Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging The Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging (CSA) is a 15-member, bipartisan body appointed by the governor. The CSA advises the governor, the Michigan legislature, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Aging & Adult Services Agency (AASA) on matters relating to policies and programs for older adults. Members are appointed for three-year terms, and membership reflects the distribution and composition of the state’s older population. A majority are age 60 and over, and no more than eight members are from the same political party. Working in close collaboration with AASA, the CSA approves funds for services statewide; participates in preparation of the multi-year state plan required as a condition of federal funding; determines aging policy; serves as an advocate for older adults in government decisions; holds public hearings across the state; and appoints a 40- member State Advisory Council on Aging (SAC) to advise state-level decision-making. State Advisory Council on Aging The 40-member SAC is appointed by the CSA to represent the needs and interests of local communities providing sage advice on vital state issues and policies impacting Michigan’s older and vulnerable adults. The council researches important topics assigned by the commission to inform Michigan’s older adults, the aging network, and state government. STATE OF MICHIGAN GRETCHEN WHITMER DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ELIZABETH HERTEL GOVERNOR LANSING DIRECTOR AGING & ADULT SERVICES AGENCY COMMISSION ON SERVICES TO THE AGING MEMBERS April 16, 2021 Dona J. Wishart, Chair Gaylord Dear Chairperson Wishart and fellow Commissioners, Mark Bomberg Gladstone It gives me great pleasure to present the 2020 Report from the State William Bupp Advisory Council on Aging, “Social Isolation with a Focus on Equity.” In DeWitt response to the Commission’s 2019 charge of researching the impact of Georgia Crawford-Cambell social isolation on Michigan’s older adults, with a special emphasis on equity, Detroit the Council explored the differences between social isolation and loneliness. Nancy W. Duncan They also studied social determinants of health and their impact on the Lansing health and well-being of people and the communities with which they identify. Walid Gammouh Macomb The COVID-19 pandemic began as the Council research was getting Marshall Greenhut underway. Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency North Muskegon across the state of Michigan, featuring “Stay Home, Stay Safe” orders and L. Kathleen LaTosch restrictions on social gatherings. The pandemic brought home the Ferndale importance of social connections to the health and well-being of each one of Peter A. Lichtenberg us. Farmington Guillermo Lopez We have discovered new and practical solutions addressing social isolation Lansing which we are pleased to share with you, including broadening community Michael Pohnl partnerships and outreach, adapting place-based programs, and East Lansing strengthening advanced technology. Tene Milton-Ramsey Detroit On behalf of the Council, I wish to express our gratitude to Senior Deputy Bob Schlueter Director Dr. Alexis Travis, Deputy Director Scott Wamsley, and the staff of Leland the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Adult Linda K. Strohl Services Agency, specifically Lauren Swanson-Aprill and Kelly Cooper, for Sawyer their support and assistance. I also wish to express our thanks to Kristie E. Zamora Chairperson Dona Wishart and past and present commissioners for Flint attending and participating in the Council’s virtual meetings. Finally, thank you to the Commission for allowing me the opportunity to chair and work with this dedicated and passionate group of volunteers. Sincerely, Kristie Everett Zamora Chairperson, State Advisory Council on Aging 333 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE • PO BOX 30676 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909 www.michigan.gov/aasa • 517-241-4100 SAC Leadership | Workgroup Leads | Writing Team SAC Leadership Commissioner Kristie E. Zamora, SAC Chairperson Audra D. Frye, SAC Co-Vice Chairperson Marjorie A. Hobe, SAC Co-Vice Chairperson Donald M. Ryan, SAC Co-Vice Chairperson (Posthumous)* Lauren A. Swanson-Aprill, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Aging & Adult Services Agency Lead of the SAC SAC Report Workgroup Leads Charles C. Corwin, Audra D. Frye, Marjorie A. Hobe, Vicki A. Laupp, Kirk D. Lewis, Joseph E. Sucher, Elizabeth A. Thompson, Susan J. Vick, and Karen Wintringham SAC 2020-21 Writing Team Edna E. Albert, Adam D. Burck, Charles C. Corwin, Audra D. Frye, Marjorie A. Hobe, Cynthia M. La Belle, Vicki A. Laupp, Angela K. Perone, Patricia A. Rencher, Joseph E. Sucher, Joseph V. Sowmick, Lauren A. Swanson-Aprill, Elizabeth A. Thompson, Jo Ver Beek, and Karen Wintringham *This report is dedicated to the State Advisory Council’s Co-Vice Chair, Don Ryan, who sadly passed away in July 2020. He was an active member, and his presence is greatly missed. Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 2 THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ............................................................... 2 SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS DEFINED ...................................................... 4 EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS ................................................ 5 THE IMPACT OF INEQUITY ON SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS .................. 5 ISSUES RELATED TO SPECIFIC GROUPS .................................................................. 9 SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS ....................... 17 ADAPTING PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS .................................................................... 17 DISTANCED CONNECTIVITY AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ................................ 19 CONNECT2AFFECT ............................................................................................... 19 GETSETUP ............................................................................................................. 19 THE COMMUNO2 SUPERAPP AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM .. 20 CONNECTING SENIORS ........................................................................................ 20 OTHER VIRTUAL PROGRAMS .............................................................................. 20 TELEPHONE BUDDY OR “FRIENDLY CALLER” PROGRAMS ................................... 22 SPECIFIC TELEPHONE BUDDY OR “FRIENDLY CALLER” PROGRAMS ............ 22 OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION .................................................... 23 ANIMATRONIC PETS ............................................................................................. 23 AASA TOOL KITS .................................................................................................... 24 COMMUNITY OUTREACH ...................................................................................... 25 PRINTED OUTREACH PUBLICATIONS ................................................................. 25 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................. 26 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................. 27 CHART, GRAPH, AND PHOTO CREDITS ................................................................... 29 LINK LIST ...................................................................................................................... 30 ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................. 31 PRESENTERS, WORKGROUP GUEST SPEAKERS, AND CONTRIBUTORS ........... 32 STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON AGING MEMBERS ................................................ 33 ENDNOTES .................................................................................................................. 35 Executive Summary Social isolation has a major impact on the health status and well-being of older Michiganders. The Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging issued its yearly charge to the Michigan State Advisory Council on Aging to investigate the impact of social isolation on Michigan’s older adults, with a special emphasis on equity. The pandemic of 2020 was unprecedented, bringing into sharp focus the effects of social isolation. A person’s health, well-being, and lifespan are affected by social isolation. The National Institute on Aging, as part of a major federal research initiative, is studying how loneliness can trigger processes leading to health risks such as heart disease, obesity, weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease. In a 2019 American Cancer Society study of more than 580,000 adults, researchers found that social isolation increased the risk of early death from all causes for all groups. After the events of 2020, many Michiganders experienced the impact of social isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the inequities in the conditions and systems in which people are born, grow, live, work and age that influence the health and well-being of individuals and communities. These inequities include racism and discrimination, social connectedness and safety, access to reliable transportation, available and affordable broadband/internet service, affordable and user-friendly technology,