UM program tackling ‘epidemic of loneliness’ and making a difference for older adults | Opinion

When Randy Letzler moved to Miami from New York before the pandemic, she knew two people — her daughter and her granddaughter. Hoping to make some friends and stay busy, the retired actress joined the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Miami.

Within a few weeks, the pandemic hit, and Letzler, 72, was happy to have a network of new friends who continued to meet on Zoom for conversation and classes, helping each other cope with the isolation of lockdown.

“OLLI became a home for me,” said Letzler, who also teaches improv and chairs the OLLI Social Committee. “These are lifelong friendships.”

For many in our community, it is not always easy to find such friendships, particularly later in life. We are repeatedly warned, on news programs or in magazine articles, about the dangers of what has been deemed a national “epidemic of loneliness.”

In May, the U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, declared loneliness and isolation a public health crisis. He urged policymakers to promote a “cultivation of connection” through public programming, infrastructure like parks and libraries, and more accessible public transportation to make it easier for people to connect.

Even before the pandemic, about half of U.S. adults experienced “measurable levels of loneliness” — a fact that increases their risk of physical and mental challenges, including heart disease, stroke, dementia and depression.

As we head into the holiday season, we know this time of year can exacerbate problems of isolation for many people in our community. Movies and television commercials depict an idealized image of holiday joy that, sadly, is not the reality for everyone.

In a survey of 2,000 people by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a full 66% said they experienced loneliness during the holidays, and about 50% said they were not able to be with their loved ones. Another 27% said they were estranged from at least some of their family.

What is the solution for all this loneliness and isolation?

As the surgeon general noted, it’s a problem whose cure is “hiding in plain sight.” It’s deceptively simple, though not necessarily easy to create to scale: increased social connection among individuals and communities.

At the University of Miami next year, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of a program that has a significant track record of improving social connections and reducing loneliness among adults 50 and older. It began in 1984 as the Institute for Retired Professionals, and some of its earliest members are still with us.

Today, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UM provides about 350 non-credit classes a year, as well as special events, volunteer opportunities and lecture series, to nearly 800 members. Most important, the program offers members a sense of belonging, vital social connection and intellectual engagement.

Our motto is, “Stay curious, stay connected,” because when people are engaged and active, they live longer, healthier lives. We know the need is there.

In 2024, we will mark four decades of social connection with a kickoff celebration in March, featuring former UM President Donna E. Shalala and special events throughout the year.

Some of our members have already begun celebrating their OLLI connections. One of my favorite stories to come out of OLLI this year is the group of women who call themselves the “global posse.” They first met a few years ago in an OLLI course on global politics.

The posse began meeting outside of class and invited their professor to join, discussing the international news of the day. Eventually, they hatched a plan to travel together to Greece, where they explored the country, its history and culture.

As one of the members, Vicki Luther, who chairs our OLLI Advisory Council, put it in a post: “Here we are in Greece, running around the islands and having a great time just hanging with each other. All because we met at an OLLI class several years ago.”

That is the legacy of our OLLI at UM. We look forward to the next four decades.

Rebecca MacMillan Fox is the dean of the University of Miami Division of Continuing and International Education, which houses the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UM. OLLI will hold an open house for prospective members from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Coral Gables campus. Register online.