[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-427916-105":59,"doc-detail-427916-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","eliminating-loneliness-and-enhancing-social-support-findings-from-community-focus-groups","ELIMINATING LONELINESS AND ENHANCING SOCIAL SUPPORT - Findings from Community Focus Groups","","Social support and social connection are vital for older adults, who face elevated risk of loneliness and inadequate support due to living alone, loss of friends, or chronic illness. Lack of connection is linked to serious consequences including mental health difficulties, cognitive decline, and physical health concerns such as high blood pressure. Findings from two community focus groups (N=17) using semi-structured interviews highlight supportive roles of senior centers, accessible transportation, and faith-based networks after bereavement, informing policy and program implications.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/eliminating-loneliness-and-enhancing-social-support-findings-from-community-focus-groups/427916/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/eliminating-loneliness-and-enhancing-social-support-findings-from-community-focus-groups/427916.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Fahsai","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":29},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"Why are social support and social connection important for older adults?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"Older adults rely on social support and connection for wellbeing. They may also experience loneliness and reduced support due to factors such as living alone, friend loss, or chronic illness.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What consequences are associated with a lack of social connection and support?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"The document links inadequate connection to risk for mental illness, cognitive decline, and physical health concerns such as high blood pressure.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What community resources emerged as supportive in the focus group findings?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Participants described senior centers—supported by provided transportation—as enabling engagement, belonging, and ongoing support. They also noted that church and pastor relationships helped strengthen connection and support after losing loved ones.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},427916,1790717676,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":29,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":8,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":81},549768702563,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/8000c4aa63b76e948b?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1786536092046926083","884 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2  \nin enriching experiences at their local senior center. Through transportation provided by their senior center, community members otherwise transportation disadvantaged were able to engage with others, establish a sense of belonging, and maintain support through programs and services. Additionally, multiple participants explained that their church and pastor provided a sense of connection and were instrumental to their support system after the loss of loved ones. Findings from this study indicate the need to promote senior centers as a community focus. Additionally, findings suggest that senior centers can be a resource through networking of members and attendees. Authors share policy, research, and program implications.  \nAbstract citation ID: igaf122.2989  \nELIMINATING LONELINESS AND ENHANCING SOCIAL  \nSUPPORT: FINDINGS FROM COMMUNITY FOCUS  \nGROUPS  \nVivian Miller1, Caleb Skinner1, and Daniel Maitland2,  \n1. Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States, 2. University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States  \nSocial support and social connection are vital for older adults.  \nOlder adults may be at increased risk for loneliness and a lack of social support as this cohort may live alone, experience the loss of friends, or have chronic illness. Failure to have social connectionsand social support results in significant consequences.  \nConsequences of a lack of connection and support include risk for mental illness, risk for cognitive decline, and risk for physical health concerns (e.g., high blood pressure). To mitigate the consequences of loneliness and to increase support efforts, it is important to explore the lived experiences of older adults with a focus on time periods, activities, and engagement that promoted a sense of support. A total of seventeen (N = 17) participants across two focus groups engaged in this study. Through semi-structured interviews, participants shared that they felt supported by participating","cbCaiogkzPWaIM8A","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiogkzPWaIM8A","pdf",64657,"English","# Study focus and rationale\n## Risks and consequences of loneliness\n# Methods\n## Focus groups and semi-structured interviews\n# Key findings\n## Senior centers, transportation, and belonging\n## Faith-based connection after loss\n# Implications\n## Policy, research, and program recommendations","[{\"question\":\"Why are social support and social connection important for older adults?\",\"answer\":\"Older adults rely on social support and connection for wellbeing. They may also experience loneliness and reduced support due to factors such as living alone, friend loss, or chronic illness.\"},{\"question\":\"What consequences are associated with a lack of social connection and support?\",\"answer\":\"The document links inadequate connection to risk for mental illness, cognitive decline, and physical health concerns such as high blood pressure.\"},{\"question\":\"What community resources emerged as supportive in the focus group findings?\",\"answer\":\"Participants described senior centers—supported by provided transportation—as enabling engagement, belonging, and ongoing support. They also noted that church and pastor relationships helped strengthen connection and support after losing loved ones.\"}]","ELIMINATING LONELINESS AND ENHANCING SOCIAL SUPPORT - Findings from Community Focus Groups | PDF",1790645178]