Research has shown that social connection is essential to health and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our awareness of the importance of social engagement for everyone, but especially older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. The Aging Network helps older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers remain connected to others by offering a variety of social engagement opportunities.

To help the Aging Network expand and enhance social engagement offerings, USAging administers engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults. In this episode, USAging’s Director of engAGED, Meredith Hanley, and the Senior Program Manager of engAGED, Rebecca Levine, discuss the work of engAGED, key issues and trends related to social engagement and how the Aging Network can tap into engAGED resources to develop programs that help older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers stay socially engaged.