With a Daily Dial, Police Reach Out to Seniors

The Age Nigeria Foundation helps end the loneliness, abuse, and hunger of the elderly in Lagos State. The organization runs socialization centers, takes up legal cases to defend members, and provides them with food.

Cycling Without Age addresses social isolation among elderly people through a volunteer-run program using electric three-wheeled bicycles with two front seats, so elders can enjoy a ride without the physical toll. Founded in Copenhagen in 2012, the program has expanded to 3,600+ chapters across 41 countries with 50,000 volunteers.

Over the past several years, Lithuania has implemented a comprehensive national strategy to combat high suicide rates by shifting from a medicalized approach to community-based support. One such strategy is Sidabrinė Linija, or Silver Line, a nonprofit offering free support to isolated seniors by matching them with a “befriender” who shares some of their interests. Since its inception, Silver Line has befriended 6,000 seniors. As a result of combined efforts from multiple initiatives, Lithuania’s suicide rate has dropped from 44 per 100,000 residents in 2004 to 19.5 per 100,000 today.

PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) organizations are tackling the growing crisis of elder homelessness by expanding beyond traditional medical services to secure housing. These Medicaid and Medicare-funded organizations are partnering with senior housing providers, leasing apartment wings, and even developing their own housing projects to ensure their 83,000+ participants nationwide have stable places to live.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides support to seniors seeking employment, especially those who speak limited English, have a disability, were incarcerated, or are homeless, as they may need extra help. SCSEP has offered over one million low-income seniors part-time work placement and training. Since forming, about half of the one million participants have gone on to find full-time, unsubsidized employment.

Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development (LA SED) provides culturally relevant programming and services for the area’s predominantly Latino senior community. The Center offers a safe space for seniors to converse in their native language, take English classes, connect with the community, exercise classes, and receive necessary care like vaccinations, food distribution and other social programming and wellness-focused care.

To encourage older people to vote amid targeted intimidation and harassment, Age Nigeria Foundation held regular seminars built around political education and also provided emotional support through daily phone calls and access to psychologists. The organization also covered the cost of transportation to the polls, allowing senior citizens who had been hesitant to vote to cast their ballots.

“AGATEBE” was developed to help make it easier for the elderly and people with disabilities to access toilets. It is a portable, durable, low-cost toilet chair that is easier to use than traditional latrine pits. So far, more than 5,000 have been sold.

Reduce Social Isolation and Lift Outcomes for Seniors (SILOS) is a free program for adults age 50 and up that aims to decrease loneliness and help them stay connected. SILOS pairs participants with a community health worker who checks in regularly and shares lists of nearby events and activities for the participant to take advantage of, all in an effort to foster community and address the public health crisis of loneliness.

The Castle Center provides adults with dementia in need of assistance care during the day. Open five days a week, the center offers participants meals, medication monitoring, personal care assistance with the help of nurses and volunteers, socialization and activities like arts and crafts. The Center also offers time off for caregivers — like family members — who often care for people with dementia 24/7.