@article{5bbd90ac4a2642f0aa83f4632abb014a,
title = "Combatting Social Isolation Among Older Adults in a Time of Physical Distancing: The COVID-19 Social Connectivity Paradox",
abstract = "Social isolation is an important public health issue that has gained recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the risks posed to older adults based on physical distancing. The primary purposes of this article are to provide an overview of the complex interconnectedness between social isolation, loneliness, and depression while introducing the COVID-19 Connectivity Paradox, a new concept used to describe the conflicting risk/harm continuum resulting from recommended physical distancing. In this context, examples will be provided for practical and feasible community-based models to improve social connectivity during COVID-19 by adjusting the processes and modalities used to deliver programs and services to older adults through the aging social services network. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for clinical and community-based organizations to unite and form inter-sectorial partnerships to maintain the provision of services and programs for engaging and supporting older adults during this difficult time of physical distancing and shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders. The aging social services network provides a vital infrastructure for reaching older underserved and/or marginalized persons across the U.S. to reduce social isolation. Capitalizing on existing practices in the field, older adults can achieve distanced connectivity to mitigate social isolation risk while remaining at safe physical distances from others.",
keywords = "aging network, distanced connectivity, loneliness, paradox, screening, service provision, social connectivity, social isolation",
author = "Smith, {Matthew Lee} and Steinman, {Lesley E.} and Casey, {E. A.}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the funding, support, and leadership of AARP Foundation to address social isolation across the United States. Their ongoing efforts raise awareness about the risks of and solutions for disconnectedness among older adults and provide useful resources (https://connect2affect.org/). The authors would also like to acknowledge the Administration for Community Living, the National Council on Aging, and the Evidence-Based Leadership Collaborative for their guidance to transition evidence-based programs and services during COVID-19. The authors thank Leigh Ann Eagle and Sue Lachenmayr of Maintaining Active Citizens and the Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence for their leadership and innovation during the Upstream Social Isolation Risk Screener (U-SIRS) development and implementation. The authors thank Matthew Barrett and Hunter McElroy for their contributions to the U-SIRS validation and virtual platform creation. The authors thank PEARLS partners who shared learnings on piloting telePEARLS pre-COVID (Chris Rosenthal and Avi Zadaka from Jewish Family Service of St. Paul; Tetyana Shippee and Joseph Gaugler from the University of Minnesota; Laura Hilgart, Jasmine Folan, Libby Parker, and Sherri Pratt from The Women's Center; Don Smith and Jayme Taylor from the Area Agency on Aging/United Way of Tarrant County; Jennifer Marcks, Katherine Tuck, and Jennifer Walker from the Community Council). Last, but certainly not least, the authors thank the local efforts of their partners to serve the older adult population in this unprecedented time of need. Thank you for sharing your learnings with researchers and policymakers to guide the future of research and practice. Funding. There is no funding associated with this article. However, the authors acknowledge the funding of AARP Foundation for projects associated with this article. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Copyright {\textcopyright} 2020 Smith, Steinman and Casey.",
year = "2020",
month = jul,
day = "21",
doi = "10.3389/fpubh.2020.00403",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "8",
journal = "Frontiers in Public Health",
issn = "2296-2565",
publisher = "Frontiers Media SA",
}