Strategies to Support Adults Experiencing Social Isolation and Loneliness
When: Thursday, August 14 - 2:00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Zoom
Event Details:
Social isolation and loneliness have been recognized challenges in recent decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic augmented these challenges and provided a stark wakeup call for professionals, families, and individuals at risk for isolation and marginalization in mainstream society. There is a need to provide innovative opportunities to promote a sense of belonging and community across all age cohorts, from children to older adults. Using an empirical framework, this course will provide a look at who is at risk for loneliness, the signs of loneliness, and effective ways to reduce social isolation and loneliness while promoting overall mental and physical health outcomes for clients and consumers. A specific focus will be placed on clinical considerations and strategies to assess and support adults experiencing mental health challenges.
Webinar participants will learn how to differentiate between social isolation and loneliness and how to recognize risk factors and signs of social isolation, exclusion, and loneliness. The presentation will examine the impact of mental and physical health on social inclusion and community participation and summarize techniques to assess loneliness and social isolation in adult populations. Finally, this webinar will provide clinicians with strategies and resources to support adults in combatting loneliness.
About the Presenter
Christina Marsack-Topolewski, LMSW, PhD is a licensed social worker and an Associate Professor of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University. She received her bachelor’s of science in Special Education from Wayne State University, master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan, and her PhD in Social Work with a dual title in Gerontology from Wayne State University. She has 20 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities and their family caregivers. She has worked in both the public school and clinical settings. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski has worked as a professor, clinical therapist, teacher, consultant, and speaker. She has published over 80 research articles in scholarly journals and encyclopedias regarding disability, family caregiving, and aging.
Dr. Marsack-Topolewski has served as the lead principal investigator on multiple grant-funded programs tailoring services for individuals with disabilities and chronic illness and their family caregivers. She is an appointed board member of the U.S. National Task Group (NTG) on Intellectual Disability and Dementia Practices. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski’s research has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR) and ABC News Detroit. In recent years, she testified before members of the Michigan Legislature to advocate for new laws that protect against the exploitation and abuse of adults with disabilities. The first of these house bills was signed into law in the state of Michigan in December 2023. In 2024, she received the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Research Award for Research Excellence. In addition, she received the Arc of Oakland County’s Advocacy Hall of Fame Award in 2024.