EPISODE · Jan 29, 2024 · 25 MIN
31. Combatting Senior Adult Loneliness & Isolation Through an Online Community
from Inspiring People: Stories of Innovation and Service · host The Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley
Shags Shagrin shares how he came to create a fully-functioning online community platform for several hundred senior adults who were about to lose an existing platform that brought them together during COVID protocols. Within 24 hours of learning that sponsorship of a current community platform would be ending, a new one was put together by volunteers. Within 72 hours, over 100 members joined. And within a month, it was a federally and state recognized 501(c)(3) organization with nearly 140 members. The speed and success of the effort speaks to a widespread challenge - the current unspoken epidemic of senior adult loneliness and isolation, which is impacting the lives of many individuals across the globe. Shags is a long-time legacy Rotarian who has been involved in community building and service for most of his life. He served on the boards and as an officer of many local professional and select national organizations during his working years, and is a two-time Rotary Club Past President, once in Ohio ('89-'90) and once in California ('08-'09). Shags is semi-retired, so when he became Medicare eligible in 2021, he joined an online community for senior adults dealing with loneliness and COVID isolation, and looking to connect with others around common interests. It was sponsored and funded by his Medicare Supplemental Insurance plan. While over 30,000 people had also joined, only 250 or so were considered "active," defined as those visiting the community more than once a month, so the sponsor shut it down. The community members were crushed, so Shags sprung into action to create an online space for the connections to continue. This is the story of how The Playground Senior Circle, a non-profit online adult senior community, came to life. To learn more, go to: https://theplaygroundcircle.org/ More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley Website: Rotary.cool Meetings’ Video Archive YouTubeChannel How to become a member in this online Rotary eClub More about Rotary International: Website: www.Rotary.org Find a local Rotary club Find an online Rotary Club Podcast and Zoom Host: Rushton Hurley Podcast Producer: Elton Sherwin Audio edited and enhanced with: Descript Studio Sound #PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary
What this episode covers
Shags Shagrin shares how he came to create a fully-functioning online community platform for several hundred senior adults who were about to lose an existing platform that brought them together during COVID protocols. Within 24 hours of learning that sponsorship of a current community platform would be ending, a new one was put together by volunteers. Within 72 hours, over 100 members joined. And within a month, it was a federally and state recognized 501(c)(3) organization with nearly 140 members. The speed and success of the effort speaks to a widespread challenge - the current unspoken epidemic of senior adult loneliness and isolation, which is impacting the lives of many individuals across the globe. Shags is a long-time legacy Rotarian who has been involved in community building and service for most of his life. He served on the boards and as an officer of many local professional and select national organizations during his working years, and is a two-time Rotary Club Past President, once in Ohio ('89-'90) and once in California ('08-'09). Shags is semi-retired, so when he became Medicare eligible in 2021, he joined an online community for senior adults dealing with loneliness and COVID isolation, and looking to connect with others around common interests. It was sponsored and funded by his Medicare Supplemental Insurance plan. While over 30,000 people had also joined, only 250 or so were considered "active," defined as those visiting the community more than once a month, so the sponsor shut it down. The community members were crushed, so Shags sprung into action to create an online space for the connections to continue. This is the story of how The Playground Senior Circle, a non-profit online adult senior community, came to life. To learn more, go to: https://theplaygroundcircle.org/ More about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley Website: Rotary.cool Meetings’ Video Archive YouTubeChannel How to become a member in this online Rotary eClub More about Rotary International: Website: www.Rotary.org Find a local Rotary club Find an online Rotary Club Podcast and Zoom Host: Rushton Hurley Podcast Producer: Elton Sherwin Audio edited and enhanced with: Descript Studio Sound #PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary
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31. Combatting Senior Adult Loneliness & Isolation Through an Online Community
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