Older Adults
Article

Powered by connection: Social solutions to loneliness in older adults and people with disabilities

May 6, 2024
Read time:
Download Fact Sheets
Register now
Share this resource
Subscribe to our Newsletter
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download this as a PDF

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is the federal agency dedicated to advancing independence and inclusion of older adults and people with disabilities. Each May the ACL celebrates older Americans. The 2024 theme is Powered by Connection, which recognizes the profound impact that meaningful relationships and social connections have on our health and well-being. In the past couple of years, the Center for Community Solutions has partnered with organizations that serve both adults and people with disabilities to assess their needs. In these assessments, we take a holistic approach to what a person needs including their social and emotional needs.

Data Source: Livable Cuyahoga Needs Assessment & MaxHousing Assessment

Measuring loneliness in Cuyahoga County

Using the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, we gain a better understanding of the strength of connections people have to their communities and the loneliness and isolation that may result when those connections are weak. In separate assessments, we asked older adults and adults with disabilities and chronic conditions to answer questions showing the frequency of connection. The chart below shows the results of Cuyahoga County residents who answered they “sometimes” or “always” experience one of the associated measures of loneliness. Nearly a third of older adults and two thirds of people with disabilities or chronic conditions reported experiencing these feelings.

One of the most effective ways to protect against social isolation and loneliness is through connections both to individuals and community.

Naming and understanding the scope of the issue is important but not the end goal, what comes next needs to be directed by the impacted population, in this case older adults and adults with disabilities. One of the most effective ways to protect against social isolation and loneliness is through connections both to individuals and community. In an assessment focused on Summit County older adults, we found that residents rely on social interactions to stay connected to their communities. They find connections through family & friends, in faith-based groups, at libraries and senior centers and through social media.

A diagram of different types of peopleDescription automatically generated
How older adults in Summit County stay connected

Cuyahoga County older adults are interested in a wide variety of activities that can keep them connected ranging from going to restaurants to visiting museums and shopping for fun.

Ways to connect and barriers that can deepen loneliness

Similarly, people with disabilities are interested in making connections and find that events, social media and attending meetings are the best ways to connect.

A graph with text on itDescription automatically generated

It leads us to ask the following question: with high interest in community participation and forming connections with others, why do high levels of loneliness persist? In many instances it is because there is barrier to access for the person wishing to make connections.

A group of blue rectangular objects with textDescription automatically generated
Meaningful connections can give meaning to life, they bring joy and purpose at all ages of life and to people of all abilities.

When people were asked what keeps them from taking part in community events, common barriers to being more connected were lack of transportation, cost of events, feeling like you don’t fit in, lack of accessibility, lack of knowledge of community events and not having anyone to go with them to events or locations. Prioritizing connection among populations that have told us they lack companionship, feel alone and left out creates inclusion and belonging, which has benefits for the individual and community.

Download Fact Sheets

District 10

Download

All Council Districts 2024

Download

District 4

Download

District 2

Download

District 11

Download

District 9

Download

District 8

Download

District 5

Download

District 7

Download

District 1

Download

District 3

Download

District 6

Download

West Boulevard

Download

University

Download

Union-Miles

Download

Tremont

Download

Stockyards

Download

St.Clair-Superior

Download

Old Brooklyn

Download

Ohio City

Download

North Shore Collinwood

Download

Mount Pleasant

Download

Lee-Seville

Download

Lee-Harvard

Download

Kinsman

Download

Kamm's Corners

Download

Jefferson

Download

Goodrich-Kirtland Park

Download

Glenville

Download

Fairfax

Download

Euclid-Green

Download

Edgewater

Download

Downtown

Download

Detroit Shoreway

Download

Cudell

Download

Collinwood-Nottingham

Download

Clark-Fulton

Download

Central

Download

Buckeye-Woodhill

Download

Buckeye-Shaker Square

Download

Brooklyn Centre

Download

Broadway-Slavic Village

Download

Bellaire-Puritas

Download

All Neighborhoods 2024

Download

West Boulevard Factsheet

Download

University Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Union-Miles Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Tremont Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Stockyards Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

St. Clair-Superior Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Old Brooklyn Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Ohio City Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

North Shore Collinwood Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Lee-Seville Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Lee-Harvard Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Kinsman Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Kamm's Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Jefferson Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Hough Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Hopkins Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Goodrich-Kirtland Park Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Glenville Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Fairfax Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Euclid-Green Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Edgewater Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Downtown Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Cuyahoga Valley Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Cudell Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Collinwood-Nottingham Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Clark-Fulton Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Central Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Buckeye-Shaker Square Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Brooklyn Centre Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Broadway-Slavic Village Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Bellaire-Puritas Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

All Neighborhoods 2016

Download

District 2

Download

District 1

Download

Ohio Women Statewide

Download

All Women Fact Sheets

Download

Wyandot Women

Download

Wood Women

Download

Williams Women

Download

Wayne Women

Download

Washington Women

Download

Warren Women

Download

Vinton Women

Download

Van Wert Women

Download

Union Women

Download

Tuscarawas Women

Download

Trumbell Women

Download

Summit Women

Download

Stark Women

Download

Shelby Women

Download

Seneca Women

Download

Scioto Women

Download

Sandusky Women

Download
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download report

Subscribe to our newsletter

5 Things you need to know arrives on Mondays with the latest articles, events, and advocacy developments in Ohio

Explore the fact sheets

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.

No Related Fact Sheets

Explore Topics

Browse articles, research, and testimony.

Poverty & Safety Net
Article

The Jedi public health approach and four more ways to address weathering

Natasha Takyi-Micah
October 7, 2024
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Community Solutions supports annual Glenn Leadership Forum, October 18

Tara Britton
October 7, 2024
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Current state of Ohio’s state budget

Tara Britton
September 30, 2024
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Populations growing and shrinking in Cleveland, by age

Emily Muttillo
September 30, 2024
Maternal & Infant Health
Article

Five year anniversary screening of Toxic: A Black Woman’s Story

Emily Muttillo
September 23, 2024