HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical research
shows that loneliness and social isolation are associated with
negative health behaviors and a wide range of illnesses. In fact,
the health impact of loneliness has been equated to smoking 15
cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad 2010). Loneliness and isolation are
prevalent. A 2019 University of
Michigan study found that 34 percent of Americans aged 50 to
80 feel they lack companionship, while 27 percent feel isolated
(University of Michigan 2019).
To address this issue, Aetna, a
CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), has developed a Social
Isolation Index to estimate each member's risk of social isolation.
The Index, which is based on claims data and multi-dimensional
information on social determinants of health, will help to identify
high-risk Medicare beneficiaries. They will get proactive outreach
from specially-trained consultants within our Resources For
Living® program.
"Social connection is a critical determinant of health for most
people, but particularly for the Medicare population," said Dr.
Robert Mirsky, chief medical officer
for Aetna Medicare. "We want our Medicare beneficiaries to be able
to care for themselves or have reliable support, to be safe in
their homes and communities and to lead fulfilling lives. Helping
our Medicare beneficiaries in this manner not only improves their
quality of life, it can also delay the development and progression
of chronic conditions."
The Resources For Living program, which is available to all
Aetna Medicare Advantage members and their caregivers, helps
address loneliness and other social needs by connecting members
with important community resources. Program consultants work
directly with members to understand their needs and identify
local resources, such as clubs, support groups, home visitor
programs, transportation, caregiver support, and many other
resources. The program serves as an early point of
intervention for the many non-medical issues that impact members'
health.
Resources For Living tailors its support to meet each member's
needs. For example, Medicare members who are fully independent
might be connected with local volunteer opportunities or senior
travel groups. Members who require more support might get referrals
for grocery and meal delivery services, transportation options and
home modification assistance. And members who are more dependent on
everyday care might receive information on home health care and
nursing home options.
The Social Isolation Index and Resources For Living outreach
program are components of Aetna's
overall Medicare social connectedness strategy, which is a
population health approach to improving the holistic well-being of
Aetna's members. Members
identified for outreach by Resources For Living specifically fall
in a rising risk category, meaning that the emphasis is on
promoting wellness and practicing preventive health care. The
social connectedness strategy encompasses several other programs,
both new and existing, to improve health through human
connections.
Encouraging human connections to improve health
While
digital solutions may help to facilitate better health, personal
connections are critical for consumers ages 65 and older, the Path
to Better Health Study reveals.
According to the CVS Health study, 24 percent have no friends or
family nearby to support them and 27 percent don't know where to go
to meet new people.
In 2020, Aetna will offer a new
companionship benefit in partnership with Papa to lessen social
isolation and provide needed assistance to seniors in select plans
in Florida. Papa employs local
college students who visit with older adults to help with errands
or household chores, as well as provide technology lessons.
Eligible members may schedule up to 10 hours per month.
"Adults with two of more chronic conditions and physical
limitations are more likely to feel socially isolated than those
who do not have these issues," Mirsky said. "We feel as though
developing programs to address this issue can elevate the quality
of life for our Medicare beneficiaries and better support their
unique needs."
Aetna will also continue to
provide SilverSneakers®, a fitness program
offering exercise at over 15,000 locations across the country,
through most of its Individual Medicare Advantage plans in 2020.
Besides traditional gym settings, SilverSneakers also hosts "Beyond
the Gym," classes at venues such as community centers, churches,
and parks. They also offer online classes. Participation in
SilverSneakers has been shown to improve health outcomes by
reducing loneliness and isolation by 20 to 25 percent (Brady 2018).
Aetna's efforts to address
social isolation and loneliness for Medicare beneficiaries is part
of "Destination: Health," a series of CVS Health business
programs focused on helping people improve their health outside of
a clinical setting.
Visit AetnaMedicare.com to learn more about
Aetna's 2020 Medicare
plans. Or call us at
1-855-335-1407 (TTY: 711)7 days a week,
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 days a week,
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week,
8 AM to 8 PM. The Medicare Annual
Enrollment Period runs from October 15
through December 7, 2019. A licensed agent may answer your
call.
About the study
The Path to Better Health Study by CVS Health, first released in
2018 and called the Health Ambitions Study, was conducted in
April and May 2019 and included two surveys fielded by
Market Measurement, a national market research consulting firm. The
consumer survey comprised 1,000 participants 18 and older, located
throughout the U.S. It also oversampled six metropolitan
statistical areas — Atlanta, Austin, New
York, Philadelphia, Seattle and South Florida,
and among two ethnic groups: African Americans and Hispanics. The
survey of 400 providers focused on primary care physicians and
specialists with at least two years' experience. In 2019, the study
was expanded to include nurse practitioners, physician assistants
and pharmacists.
About Aetna
Aetna, a CVS Health company, serves
an estimated 38 million people with information and resources to
help them make better informed decisions about their health
care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional,
voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and
related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and
behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities,
Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation
administrative services and health information technology products
and services. Aetna's customers
include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time
and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers,
governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and
expatriates. For more information, visit
www.aetna.com and explore how Aetna is helping
to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews
Aetna Medicare is a HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our
SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment
in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage
for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions,
limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and
availability may vary by service area.
SilverSneakers is a registered trademark of Tivity Health, Inc.
© 2019 Tivity Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
©2019 Aetna Inc.
Y0001_4002_18934_M Accepted
11/2019
Media Contact:
Ethan
Slavin
860-273-6095
SlavinE@aetna.com
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SOURCE CVS Health