According to the Administration for Community Living, prevalence of social isolation and loneliness in the nation has surpassed smoking and obesity. Act on Alzheimer's says these issues can be major risk factors for cognitive decline and can increase the risk of dementia by 50%.

To combat isolation and loneliness, the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Pierce County is focused on using grant funding to bring people from the area together.

“Our platform for utilizing those funds is to plan some events throughout Pierce County, partner with some local organizations that are already providing services to be able to provide more services, specifically to people who may have difficulty traveling to social events,” ADRC Manager Morgan Tamminga said.

One of these events is a free admission event at the Pierce County Fairgrounds called the Pierce County Connect & Thrive Kick-Off Event on Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. that features music by Half Shebang, refreshments, prizes and resource booths. Anyone is welcome to go to the event as it is a family event for people from anywhere. The event will serve as a resource fair.

That is not all ADRC is up to, as they are looking to do as many things as possible with the grant funding in order to reach the maximum audience. Other plans in the works include paying for Country Fit in Ellsworth to travel to different locations and host exercise classes and to allow some people who cannot afford the classes to attend free, partnering with the Ellsworth and Spring Valley libraries for events and supplies, providing community meals, partnering with the St. Croix Valley Dementia Friendly Communities for showings of the documentary ‘Wine, Women, & Dementia’ in the county, increasing respite to two days per week, supporting the Live to be Healthy fitness program, helping the Historical Association host speakers and partnering with a variety of organizations.

“Really trying to identify, again, some of the more rural areas of the county that don’t already have some of those resources,” Tamminga said.

Tamminga said they are trying to promote social interaction with people of all generations, and that is why they chose the events they have.

“In addition to people that might be living with cognitive decline, their caregivers also become isolated,” ADRC Dementia Care Specialist Amy Luther said. “It’s easy for them to experience the effects of isolation and loneliness.”

Socialization is not something that only affects people mentally, but can also have an impact on physical health.

“Socialization really plays a huge role in just overall health,” Tamminga said. “Brain health, mental health, people tend to be more physically active when they are with other people. So I think there’s just that overall health factor.”

The ADRC does a wide variety of things from educating the community, helping people find resources, providing information and a lot more.

“We are here to help support older adults and people with disabilities in Pierce County,” Tamminga said.

The ADRC can be contacted at piercdhs@co.pierce.wi.us, 715-273-6780 or 412 W. Kinne Street Lower Level in Ellsworth.

“Our biggest goal is helping to support people staying within their homes as long as possible,” Tamminga said.