Social Outings

What is the role of community in healthcare?

A national study on feelings of loneliness and social isolation across the United States suggest that one-in-four older adults across the nation are struggling with isolation. Additional studies show isolation and loneliness can be worse for your health than daily cigarette smoking. In the Verde Valley, one-third of Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition’s adult clients identify as living alone or in social isolation.

VVCC offers services including transportation, shopping, and pet assistance where we provide opportunities for staff and volunteers to chat with clients on the way to errands. But it’s our social outings, friendly calls from volunteers, and friendly home visits with volunteers that directly help people stave off feelings of loneliness. 

Heather Kurowski, VVCC’s care coordinator team leader, conducts home visits with new clients within days of them enrolling and tries to do yearly home check-ins with our long-term clients.

“When our care coordinators go in and do a home visit that might be the only person they’re going to see in a month,” Kurowski said. “Once you lose your independence in driving — in such a rural community — it can be very isolating.”

Recent studies suggest that increased meaningful social connection in our communities could save lives. Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy raised the alarm about the epidemic of loneliness and isolation. 

The report defines social isolation as objectively having few social relationships, social roles, group membership, and infrequent social interaction. Loneliness is defined as a subjective distressing experience that results from perceived isolation or inadequate meaningful connections. 

Studies show that social isolation significantly increases a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical activity. 

“Lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,” according to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report. 

Sadly, nearly one-fourth of adults across the nation aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated, according to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 

VVCC is concerned because our data shows that one third of our clients — 1,300 older adults in 2023 — identified as living alone. 

So, what can we do? The cure is simple: increase social connections for those who want it. 

VVCC aims to create connections while enhancing independence by organizing monthly social outings and friendly visits through the phone, email or in-person where vetted volunteers can connect with lonely older adults.

Our social outings are created around a fun and inclusive experience that can build connections and community between individuals. We use our transportation network to ensure these neighbors can join these fun social outings without having to ask: “How will I get there?” 

Across all these touchpoints with our neighbors, our staff often hear and see signs of isolation and loneliness our neighbors are experiencing. But aside from the sad stories, our staff and volunteers also hear funny and insightful stories from our neighbors. And when our neighbors get together during our monthly social outing, it’s always a great time. 

“It should be a mini-series on Netflix, the stories I’ve heard from all these people,” VVCC Care Coordinator Aidan Charles said smiling. “It’s amazing.”

This July’s social outing took more than 25 older adults to the Sedona Public Library to learn about man’s best friend — dogs. Our clients spent the time chatting, laughing, and telling stories about their favorite dogs. Afterward, clients ate lunch at Wildflower Café, where they celebrated one of our newest client’s birthday the past month. 

On the importance of community, Executive Director Kent Ellsworth said to consider that one of the worst punishments that our society can place upon a person is solitary confinement — isolation. VVCC’s socialization programs focus on offering experiences to not only to mitigate isolation but give people an opportunity to engage with others and take part in a community once again.

“Everybody says this is a godsend to them, because they would have no other way to really get out of the house,” Kent said. “It’s one of the greatest things people can do is to be kind to each other and get together.”

In the future, VVCC is always looking for new experiences, new events, and new fun ways to get its clients experiencing community. If you have talent, service, or experience in Arizona and you would like to invite our older adult population’s social outings, please contact us.

VVCC is a 501(c)(3), in its 32nd year, with approximately 3,900 older adults and adults with disabilities enrolled throughout the Verde Valley. VVCC’s services are provided at no cost to eligible clients. Volunteers provide many of the services. For information about services and/or volunteering please call (928) 204-1238. 

Our mission is to support and encourage older adults in their quest to age in place in their community of choice by enhancing their independence, promoting a higher quality of life, and reducing barriers to happiness, making the Verde Valley an attractive and sustainable retirement destination.