Prevent and Reduce Social Isolation
Social isolation is an epidemic in the United States, affecting two-thirds of older adults and three-quarters of young people (as reported during COVID). Social isolation is linked to depression, poor sleep, and impaired immunity. It increases the risks of dementia by 50 percent, stroke by 32 percent, and coronary heart disease by 29 percent, and significantly increases the risk of premature death from all causes.
Age-Friendly Health Systems Issue Brief
Age-Friendly Health Systems aim to follow an essential set of evidence-based practices; cause no harm; and align with what matters to older adults and their caregivers. This issue brief provides background on the need and an update on a new movement that seeks to transform how our healthcare system approaches the care of older adults.
Age-Friendly Communities: The Movement to Create Great Places to Grow Up and Grow Old in America
Explore new, transformative ways of thinking about aging and community development.
Age-Friendly Communities Issue Brief
Older adults can be a vital asset to communities and community development, contributing their experience, leadership, and, often, economic participation. Unfortunately, most live in places that are not well prepared for an aging population, and most communities have a long way to go before they can be called “age-friendly” – that is, great places to grow up and grow old.
GIA has identified age-friendly community development as an issue of great promise and compelling need, with enormous potential for important contributions by funders.