leading up to the think leading up to the research itself.

You know, research itself.

You know, as Lindsay kind of pointed as Lindsay kind of pointed to, it's been an ongoing to, it's been an ongoing issue and it's been no issue and it's been no secret that it's been an secret that it's been an issue.

But as you know, issue.

But as you know, Kobe erupted and as other Kobe erupted and as other epidemics come forward, you epidemics come forward, you know, sheds a lot of light know, sheds a lot of light on the isolation issues.

on the isolation issues.

And again, Moses Taylor was And again, Moses Taylor was at the forefront of that at the forefront of that with research, research, with research, research, base knowledge that base knowledge that ultimately led to a grand ultimately led to a grand process which developed process which developed into a program of social into a program of social isolation project that the isolation project that the United Way is now United Way is now spearheading.

So it is it spearheading.

So it is it it.

It laid the ground work it.

It laid the ground work correct.

For shining the correct.

For shining the light and focusing on this light and focusing on this particular aspect.

That's particular aspect.

That's where you came in first as where you came in first as overseeing this project and overseeing this project and taking it's now spread out taking it's now spread out to further projects for you to further projects for you to oversee and giving more to oversee and giving more programs, offering more programs, offering more programs through the United programs through the United Way of Lackawanna.

Wayne Way of Lackawanna.

Wayne Counties and Lindsay, I'll Counties and Lindsay, I'll go to you because you also go to you because you also have a program we're have a program we're talking about how important talking about how important how to bring people who are how to bring people who are social, who have these this social, who have these this loneliness, the social loneliness, the social isolation, isolation, some isolation, isolation, some comfort and those of us who comfort and those of us who are pet owners know how are pet owners know how much the pet means.

They're much the pet means.

They're like part of the family.

like part of the family.

You really are.

And tell us You really are.

And tell us about that.

Your program about that.

Your program called Treasured Friends.

called Treasured Friends.

Yes.

So our program, The Yes.

So our program, The Treasured Friends Forever Treasured Friends Forever pet program, provides pet pet program, provides pet food and supplies to our food and supplies to our clients.

So it not only clients.

So it not only reduces the food sharing of reduces the food sharing of the meal that they receive the meal that they receive with their pets so that with their pets so that their pets, you know, don't their pets, you know, don't have to go hungry.

However, have to go hungry.

However, it also helps to keep the it also helps to keep the pets out of shelters and pets out of shelters and with their beloved with their beloved companion.

So we have companion.

So we have recently expanded the recently expanded the program to include access program to include access for transportation to for transportation to veterinary care, to really veterinary care, to really promote that connection promote that connection between the animal in the between the animal in the Pet Guardian as an older Pet Guardian as an older adult, because studies have adult, because studies have shown that pets promote shown that pets promote that connectedness with the that connectedness with the older adults and really older adults and really help to not only help their help to not only help their mental status, but also mental status, but also their health status as well their health status as well And we've seen that just in And we've seen that just in general studies that pets general studies that pets help the the general sense help the the general sense of people who are not of people who are not particularly social and particularly social and socially isolated or lonely socially isolated or lonely If they're just good to If they're just good to have around.

And it's have around.

And it's interesting that you put a interesting that you put a formal program in in place formal program in in place for that.

Well, we found for that.

Well, we found out that older adult out that older adult isolation has got attention isolation has got attention to the state and want to to the state and want to talk a little bit about the talk a little bit about the commonweal master plan for commonweal master plan for older adults.

And I'm sure older adults.

And I'm sure all of you have some all of you have some knowledge of this and have knowledge of this and have peruse that.

So I'll start peruse that.

So I'll start with you, Mary.

Tell us with you, Mary.

Tell us more about this.

This more about this.

This master plan for older master plan for older adults and how your adults and how your organization agency is organization agency is connecting in on that.

And connecting in on that.

And what role you play.

Sure.

what role you play.

Sure.

So Governor Shapiro, asked So Governor Shapiro, asked for really a master plan for really a master plan that would work with the that would work with the the impacts on on older the impacts on on older adults from the eight adults from the eight tenants that they tenants that they identified from the AARP.

identified from the AARP.

Things like isolate.

As we Things like isolate.

As we talked about civic talked about civic engagement, access to engagement, access to housing and transportation, housing and transportation, and nutrition, access to and nutrition, access to health care, And so across health care, And so across the state, we the area the state, we the area agency Aging's held agency Aging's held listening sessions in the listening sessions in the community.

We had listening community.

We had listening sessions with stakeholders, sessions with stakeholders, those that are responsible those that are responsible for providing the care as for providing the care as well.

with older adults to well.

with older adults to hear, you know what what is hear, you know what what is impacting you and what impacting you and what needs to be done.

Where needs to be done.

Where should funding be going?

should funding be going?

Where should programs be Where should programs be beheading to meet the needs beheading to meet the needs of older adults?

And so of older adults?

And so that information was was taken what we found.

Locally, I think is Locally, I think is mirroring some of what the mirroring some of what the statewide results were.

And statewide results were.

And that will be released in that will be released in February.

And Lindsay, the Fruary.

And Lindsay, the what struck you as you look what struck you as you look through this plan is it's through this plan is it's something that you get the something that you get the sense thathe state is is sense that the state is is kind of imposing something kind of imposing something or are they looking for or are they looking for help in addressing this?

help in addressing this?

The problem from The problem from organizations like yours, I organizations like yours, I got the impression that t got the impression that the state is looking to state is looking to Calaverwith the ageies Calavera with the agencies that are serving the older adults and re what we have to say as our havto says our narratives withg narratives with working with these older adults eve day.

Soearing what the older adults need and t older adus need and also head aagencies thelp service these I hese older adults.

And think t state is ally aress tho issues.

Me, Yeah,bsolutely.

A I t gathereis that e educatial appe gathered that th ting when ty don't wo right.

d so you c try y to edate all thadults across e state.ut to educas ventually doesn't wk.

across tt Andyou know seemsike is is,ounow, hat we havhere in hat have here i Lackawaa County, isAndyou know ackawaa County, is navigor programs cou potentiallye benefial for threst of mirro it.

mimicit.

Youte osomet mrors it.

micit.

You know, hing sours to be ab to nnecyou know, ho be able tconnect you versus jua vers just, yoknow, a elevision mmercial oa televisiocommercialr a piecef paper d ail thasays we'll call this number, get concted here.

umber, get connect here.

S yeah, I think I think o, yeah, I think I think ecation, educational educati, educational approhes are rely great approaches are really great but they'reeally tough.

but they're really tough.

ut it seems like the state But it seems like the state again, is making big leaps aga, is making big leaps to kind of kind of fix that to kind of kind of fix that and get a little re and get a little more cative with how they're creative with how they're ith how they're spreading that awareness and how they're getting to older they're getting tolder adults and getting ose adults and getting those services and resources.

So serces and resources.

So we're quickly running out of time.

We're almost near we't the end.

So I want make of tr the end.

So I want make sure that our viewersant sure thatur viewers want to get involved, have get some more information from you.

Well, Lindsay, we you.

Well, Lindy, we heard from Meals on Wheels hea from Meals on Wheels hat it's not just about that it's not just about delivering meals.here delivering meal Tre other ways that people with other ways that people with other expertize or other experti or knowledge can get involved.

knowledge can get involved.

Mike, tell us about the Mike, tell us about the riendly caller program.lved.

Yes.

So the friendly caller program really on Earth as program really on Earths we started our navigator wstarted our navigator program and essentially program and essentially what is, what it sounds hat it is, what it sounds like, it's it's a friendly like, it's it's a friendly call once a week from an call once a weefrom an older adult to an older older adult to an older adult.

You know, both sides adult.

You know, both sides seem to benefit from it greatly.

It's a great volunteer opportunity that volunteerpportunity that someone can do from the someone can do from the comfort of their own home.

comfort of their own home.

As we talked about, between As we talked about, between social isolation and social isolation and loneliness, folks may not loneliness, folks may not be that extreme of being isolated, but they aren't lonely.

And having someone lonely.

And having someone tcall once a week is is to call once a week is is really a great benefit.

I really a great benefit.

I know it's a benefit to me know it's a benefit to me to hear someone I know on to hear someone I know on the other line.

And so.

So, the other line.

And s So, yea it's it's slowly yeah, it's it's slowly taking off and I think it's taking off and I think it's going to be a great going to be a great resource for the community.

resource for the community.

And thus far it's been And thus far it's been extremely successful and it's a very, very easy extremed it's a very, very easy commitment.

So just give us commitment.

So just give us an idea of what that call an idea of what that call would be like.

Right.

So wld be like.

Right.

So you establish a time in a you establish a time in a day that you would speak day that you would speak with an individual.

I kind with an individual.

I kind of back off a little bit.

of back off a little bit.

We have a little discussion We have a little discussion on maybe what not to say on maybe what not to say and maybe the conversations and maybe the conversations you should kind lean you should kind lean towards.

And then it's towards.

And then it's really kind of off to the really kind of off to the races from there.

It's it's races from there.

It's it's you know, you make that you know, you make that mutual connection.

u have mutual connection.

You have conversations about things conversations about things to have in common and to have in common and eventually build a rapport.

eventually build a rapport.

And once a week that And once a week that becomes something that they becomes something that they both look forward to.

Well, both look forward to.

Well, I know you all have I know you all have extensive Web sites, so extensive Web sites, so there's a lot of there's a lot of information that you could information that you could find on the Web site.

So find on the Web site.

So just to be clear, somebody just to be clear, somebody who is interested in doing who is interested in doing this or maybe even just this or maybe even just getting more information getting more information about it.

They were contact about it.

They were contact you that they would have you that they would have perhaps a little training, perhaps a little training, a little bit of on how to a little bit of on how to do this.

And then off you do this.

And then off you go.

I could see that go.

I could see that somebody who is feeling a somebody who is feeling a little bit lonely can fly, little bit lonely can fly, find a way out of that find a way out of that loneliness by participating loneliness by participating in a program like that.

in a program like that.

Absolutely.

And more often Absolutely.

And more often than not.

I think what than not.

I think what we're going to start to see we're going to start to see is the recipients is the recipients converting to volunteers, converting to volunteers, right?

Well, the foundation right?

Well, the foundation has been laid by the has been laid by the organization represented organization represented here and others.

But making here and others.

But making sure that older citizens do sure that older citizens do not fall prey to isolation not fall prey to isolation as an ongoing activity.

And as an ongoing activity.

And responsibility of the at responsibility of the at large.

That's us.

That's me large.

That's us.

That's me And you.

We need to keep an And you.

We need to keep an eye on our neighbors and eye on our neighbors and family members that might family members that might need to maintain contact need to maintain contact with us.

So I would like to with us.

So I would like to thank our panelists for thank our panelists for Pozza painting.

Thanks, Pozza painting.

Thanks, Mike.

Thanks, Lindsay.

Mike.

Thanks, Lindsay.

Thanks, Mary.

Thanks for Thanks, Mary.

Thanks for being here.

And I will.

being here.

And I will.

Thank you.

Thank you for Thank you.

Thank you for for joining us.

Now, if for joining us.

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