Health

HE A LTH • Spring 2019 11 much better because he was getting out of the house and interacting with other people." Getting people through the door Beyond the mental health support medical professionals like her can offer, Richler said, larger institutional changes are needed to reduce loneli- ness overall. And much of that comes from community institutions like the senior center where Marie spends her time. Amy Waters, the Worcester Senior Center's director, said her organiza- tion takes the issue of isolation and loneliness seriously. Beyond offering a wide range of activities, from tai chi to billiards to art shows and concerts, the center offers workshops on staying active, planning for all aspects of retirement, and volunteer opportuni- ties. It organizes events for people with dementia, as well as a respite program for family caregivers, who are high risk for social disconnection. "We have a weekly period where they can drop off their person with dementia, and we give them special supervision and special activities so the caregiver can get out and maybe see a friend they haven't seen for a year," Waters said. Joan Goodwin, executive director of the Fitchburg Senior Center, said iso- lation and depression can become a vicious cycle for older people. Just as loneliness can lead to depression, being depressed can make it hard to seek social connections. "I have seen situations personally with people that depression is the first thing, and it just pulls you into that isolation," she said. The Fitchburg Senior Center serves a range of people, including low- income seniors, some who are home- less. Isolation can be especially diffi- cult for people with limited financial resources. Goodwin said the center sometimes offers free groceries like meat, bread, and pastries. She uses that as an opportunity to sit down with the people who come in, see what they may need, and explain the activi- ties and services the center offers. Of course, not all older adults can, or want to, take part in group activi- ties. Maureen Siergie, executive direc- tor of Elder Services of Worcester Area, a nonprofit agency providing services to older adults at home, said it's crucial to consider each individu- al's needs and desires. "There might be one person in an apartment who would really like the opportunity to get out and enjoy the activities of the senior center, and there might be someone in the apart- ment next door who really never joined in social activities, and their needs are different," Siergie said. "We go with what's important to each indi- vidual, and not necessarily go in and prescribe what we think is necessary." Elder Services workers do clients' laundry, deliver Meals on Wheels, and provide other services to help them maintain a high quality of life while living independently. Diverse populations, diverse needs For all organizations serving older adults, it's important to consider the needs of diverse populations. For example, Siergie said, her agency works hard to make its home services friendly to LGBTQ elders. "When you think about somebody who's now 65, 70 years old and is gay, they may have gone through periods of their lives where that needed to be hidden," she said. "If somebody's going to come in and assist you with bathing or laundry, we need people to be aware that we're welcoming and we never are going to judge. It's safe for them to be who they are when we're there." Similarly, Siergie, Waters, and Goodwin said they work to ensure their services are accessible for people who speak many different languages and come from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Regardless of specific circumstanc- es, Siergie said, it's important for older adults and their families to know there are resources and services available across Central Massachusetts to help people contin- ue living their best lives. The most difficult part for some may be taking the first step to connect with them. "We want to hear from people, so whether it's from a family member, from an elder themselves, from a physician's office," she said. "We can help not only to figure out if our services are the right options but explore other resources in the community." Source: AARP, "Loneliness and social connections: A National Survey of Adults 45 and Older," 2018 On the fringe Adults ages 45+ who identify as longly or socially isolated Total Ages 45-49 Ages 50-59 Ages 60-69 Ages 70+ Income below $25,000 Income $25-$49.9K Income $50,000+ Married Widowed Divorced/separated Never married Living with partner LGBT 35% 46% 37% 36% 24% 50% 37% 31% 31% 34% 46% 51% 29% 49% Increase your business's visibility and support our veterans! Become a Veterans Inc. event sponsor today! For sponsorship opportunities and more information please contact Tracy Dill at tracydill@veteransinc.org or 508-791-1213 x1142 or visit veteransinc.org/events May 8, 2019 Heritage Country Club Charlton, MA Meals on Wheels -- delivered here by Paul Frigon -- is one of a handful of ways Elder Services of Worcester Area works to ensure seniors maintain a high quality of life while living independently. H

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