People are reporting heightened feelings of loneliness and isolation, a situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased reliance on technology has transformed how we interact, impacting social connections. Older people, facing challenges in accessing and using advanced communication methods, are more likely to experience loneliness. The intersection of the pandemic and the accelerated pace of technological change may contribute to heightened feelings of isolation among older people compared to other generations.
Moreover, as individuals age, they often encounter the loss of more peers, resulting in increased feelings of loneliness. Elderly individuals, having experienced more losses than their younger counterparts, find themselves particularly vulnerable.

In light of Healthy Aging being identified as a Community Health Priority in 2022, the community health survey conducted by Ascension Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, ProHealth Care, and the Waukesha Public Health Department underwent updates for 2023. These enhancements included the introduction of an online survey option and additional questions. Respondents were specifically asked, "How often do you feel lonely or isolated from those around you?" Notably, this data point collected in 2023 marked the inaugural year for this particular measure, providing valuable insights into the community's experiences with loneliness and isolation.

Contributing Factors:

• Technology classes tailored for the elderly
• Increased time spent with others
• Living in senior communities
• Participation in social groups
• Engagement in hobbies

Restricting Factors:

• Lack of connection through community events or skill sharing.
• Untreated mental health conditions
• Limited interaction with family and/or friends
• Living alone
• Lack of activities outside the residence
• Lack of understanding of technology

Root Cause: Lack of connection through community events or skill sharing.

When considering partnerships, the action team kept things as broad as possible. Not all potential partners end up being a vetted resource and partner for the CHIP process, but it was still worthwhile to consider a wide-range of options. Below is a list of potential partners that may have a link to healthy aging, social connections, or the community.

Potential Partners List:

1. Froedert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
2. Menomonee Falls Senior Center & CE and Rec Department
3. Aging & Disability Resource Center
4. Menomonee Falls Library
5. Menomonee Falls School District
6. UW- Madison Division of Extension, Waukesha County
7. Eras Senior Network
8. Community Senior Centers
9. Senior Taxis
10. Churches
11. Libraries
12. Veteran's Association
13. Healthcare Systems
14. Grapevine
15. Oconomowoc Silver Streak Cab Services
16. Lake Country Cab Services
17. Brookfield Park and Recreation
18. Town of Eagle Recreation
19. Village of Hartland- Delafield Park and Recreation
20. Menomonee Falls Community Education and Recreation
21. Town of Mukwonago Park and Recreation
22. Muskego Park and Recreation
23. City of New Berlin Recreation
24. City of Oconomowoc Parks, Recreation, and Forestry
25. Village of Sussex
26. City of Waukesha Parks, Recreation, and Forestry
27. City of Waukesha Public Library
28. City of Waukesha Mayor's Office
29. City of Waukesha Metro Transit
30. Bridges Library System- Countywide contacts
31. Curative Care Network
32. Coalition of Aging and Health Groups
33. SAGE
34. Adaptive Technology Resources
35. Sussex Area Outreach Services
36. Haase Community Connections
37. Waukesha County Senior Dining

What works is a brainstorming process where the action team identifies strategies to enhance social connectedness. The team explores options, considering discontinuation of existing activities and the implementation of new, multi-year, and integrated approaches, ensuring effectiveness backed by research or evidence where possible. 

While the team may not implement every identified strategy, this list serves as a valuable resource for our community partners. Together, we aim to comprehensively address social connectedness, fostering meaningful relationships for individuals of all ages in our community.

Evidence-Based Strategies:

• Community Education and Awareness: Implement GrapeVine classes and Public Service Announcements to disseminate valuable information, enhancing community education and awareness.
• Holistic Health Promotion: Expand fitness classes countywide, collaborating with entities like Parks and Recreation to promote health and well-being throughout the community.
• Community Infrastructure Development: Advocate for accessible transportation for all and explore housing solutions tailored to seniors, addressing fundamental community needs.

Innovative and Creative Strategies:

• Media Collaboration: Craft local TV stories to inform the public about social isolation, utilizing media as an innovative channel for raising awareness.
• Age-Friendly Homes: Collaborate with builders to design homes that actively support aging in place, fostering environments conducive to social connections.
• Clearinghouse Creation: Establish a clearinghouse to coordinate and incentivize volunteer services across all age groups, fostering a culture of community engagement.
• Targeted Outreach: Directly address the social connectedness needs of the most vulnerable individuals through strategic and targeted outreach programs.
• Pet Visitation Programs: Collaborate with organizations like HAWS to facilitate pet visitation programs at senior housing, recognizing the positive impact on social bonds.
• Advertising and AI Engagement: Broadcast helpful tips on freeway signs to decrease social isolation and leverage artificial intelligence for engaging conversations about social connectedness.
• Promotion at Farmer's Markets: Explore the potential of promoting information at Farmer's Markets as an innovative strategy to enhance community engagement.
• Government Collaboration on Messaging: Collaborate with local governments on messaging for consistent community communication, incorporating innovative approaches for effective outreach.

Low-Cost/No-Cost Strategies:

• Education Classes: Conduct classes at Libraries, VFW, Lions Rotary, involving nursing, PT Students, and other community partners, providing affordable educational opportunities.
• Community Engagement and Image Promotion: Visit seniors at home and meal sites for blood pressure checks and falls safety assessments, collaborating with media to promote positive images of aging.
• Tech Skills Teaching: Engage students to teach seniors tech skills, offering an affordable and impactful way to bridge generational gaps.
• Affordable Community Events: Organize low-cost community events like Bingo, Bunco, Music, History Club, and Nutrition through Park Rec, providing accessible avenues for social interaction.
• Volunteer Initiatives: Mobilize volunteers for making phone calls, and psychology students can contribute by teaching coping/social skills.
• UW Extension Collaboration: Partner with UW Extension to work with seniors on maintaining community gardens, fostering a sense of community and purpose through low-cost initiatives.
• Healthcare Providers' Referral Pathways: Increase healthcare providers' referral pathways for seamless integration of health and social services within the low-cost/no-cost strategies.
• Consistent Health Messaging: Implement consistent health messaging to reinforce the importance of social connections for overall well-being, emphasizing a low-cost communication approach.
• Inter-generational Connection: Connect students with older individuals, fostering meaningful inter-generational relationships within the existing low-cost/no-cost strategies.
• Social Isolation Box Project: Explore the concept of a social isolation box project as a potential future initiative, aligning with low-cost/no-cost strategies when implemented.
• Bed Bugs Leverage: Acknowledge the need to exercise leverage to address or eliminate bed bugs for improved living conditions (consideration for future action) within the low-cost/no-cost strategies.

Healthy Aging End Result 2: All people in Waukesha County will have social connections

Selecting an effective strategy involves a meticulous evaluation based on four key criteria:

• Leverage, which assesses the potential impact on progress
• Feasibility, ensuring practicality and achievability
• Specificity, detailing budget and timeline considerations
• Values, ensuring alignment with the values of both the community and the organization

This comprehensive approach ensures that the chosen strategies have a meaningful impact, are feasible to implement, align with established values, and are supported by a clear budget and timeline.

Healthy Aging Team Selected Strategies:

Data Source: 2023 Waukesha County Online Community Health Survey, Demographic Crosstabs

Methodology:  An online community health survey was commissioned by Ascension Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, ProHealth Care and the Waukesha Public Health Department

The questionnaire was entered into Survey Monkey with links and QR codes for easy access. Partners marketed the survey throughout the county. A total of 488 online surveys were completed between September 15, 2023 and November 25, 2023. This is a convenience sample and is useful to obtain information from harder-to-reach people who are often underrepresented in general population surveys. As a result, this is a good supplemental piece to the general population survey. Post-stratification was conducted at the estimated 5-year-age-group level by sex of the 2021 characteristics of the American Community Survey. The margin of error is ±4 percent. The margin of error for smaller subgroups will be larger than ±4 percent, since fewer respondents are in that category.

The survey was conducted by JKV Research, LLC.