Wolf administration says help available for people dealing with isolation, depression

The holidays can be stressful and depressing under normal circumstances. But this year’s pandemic has only added to people’s anxiety, particularly for seniors who may be experiencing extreme isolation and loneliness.

On Wednesday, members of the Wolf administration hosted a video conference to discuss resources for older Pennsylvanians and others dealing with anxiety, depression, loneliness and isolation this holiday season.

“It’s been a hard year for everyone in different ways, and heading into a changed holiday season may bring about a kind of grief that we might not recognize or understand,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller.

Miller emphasized that feelings of depression and loneliness are more common and normal than people may realize.

“This year has challenged all of us in ways we could not have anticipated and this has brought out difficult emotions in many of us at different points throughout this year,” Miller said. “We may not be able to physically be together, but no one has to go through this period fully alone.”

Robert Torres, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, said those with loved ones should do their part to check in regularly with older adults to make sure they are doing well and have the support they need.

“Many organizations have started telephone reassurance programs to do routine check-ins to make sure that older adults are OK during this time,” Torres said.

The Department of Aging has partnered with AARP to provide more than 100 phones and tablets to nursing facilities across Pennsylvania to create opportunities for residents to interact virtually with family members, according to Torres.

“We are very committed to ensuring that older adults who are in need of help are able to obtain it,” Torres said. “During this holiday season, any older adult that is experiencing emotional struggles, we want them to understand they are not alone and many resources exist to support them.”

As the pandemic continues to expand older adults are beginning to show signs of fatigue, according to Faith Haeussler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Council on Aging. She cited statistics showing that from May to October, there was a 15% increase in older adults who stated that their mental health had been negatively affected by covid-19.

According to Haeussler, an initiative called SOLO (Strengthening Older Lives Online) provides virtual small group sessions for seniors.

“It does create a sense of connection and we’ve seen how more older adults have pivoted and adopted technology platforms really quickly with open arms,” Haeussler said. “The pandemic is showing that older adults are the fastest growing group of people that are connecting online. We’re making more frequent connections which is certainly positive.”

Any adult needing support can contact the PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources at 1-800-753-8827 or online at carelink.pa.gov.