Report on Intergenerational Programs Addressing Social Isolation in Older Adults and Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Health, Well-being, and Community Inclusion

Social isolation is a significant public health concern for aging populations, directly impacting brain health and overall well-being. This phenomenon presents a challenge to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. In response, community-based intergenerational programs are being implemented to foster social connection, thereby contributing to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by including vulnerable older adults, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by strengthening the social fabric.

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The World Health Organization identifies loneliness and social isolation as critical risk factors for adverse mental health conditions in later life. This directly contravenes the targets of SDG 3. The physiological and psychological impacts include:

• Cognitive Decline: Dr. Jennifer Wong, an experimental psychologist, reports that social isolation can lead to the shrinkage of brain regions, resulting in irreversible cognitive damage.
• Mental Health Deterioration: Individuals experiencing social isolation due to life changes, such as the loss of a loved one, are more likely to register as depressed.
• Increased Health Risks: The lack of social connection is a determinant of poor health outcomes, necessitating interventions like “social prescriptions” to mitigate these risks.

Case Study 1: The Life Story Club

The Life Story Club is a non-profit initiative that exemplifies a targeted approach to achieving multiple SDGs through intergenerational engagement.

Program Objectives and SDG Contributions

1. Promote Mental Well-being (SDG 3): The program’s guided storytelling conversations are designed to alleviate symptoms of depression and improve mental health. Participant Yvonne Taylor, 67, reported, “I’m not as depressed as I was,” demonstrating a direct positive health outcome.
2. Reduce Social Inequalities (SDG 10): By accepting referrals for individuals who are isolated or depressed, the program actively works to reduce the inequalities faced by older adults, ensuring they have access to supportive social networks.
3. Build Inclusive Communities (SDG 11): Events held in public spaces like Brooklyn’s Prospect Park bring together different generations, fostering dialogue about personal history and family. This strengthens community ties and promotes mutual understanding.

Case Study 2: NYC’s Friendly Visiting Program

The city-led Friendly Visiting program is another model that addresses the needs of a particularly vulnerable demographic—homebound seniors—in alignment with the SDGs.

Program Outcomes and SDG Impact

• Enhancing Health and Purpose (SDG 3): Program Director Suzanne Windland states the initiative makes an “amazing difference” for participants’ brain, physical, and mental health. Providing companionship gives seniors “a reason to get up in the morning,” directly contributing to their sense of well-being.
• Fostering Inclusion for the Homebound (SDG 10): The program specifically targets seniors aged 60 and over who are unable to leave their homes, reducing the profound inequality of social exclusion they face. The case of Anna Boulet, 89, highlights how a volunteer relationship provides essential social and practical support.
• Strengthening Community Partnerships (SDG 17): This program is a successful partnership between a municipal entity and community volunteers, demonstrating how collaboration is essential to achieving sustainable development outcomes. The regular visits and chats create a resilient support system for isolated individuals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article’s primary focus is on the health impacts of social isolation on older adults. It explicitly links loneliness to adverse mental and cognitive health outcomes, stating it is a “key risk factor for mental health conditions” and can “shrink parts of our brain.” The programs discussed aim to improve the well-being of seniors, with one participant noting, “I’m not as depressed as I was.”

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article addresses inequality based on age by highlighting the vulnerability of older adults to social isolation. Programs like the “Friendly Visiting program” are specifically designed to promote the “social inclusion of all, irrespective of age” by connecting homebound seniors with volunteers, thereby ensuring they are not left behind or excluded from social interaction.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The initiatives described are community-based urban programs (in New York City) aimed at making the city more inclusive and supportive for its aging population. The “Life Story Club” uses a public space, “Brooklyn’s Prospect Park,” to host its intergenerational events, which aligns with the goal of providing access to inclusive public spaces for older persons.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Targets under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article directly supports this target by discussing programs that actively promote mental health and well-being to combat depression and cognitive decline (non-communicable conditions) in older adults. The concept of “social prescriptions” is a preventative measure to improve mental health.

Targets under SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age…” The article’s entire theme is centered on promoting the social inclusion of older adults. The programs described, such as matching “homebound seniors 60 and over with younger volunteers,” are direct actions to empower and include an age group at high risk of isolation.

Targets under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.” The mention of the Life Story Club organizing an event in “Brooklyn’s Prospect Park” illustrates the use of public spaces to create inclusive social opportunities specifically for older adults, directly aligning with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 3 (Target 3.4)

• Prevalence of depression: The article mentions that patients are referred to the Life Story Club who “have registered as being depressed.” This implies that tracking the rate of depression among participants can be a key indicator of the program’s success in promoting mental health.
• Self-reported well-being: The testimony of a participant, Yvonne Taylor, who states, “I’m not as depressed as I was,” points to self-reported improvements in mental health as a direct, qualitative indicator of progress.

Indicators for SDG 10 (Target 10.2)

• Rates of social isolation: The stated purpose of the Friendly Visiting program is to “help lessen their social isolation.” Therefore, a reduction in the measured or self-reported rates of social isolation and loneliness among older adults would be a primary indicator.
• Participation in community programs: The number of older adults participating in programs like the “Life Story Club” and the “Friendly Visiting program” serves as a quantitative indicator of their active social inclusion.

Indicators for SDG 11 (Target 11.7)

• Frequency of inclusive events in public spaces: The article describes an “intergenerational event… in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.” An implied indicator would be the number and frequency of such organized events for older persons in public parks and community spaces, measuring how these spaces are being made actively inclusive.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com