Social Connection Important for Senior Health and How Intermountain Select Health Benefit Can Help

Social connection plays a crucial role in our overall well-being. To thrive, we need meaningful interactions with others, and neglecting social health can lead to broader health issues. Unfortunately, social connections are often overlooked when considering the factors that drive health outcomes. To address this, Select Health – wholly owned subsidiary of Intermountain Health- includes a benefit called Papa through their Medicare Advantage plans, offering essential social support and companion care to help older adults stay connected.

Papa’s vetted and trained companions, called Papa Pals, bring help right to the front door and often come from the same communities as the members they serve. They provide a variety of services to make life easier for Select Health Medicare members:

·       Companionship: Engage in conversation, play board games, or enjoy a walk.

·       Transportation: Assistance with doctor’s visits, errands, grocery and medication pickup, or shopping.

·       Home Tasks: Help with meal preparation, light surface cleaning, laundry, gardening, or pet care.

·       Technology Assistance: Aid in setting up computers or social media to connect with friends or family.

Alicia Santillo, the Healthy Connections Program Manager at Select Health, works with members who need extra support navigating the healthcare system and connects them with appropriate resources to ensure they live their healthiest lives possible. She says she has seen a positive impact on the members who receive support from Papa Pals.

“As we age, we may find ourselves more isolated than in our younger years, making us susceptible to social isolation and related health issues such as cognitive decline,” Santillo said. “Engaging in meaningful conversations with others can help us live longer, foster a greater sense of purpose, and potentially enhance cognitive functioning. This is why resources like Papa are so vital.”

A recent epidemiological study of nearly 29,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries highlighted significant concerns about loneliness and social isolation. Sixty-three percent reported feeling lonely, with 22% experiencing severe loneliness—double the rate since 2020. Additionally, 18% of beneficiaries indicated they would have no one to turn to in an urgent health situation.

After surgery in 2022, 68-year-old Diana Johnson, a Select Health Medicare member, received support from Papa. She was paired with a Papa Pal who not only assisted her with daily tasks but also offered her much needed companionship. Inspired by her positive experience, Diana became a Papa Pal herself.

“Papa Pals really lifted me up when I needed the support, so I thought why not return the favor? It’s become the best retirement job,” said Diana. She has completed over 550 visits, and 39 participants in the program have requested her as their Preferred Papa Pal, including 77-year-old Linda Rich, who faced numerous health challenges.

Initially, Diana helped Linda with household tasks, but their relationship quickly grew deeper. They connected over conversations about family, faith, fashion, and cooking. Despite having family nearby, Linda found it essential to have a peer who understood her struggles and desire for independence. Diana’s support not only aided Linda’s physical recovery but also provided emotional strength and companionship.

“It’s important to have someone close to your own age to talk to,” said Linda. “It’s made all the difference to have that relationship. I also really appreciate that I can be more independent with the support of Papa Pals, so I don’t have to always ask for help from my kids.”

After struggling from illness for so long, Linda says she has just started feeling better over the past month. She credits her recent improvement to her Papa Pal Diana and her dog, which motivated her to stay active.

Diana finds it inspiring to see Linda’s improvement, having witnessed her toughest moments.

Linda and Diana’s story mirrors the experiences of many other people who use the Papa benefit. In a randomized, controlled study of chronically ill Medicare Advantage members, 69% of members reported a significant reduction in loneliness after using Papa’s services, and 45% reported an increase in days they felt physically and mentally healthy. This underscores the importance of social health in overall well-being.

“Social connections aren’t just about having fun; they’re the bedrock of our well-being,” said Santillo. “They give us support, understanding, and a sense of belonging—all vital ingredients for a healthy, happy life.”

Select Health members may qualify for up to 120 hours of Papa services per year, depending on their plan. For more information or to get started, call 888-452-4553 any day between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Additionally, Papa’s member resource center on its website provides further details on what to expect on your first visit, tasks a Papa Pal can help with, safety policies, and more.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.