Proposal Presented for the Master Plan For Aging (#77)
Disclaimer
Throughout the MPA process, more than 100 proposals were developed thanks in particular to thousands of hours of work by external stakeholders and members of the public. These proposals and the MPA Council commentary are being submitted to the Governor and shared with policymakers and the public to inform policymaking. These proposals represent a starting point for discussion. Further discussion is necessary between relevant state agencies and stakeholders to both refine these proposals and assess which may be appropriate to adopt and implement.
Summary
Require a social connections component embedded across all state policies and programs, including: the design and implementation of a standardized data set and monitoring system for evaluations of social connection interventions statewide; the building of age-friendly social infrastructure within the community that values the assets of older adults and enables opportunities for paid work and volunteering; a focus on the built environment to provide spaces and opportunities to access social engagement; a focus on the community-based programming designed to create social connection, meaning, and purpose; and the creation of a, “one-stop-shopping,” opportunity for people to obtain a listing of the wide range of opportunities to be engaged with.
Justification
Improving the health of New York requires that social isolation and loneliness be addressed in state policy and programming across all sectors, including the built environment, community programming, the medical environment, as well as crafting a social infrastructure in which older adults are considered, and their strengths are valued. Implementing multi-sectoral policy changes to reduce social isolation and loneliness can improve the health of New Yorkers at all ages.
Full Proposal
Loneliness and isolation are risk factors for financial loss and its compounding effects. New York State should require a social connections component embedded across all state policies and programs, including: the design and implementation of a standardized data set and monitoring system for evaluations of social connection interventions statewide; the building of age-friendly social infrastructure within the community that values the assets of older adults and enables opportunities for paid work and volunteering; a focus on planning, zoning and developing the built and natural environments to provide proximate and accessible public spaces and other opportunities to access social engagement, including public parks, inter-generational public spaces and walkable streetscapes; a focus on the community-based programming designed to create social connection, meaning, and purpose; and the creation of a, “one-stop-shopping,” opportunity for people to obtain a listing of the wide range of opportunities to be engaged with.
- Evaluate state policies and programs across NYS to determine whether it meets the criteria for reduction in social isolation and loneliness.
- Prioritize funding in the state budget for existing social engagement programs to include the evaluation for the feasibility of programs and the ability to increase access to programs and services (e.g., mental health services). Campaigns should reach marginalized populations and use of diversity of culturally and linguistically appropriate messages.
- Monitor new and emerging evidence to integrate into the delivery and content of public messaging and programs.
- Promote social connection through the design of the physical and programmatic infrastructure, including access to transportation, affordable digital access and literacy training, housing and zoning development with access to public transport and within walking distance to needed goods and services, safe and appealing gathering spaces, safe streets for people with disabilities and pedestrians, new recreational facilities/ repurposing of existing spaces, and other public gathering spaces for community connection.
- Enable the accessible evaluation of social isolation and loneliness utilizing a web-based tool and referral system for improved connection to social engagement opportunities.
- Surveillance:
- Statewide (ideally aligned with other states/federal) standardized instruments and measures for screening and measuring program outcomes; these should ideally be aligned with other states and the federal government.
- Consider using the social isolation Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/questionnaires/index.htm).
- Develop a surveillance program to detect and track social isolation and loneliness, including analysis to determine sub-populations at highest risk.
MPA Council Commentary
This proposal is categorized as near-term. Many state agency partners are currently developing and implementing policies and programs that combat social isolation. Proposed metrics for evaluating implementation success could include improved social isolation and loneliness screening scores and the evaluation of policy and programs. Any additional resources or funding allocations would be subject to the annual budget process and available resources.