Even before the coronavirus pandemic, many older adults were struggling with isolation. The issue has gotten even worse over the last ten months. Staying connected to these vulnerable adults who often live alone means thinking outside the box.
Mary Beals-Luedtka is the Area Agency on Aging Director at Northern Arizona Council of Governments. She says they can’t always rely on technology to stay in contact with the seniors they serve. Many don’t have internet access, and the senior centers where some of these older adults would gather are still closed.
"And we actually hired someone to just focus on socialization," Beals-Luedtka said. "And the woman I hired, formerly worked for the library system. And she worked with activities and socialization. So she really actually, this is what she does. And she has come up with so many innovative ideas."
The ideas include a meditation class and a group for people to talk about their pets, called critter tales. Beals-Leudtka says they utilize both technology and the telephone to connect with homebound seniors.
