Older Americans Month: This year's theme: 'Powered by Connection'
As a federally designated Area Agency on Aging, Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands (ESCCI) is charged with operating the Family Caregiver Support Program, funded under the Older Americans Act. That program was originally imagined as a means of supporting spouses acting as caregivers for their significant others in later life. Today the reality is that older adults play a range of supportive roles as spousal caregivers, but also as caregivers for their (older yet) parents, disabled adult children and grandchildren.
Caregiving demands both time and attention, and all caregivers are at risk of social isolation but older caregivers —those well past retirement age — face special challenges. For adults, making and maintaining friendships often requires intentional acts, acts that can seem optional rather than necessary. Yet having social connections is a superpower that can keep us grounded and healthy.
Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by a federal agency, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in our communities.
This year’s theme, "Powered by Connection," focuses on the profound impact that meaningful connections have on the well-being and health of older adults — a relationship underscored by the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.
“In recent years, about one in two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness,” writes Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, in his advisory. “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.”
“It's not just about having someone to chat with,” said Sarah Franey, Community Services Officer at Elder Services. “It's about the transformative potential of community engagement in enhancing mental, physical, and emotional well-being.” According to Franey, by recognizing and nurturing the role that connectedness plays, we can mitigate issues like loneliness, ultimately promoting healthy aging for more Americans.
One important form of social connection readily available to residents of Cape Cod are peer support groups. A peer support group is a way of connecting with others whose situation bears some resemblance to your own. ESCCI hosts several such groups. A weekly, virtual Caregiver Support Group, established with the onset of Covid19, has proven to be quite meaningful for participants. One male caregiver, who has attended for over two years, has said that he never expected to “feel so understood and supported by a bunch of strangers who are now dear friends.” Another group member shared that “touching base every Tuesday with my people keeps me from despair and madness. At least I know I’m not alone.”
On the Cape and Islands, there are myriad ways to meet and connect with new friends. There are performances, classes, Senior Centers, citizen science teams and we hope that older adults will participate in all these activities and more. If that seems like too much, then consider carving out just a couple hours a month to join a peer support group. You’ll find an extensive listing of available options on our website at www.escci.org/peersupport.
Make connecting with your peers your superpower.
Laura H. Roskos is Development and Public Information Officer for Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Roskos: The Cape and the Islands offer myriad ways to meet new friends
