Article by the Fairfax Area Long Term Care Coordinating Council
(Posted 2022 June)
The Fairfax Area Long Term Care Coordinating Council’s (LTCCC) COVID-19 Impact and Response Committee presented its final report to its members, citing social isolation as the key health risk factor in older adults and adults with disabilities. Convened in August 2020 at the direction of the LTCCC Chair and culminating in the final meeting in December 2021, the committee met 25 times. The committee’s purpose and high-level goal was to enhance the lives of older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers during the COVID-19 crisis and in the near term after. Carolyn Cukierman chaired the committee.
The central question was: What actions can the LTCCC initiate to assist older adults and adults with disabilities, so they feel safe, remain healthy and stay informed in the ‘new normal’ that the pandemic created and, in the future, when the vaccine protects them?
One of the objectives of the committee was to determine what the post-COVID-19 climate may need by making recommendations and providing informational assistance. The overriding issue that emerged in the committee’s research was that social isolation is the top concern and has the largest impact on quality of life for this population. The committee connected with existing LTCCC member organizations had 16 of the organizations present their social isolation programs to the committee. Documentation about their activities was shared with the LTCCC members.
When the committee saw the Fairfax Area 50+ Technology Committee initiated a “Shark Tank” COVID-19 Challenge call for strategies or programs to help address social isolation for older adults and people with disabilities who have little or no access to technology, the committee submitted a project concept called the Friend Mobile. The purpose of the Friend Mobile is to provide engagement and bring human contact to develop and nurture better neighborhood relationships, and to seek to develop opportunities for volunteers.
The Friend Mobile was chosen from the Shark Tank Challenge entries to be recognized by the Board of Supervisors on October 5, 2021, as the most innovative of the submissions for social isolation for low/no-tech users. The LTCCC is working with a non-profit which is seeking funding and if successful, will operate a mobile program based on the Friend Mobile concept. This was a highlight of the committee’s activity.
One other highlight was that the committee developed an appreciation recognition award for volunteering to alleviate social isolation during the period 2020-2021. These awards were granted to three amazing individual volunteers: Kamakshi Murti, MVLE; Melinda Reed, Northern Virginia Brain Injury Services; and Brenda Jones, Spring Hill Community Village. These individuals were chosen because they have done something extraordinary to alleviate social isolation since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
During the pandemic, Ms. Murti volunteered more than 100 hours and demonstrated her strong commitment to others by providing social validation to individuals with disabilities, who traditionally experience disenfranchisement. She did not simply provide volunteer hours of services, but she helped build dreams and accomplishments for those who have difficulty in realizing new achievements.
Ms. Reed is involved in the PALS program (Providing a Link for Survivors) at Northern Virginia Brain Injury Services. She provided friendship via phone calls, texting and Zoom interactions during the pandemic to three clients. She also initiated a Living with Brain Injury Survivor Support Group that takes place for two hours every week because she believes helping others is her calling.
Ms. Jones actively kept news flowing in her 50+ condo building of 25 units and created “Doorway Conversations” to encourage her neighbors to maintain social interactions in this solitary time. She was cited for having a particularly comforting demeanor along with a caring attitude.
Social isolation is not limited to the extreme times caused by the pandemic. Social isolation is felt by many even during “normal” times. Bringing activities to socially isolated older adults is only one of many aspects to this issue that include: Identification, Engagement, Volunteerism, Causes, Outreach, Impediments and Gaps. The central question is what are the gaps, if any, in helping people remove the barriers to being isolated? Although the LTCCC COVID-19 Committee was established to be a short-term task force committee and has ended, the committee sees the need for continued efforts by the LTCCC to provide awareness about and additional solutions to address social isolation.
The 50-member Long Term Care Coordinating Council (LTCCC) was chartered by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, in 2002, to identify needs and create solutions for services and programs that enhance the lives of older adults and adults with disabilities.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).