Suzanne Morley:
Social isolation is a pretty big concern for older adults. As we age, for many different reasons, we lose contact with friends or family members, or loved ones might pass away. We might become less active and less mobile. There might be a disability reason for that. Maybe we aren't able to get out and be active anymore in our communities. ... Being socially isolated means having limited contact with other individuals. And then there's also loneliness with that too, so someone might be lonely even if they do have many social contacts. So, social isolation — we've seen a big increase in the last five-plus years, especially post-pandemic. There's been lots of research. The former U.S. Surgeon General even declared an epidemic of social isolation and loneliness. We've definitely been seeing that it impacts older adults and people as we age in different communities. And then, there's just different — we kind of live in a different world now. There's lots of technology, which there's research on both sides on the benefits of technology and how that can actually get people more connected, but then it can also on the other, on the flip side of that, can lead to more social isolation. So it definitely is a large issue. Our Aging and Disability Resource Centers throughout the state and other organizations that serve older adults are noting that. Their, the people that they serve note that, "Hey, maybe I have only had contact with one person in a week," and that's their home-delivered meal driver. They're kind of desperate and really wanting and craving that attention and that contact and connection with other people in their communities.