About This Session
On May 19, 2026, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities hosted the fifth installment of its AARP-sponsored CHC University webinar series, bringing together leaders from across the public health, caregiving, and community organizing sectors for a timely and deeply important conversation.
Social isolation and loneliness are not just personal struggles. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory found that the health impact of social disconnection is comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day and poses greater risks than obesity or physical inactivity. Nearly one in three adults ages 50 to 80 report feeling a lack of companionship, and four in ten U.S. adults ages 45 and older report experiencing loneliness. These numbers have been rising for years, and the consequences reach far beyond emotional wellbeing.
This session explored what communities, organizations, and individuals can do to change that.
Watch the recording:
Our Panelists
Moderator: Dr. Katie Boston-Leary Senior Vice President of Equity and Engagement, American Nurses Association / American Nurses Enterprise
Laura Belazis Senior Director of Strategy and Impact, Meals on Wheels
Shelly Douglas VP of Strategic Partnerships, Theris
Dr. William Kincaid, MD Board President, Village to Village Network
Paurvi Bhatt, MPH Board of Trustees, Global Initiative on Social Connection
Additional Resources
The following organizations and tools were referenced during the session:
- Meals on Wheels America – https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org
- Village to Village Network – https://www.vtvnetwork.org
- Theris – https://www.theris.us
- Global Initiative on Loneliness & Connection – https://www.gilc.global/
- Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation – https://www.healthynursehealthynation.org/
- CaringBridge – https://www.caringbridge.org
- UCLA 20 Question Loneliness Scale – https://sparqtools.org/mobility-measure/ucla-loneliness-scale-version-3/
Closing Takeaways from Our Panelists
Laura Belazis: Roughly a third of Meals on Wheels programs have waiting lists averaging four months and in some cases up to two years. She encouraged attendees to advocate for increased funding for the Older Americans Act, which supports these critical programs.
Shelly Douglas: Addressing loneliness requires stronger integration of behavioral health support in senior care settings and greater investment in the programs that make that possible.
Dr. William Kincaid: Getting engaged in your community is essential. No one can do this alone. Everyone has a part to play.
Paurvi Bhatt: Everyone has a role in addressing loneliness and isolation. Start now.
Continue the Conversation
This was the fifth webinar in our AARP-sponsored CHC University series. We have more conversations planned and we would love for you to be part of them.
View all upcoming AARP series webinars: https://chcimpact.org/aarp
Explore the full CHC University series: https://chcimpact.org/chc-university/
Partner with CHC
CHC: Creating Healthier Communities partners with more than 5,000 nonprofits each year, connecting them with businesses, employees, and communities to create lasting change. We exist so every person in every community has an opportunity to live their healthiest life. We invite you to explore what a partnership with CHC could look like.