The New York City Department for the Aging's Social Isolation campaign raises awareness about social isolation affecting older adults during COVID-19 and asks New Yorkers to volunteer and reach out to City elders.

Broadway producer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda voices the campaign to limit social isolation among older New Yorkers. In this radio public service announcement, Miranda asks, asks “Can you imagine what isolation feels like to an older New Yorker living alone? You can do something about it in 10 minutes…a 10 minute phone call to an older New Yorker can work wonders.” 

Miranda also asks New Yorkers to consider volunteering for DFTA’s Friendly Visiting Program. The program currently has nearly 1,000 volunteers who are checking in on older New Yorkers. Normally, program volunteers visit older adults in person, but due to COVID-19, volunteers have been connecting with older adults by phone and video calls.

To learn more about volunteering, call Aging Connect at 212-Aging-NYC (212-244-6469) or visit https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dfta/services/friendly-visiting.page.

DFTA Social Isolation PSA – voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda

NYC Department for the Aging