Proposal Presented for the Master Plan For Aging (#70)
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
Support social connection through the implementation of the U.S. Surgeon General’s ten recommendations for government. These recommendations generally propose regulations, government leadership positions and roles, and collaborative governance across federal, state and local functions, to prioritize social connection, which would be connected by newly standardized metrics.
Justification
Socially isolated older adults face negative health consequences and poorer quality of life. Support for social connection via the Surgeon General's ten recommendations will align New York State with federal priorities related to social isolation and loneliness, prioritize connection throughout state policy, and implement best practices to limit loneliness.
Full Proposal
New York will support social connection through the implementation of the U.S. Surgeon General’s ten recommendations for government. New York will accomplish the multiple implementation phases, to start upon adoption and span 5 years:
- Include social connection as a priority in public health and policy agendas, provision of critical resources, and the creation of strategies to strengthen social connection and community, inclusive of clear benchmarks, measurable outcomes, and periodic evaluation.
- Establish a dedicated leadership position to work across departments, convene stakeholders, and advance pro-connection policies.
- Utilize a “Connection-in-All-Policies” Approach to examine policies across sectors which looks to identify and remedy policies that drive disconnection while advancing those that drive connection. Evaluate and revise as needed.
- Monitor and regulate technology by establishing transparency, accountability, safety, and consumer protections.
- Create and implement a standardized measure or set of measures for social connection with the ability to capture granularity needed to guide strategic decision-making, planning, and evaluation of strategies.
- Prioritize research funding based on the impact of social disconnection, loneliness and social isolation, and researchers should be collaborated with to enhance research coordination.
- Launch comprehensive public education and awareness campaigns, which includes the creation of national guidelines for social connection.
- Invest in social infrastructure at the local level, including the programs, policies, and physical elements of a community that facilitate bringing the community together.
- Incentivize the assessment and integration of social connection into health care delivery and public health, achieved through public insurance coverage and other government funding mechanisms.
- Increase evaluation and oversight of policy and programmatic outcomes from public institutions, programs, and services, and make the results available through public facing reports and databases, to help improve existing policies and programs, demonstrate transparency, and increase public trust in institutions.
Additionally, the State shall support these recommendations through the implementation of community design principles and programs, such as Smart Growth Community Planning program, DRI and NY Forward as well as AARP’s 8 Domains of Livable communities, to foster social engagement through the built and natural environments.
MPA Council Commentary
This proposal is categorized as long-term. Many components of this proposal overlap with other proposals focused on addressing social connection and reducing isolation amongst older adults. Implementation of this proposal would need to begin with identifying concrete next steps that the State could take to implement the Surgeon General’s recommendations Any additional resources or funding allocations would be subject to the annual budget process and available resources.