Combating Loneliness for Older Adults

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

As part of the Middlesex County’s Destination 2040 Healthy, Safe, and Inclusive Communities initiative, the County is focused on providing our residents up-to-date and innovative care management tools that support whole-person care. To fulfill that goal, we worked to find and implement an innovative solution to provide connection, companionship, and assistance with basic resources that could improve lives and assist with successful and healthy aging in place. In keeping with a whole-person approach, we focused on one of the most basic human conditions that drives many of the physical and mental health issues we seek to solve: loneliness. We partnered with Pyx Health to execute this initiative. The program identifies and outreaches to a targeted list of residents most likely to be lonely or have need. It provides ongoing and timely human interventions and an easy-to-use digital app to encourage social, mental, and physical well-being. The program screens for loneliness, depression, anxiety, and SDOH needs and then provides real-time support. Once loneliness or urgent social needs are uncovered, it uses evidence-based interventions and skilled, peer-to-peer support to reduce loneliness, improve mental health, and connect the resident with needed resources. There’s no restriction on the quantity or duration of the interactions.