Older adults and people living with disabilities face an “epidemic” of loneliness and social isolation, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
A central Wisconsin county wants to improve social connections through a statewide grant program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
“I thought: How can we connect people in those communities and draw on the strengths that already exist in smaller rural Wisconsin communities?” said Kate Giblin, senior center manager for the county’s Aging & Disability Resource Center.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
On WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” she said Portage County created the Rural Community Connections Task Force after receiving a $58,000 grant in May.
Last year, more than 40 counties across the state received between $10,000 and $100,000 to address loneliness and make communities more liveable.
“We have lots of seniors who recognize the value of being connected, those who do not tend to face barriers of transportation,” she said.
As coordinator of the task force, Giblin said she’s working with the Central Transportation program in Portage to identify the gaps in rural access and provide free transportation to winter community gatherings, hosted by the new rural task force.
“We had our [January] kickoff event here in Plover at one of our new community spaces, the Food and Farm Exploration Center,” Giblin said. “We had over 350 people, over 38 organizations involved.”
She said each event highlights existing community spaces in Portage and the importance of getting out during the winter months for food, music and fun.
“What we were seeing at our events is grandma, mom and dad and grandchildren all together and having a good time and learning about opportunities to volunteer,” Giblin said.
Dana Lawson is the health promotion coordinator for the county’s Aging & Disability Resource Center, as well as a committee member of the Rural Community Connections Task Force of Portage County
“Living in isolation increases our risk of premature mortality by 29 percent, which is a significant amount,” she said.
State health data says nearly one in four adults age 65 and older are socially isolated in Wisconsin. In addition, lack of social connection affects human biology and psychology, Lawson said.
“It affects our behaviors, such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, smoking and treatment,” she said. “It affects our health outcomes, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes.”
Lawson said people living in Portage are feeling enthusiastic about this season’s community gatherings, as well as the overall goals of the rural task force.
“People are taking flyers. They’re asking questions,” she said. “They all want to become involved.”
Giblin said the strong, lasting connections happening within the Portage County community mean local organizations can benefit, too.
“When someone broadens that social network, it’s a longer lasting relationship that develops with a community center [or] with an organization with volunteer opportunities,” she said.
The following events are coming up in Portage County:
- Rosholt: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Lions Club, 3834 County A
- Almond: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Almond-Bancroft School, 1336 Elm St.
- Junction City: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 8 at Kennedy Elementary School, 616 W. 2nd St.
