Interplay of genetics and loneliness
Interplay of genetics and loneliness
Social Connection via Technology
"The older individuals are the ones that have the most to benefit from technology that allows for social connection, especially during this crisis ... But they are also the most likely to not have an understanding about how to use this technology."
- Dr. Lozano, primary care physician
We advocate for the increase in access to technology for older individuals, specifically for the use of building and maintaining social connection.
Many older individuals are limited in their physical capacity to socialize with others. In the setting of COVID-19, they are confined to their homes to avoid contracting the deadly disease.
Increasing accessibility means not only advocating for technology to be available for use by older individuals, but it is giving them the knowledge to use this technology independently, giving them a sense of autonomy.
How do we hope to accomplish this?
Making Visits
The Togetherness Program
The Togetherness Program, founded by the CareMore Health organization, has been launched in 8 states thus far. With the goal of providing a community to their senior patients at risk for loneliness, they make home visits using technology to provide social support to elderly individuals. They hope to show that nobody is going through anything alone.
We hope to partner with this organization to expand this outreach program to the remaining states in the US. Studies conducted by the CareMore Health organization have shown that the program has significant preventative effects against loneliness in older individuals.
To find more information about the Togetherness Project, click here.
To become a volunteer, send us an email!
Integration of Artificial Intelligence
Revolutionary Healthcare
What if we could revolutionize the way our definition of social support by expanding interactions to robots? This is exactly what we hope to do in the future.
Studies have shown that humans actually interact with robots with the same social manner and skills as they do with other humans. In situations where older adults live in highly isolated areas with little internet connection, robots could be a possible alternative to preventing loneliness.
To learn more about the basis of this goal, click here.
Medicare/Medicaid Funding
Prevention
The way in which we think about healthcare largely drives how insurance companies and government funding are prioritized. We are just beginning to understand the importance of prevention via healthy habits rather than treatment of disease or conditions that could have been avoided.
Part of this prevention is building ways to prevent loneliness in older adults, and when faced with loneliness, giving them the resources to combat loneliness. We are asking for Medicare and Medicaid to begin incorporation of socialization via the internet for older individuals. This would decrease physical health dysfunction and improve mental wellbeing. For individuals that are not familiar with using technology, we hope that educational programs or guidance counselors are avaiable for assistance.