Mayor Domenic J. Sarno is joining Mayors across Massachusetts in reaching out to their communities about the need to connect with others — especially older adults. Teaming up with the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston and AARP Massachusetts, Mayor Sarno was one of four mayors in several Commonwealth cities to help deliver a public service announcement (PSA) video asking residents to reach out in small, but meaningful ways to combat the social isolation many people—young and old—are experiencing as winter nears and we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effort is part of a campaign, called Reach Out Massachusetts, to raise awareness about the health benefits of social connection and encourage residents to participate in the prevention of social isolation. The Gerontology Institute’s Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging and AARP Massachusetts created a resource guide highlighting ways in which many Massachusetts cities and towns are already addressing social isolation in their communities. Mayors in Boston, Gloucester, Salem, and Springfield, have recorded video messages for local access television asking their residents to reach out. The PSAs are available via MassAccess for sharing on community access television stations.
Winter in New England can underscore isolation; fewer daylight hours, freezing temperatures and winter storms prevent many from venturing out. By speaking to their constituents now, local leaders are looking to support and strengthen social connections and implement some ideas before the winter weather begins.
The Reach Out Massachusetts (#ReachOutMA) campaign seeks to ensure every older adult in Massachusetts feels connected to their community and enjoys strong social well-being. For more information about the campaign, visit: www.reachoutma.com.
Community leaders in cities and towns across the state are welcome to join the campaign’s efforts. To participate, contact csdra@umb.edu.
The link to Mayor Sarno's video is here.
The link to the three other mayors videos is here.