There’s no denying the long-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on every aspect of everyday life. However, some populations — such as older adults — felt the impact of the pandemic much more than others. For example, 32% of Black adults and 39% of Latino/Hispanic adults aged 65 and older in the United States reported either using up all or most of their savings or losing jobs and sources of income because of the pandemic.
Measuring the economic impact of COVID-19 is just a matter of crunching numbers, whereas gauging the emotional and mental health implications is far more challenging. For the older adults in Dallas who already struggle with isolation, the pandemic increased the distance between these individuals and their loved ones, straining relationships and intensifying the traumatic nature of the world’s circumstances.
“Shortly after the start of the pandemic, it became clear that COVID-19 was increasing social isolation and loneliness among older adults,” says Stacey Malcolmson, president and CEO of The Senior Source. “As we were asking seniors to stay home to stay physically safe, their emotional and mental well-being began to suffer.”
For more than six decades, The Senior Source has been an invaluable resource to older adults throughout the D-FW area. Older adults and their families have come to rely on the organization for its wide variety of programs, events, resources and classes. The Senior Source’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of older adults in Dallas, offering tools to help them with financial, emotional and social issues.
“Our team realized we needed to do everything in our power to equip Dallas-area older adults with information and training on how to access and utilize technology,” says Malcolmson. “Our staff created instructional videos, held trainings on Zoom and used text messaging to ensure older adults weren’t left behind. Additionally, we assisted our clients with online grocery orders and utilized smartphones for prescription deliveries.”
Recently, The Senior Source partnered with Senior Planet from AARP to provide technology classes for older adults. Topics have included how to choose a new computer, making the most of your smartphone and using online tools to contact lawmakers. Other programs included live at-home exercise classes and virtual family caregiver support group meetings.
The older adult population in Dallas only continues to grow. The 2010 U.S. Census revealed that the number of people over 65 in the city — approximately 470,000 — is estimated to double in size by 2030, meaning there will be increased demand for limited resources, even as the pandemic subsides. Ongoing programs The Senior Source offers include financial assistance, employment services, family caregiver support, nursing home resources for families, senior volunteer programs, and frauds and scams help.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that older adults lost at least $602 million to fraud, scams and financial exploitation in 2020. An estimated $100 million of that figure went to COVID-19-related fraud, according to the Senate Special Committee on Aging’s 2021 Fraud Book. This influx of predatory financial activity made older adults, who were already suffering the mental and emotional strain of limited contact with friends and family, even more of a target for scam artists.
The Elder Financial Safety Center at The Senior Source launched in May 2014 as the first of its kind in the nation to protect the financial security of older adults. The Senior Source, with its partners, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office and the Dallas County Probate courts, prevent, protect and prosecute the criminals who commit financial crimes against older adults. The role of The Senior Source in this partnership is to educate older adults about fraudulent crimes and stand by their side when a crime has been committed.
The last year and a half has presented unforeseen challenges for older adults. But as leading experts in the aging field, The Senior Source has become the go-to resource for these individuals to gain invaluable resources and stay connected in meaningful ways. If you would like to get involved, learn more about The Senior Source today.