Earlier this year U.S Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released a Surgeon General Advisory calling attention to the public health crisis of lack of connection in the United States.
“Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health,” Murthy said. “Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives. Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connections the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a country that’s healthier, more resilient, less lonely and more connected.”
Loneliness can be particularly common for people over age 60 who may have lost spouses, parents, friends and others making their social circle smaller. They are also more likely to be retired and not have social interaction at work. One major effort in Northwest Arkansas to combat the loneliness—while providing food, transportation, activities and assistance with utilities—is senior programs under the aegis of Our Healthy Communities (OHC) based in Rogers.
“We are the umbrella organization for senior centers in Berryville, Huntsville, Gravette, Siloam Springs, Lowell and Bentonville,” OHC Executive Director Susan Moore said. “It is for individuals ages 60 plus to have meals together, participate in activities and go on outings. We want to keep them active. There is a suggested donation of $4 for meals. We also provide meals to the homebound through Meals on Wheels for a suggested $4 donation.”
Meals on Wheels provides connections for the homebound. The service is more than just providing a meal, it’s also a welfare check.
The pandemic hit seniors particularly hard due to being socially isolated to avoid catching Covid, which took its highest death toll among older people.
“They couldn’t gather anymore to be social,” Moore said. “I think that now people are coming back around where they feel more comfortable in groups. Just coming to a senior center to socialize and have a hot meal with others can mean a lot.”
The senior centers receive some state and federal funding but must raise about 50 percent of the cost of operations. They are open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each center designs its own activities to fit the personalities of those they serve. Berryville participants do a lot of quilting and sell quilts as fundraisers to support the senior center. They also have music and dancing.
Moore said for a small community, the Gravette Senior Center does a lot of activities. Activities don’t just happen at the centers, they also go on a lot of trips. The director at the Huntsville Senior Center is known for looking for great deals such as a $10 show in Branson.
“Our Lowell center focuses on a lot of exercise,” Moore said. “Bentonville does a lot of trips. In October they did six separate trips including going to the Roaring River Fish Hatchery. They go to a casino each month. In December we are going to see some Christmas lights. It is just some fun things to get them out. We are going to the Joplin Christmas market in December.”
OHC is also the mothership for People Helping People. The group based in Eureka Springs provides prescription medicine to people who need financial help. OHC provides a 501(c)(3) non-profit status allowing PHP to receive tax-deductible donations. OHC does administration for PHP, accepts its donations, sends checks to pharmacies, and does the bookkeeping. PHP does its own fundraising.
Sue Hopkins, a founder of PHP, said more than 32 years ago OHC offered to let PHP be under their non-profit organization.
“They even gave us seed money to pay for prescriptions while we worked on how to get donations,” Hopkins said. “It was also extremely expensive to create a non-profit organization. And we did not have that kind of money. OHC handles all our financial records. That is a huge job. They pay the bills for each individual pharmacy each month. They keep a record of each client’s use and keep statistics for us. They do our bulk mailings. PHP would not be in existence without their help.”
OHC also handles the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that provides help with energy bills for gas, electric and propane.
“It a very important program for those seniors who can’t pay their bills,” Moore said. “That program is income based. We have the Hopelink case management program for people who may need help for various reasons that don’t come under any of the other programs. An example is helping with vehicle repairs. OHC also provides financial literacy programs including the Dave Ramsey program to help people learn how to manage their money.”
Hidden in Plain Sight is a drug awareness program educating parents and grandparents what to look for if they suspect their children or grandchildren are using illegal drugs.
Moore, who has been doing this work for 16 years, has a special place in her heart for seniors who need help. “We are kind of hidden in the community but those who are in need of our services find us,” she said.
Moore will be in Eureka Springs to serve at the Silver Tea on December 7 from 1:30 to 3:30 in the Crystal Dining Room at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs. Sponsored by the St. James Episcopal Church, tables are covered with silver trays full of tea cookies and sandwiches. People Helping People is the beneficiary of tea proceeds this year.