Pathways to Happiness

Policies to address loneliness

Pathways to Happiness are ways to address

loneliness

Social Support

scores are strong but

have edged down over

time.

100= happiest

Let’s look at one aspect of social support:

feeling lonely

Overall, we sometimes feel lonely and we are getting lonelier

a score below 40 means we often feel lonely , 80 or above means we rarely feel lonely

Courageous Policies

Awareness Raising Campaign

Encourage recognition & response

Measure social connection

Provide age-friendly public transportation

that loneliness is an epidemic condition

Local government take action to:

Loneliness Research Hub: http://pps.sagepub.com/content/10/2.toc#SpecialSectiononLoneliness

Resources for loneliness awareness campaign

Campaign to end loneliness: http://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/

Age-Friendly Cities

1. Transportation2. Housing3. Social Participation4. Respect and Social Inclusion5. Civic Participation and Employment6. Communication and Information7. Community Support and Health Services8. Outdoor Spaces and Buildings.

Cities to adopt an age-friendly checklist and provide incentives (like LEED)

source for checklist http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf?ua=1

Resources for Age Friendly Cities

White paper on later life isolation: http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/aarp_foundation/2012_PDFs/AARP-Foundation-Isolation-Framework-Report.pdf

Whitepaper on later life loneliness: http://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/wp-content/uploads/Promising-approaches-to-reducing-loneliness-and-isolation-in-later-life.pdf

More resources for age friendly cites: http://www.who.int/ageing/age_friendly_cities_material/en/

What’s it going to take?

Acceptance of all people

Everybody matters.

Treat all people with dignity and respect.

NO more NIMBY

Nationality

Intergenerational

Neighborhood Diversity & Inclusion throughout cities, towns…

Rich - Poor - Socio-Economics

Language

Sexuality

Other policies in the Pathways to Happiness tool series

Campaign finance reformGuaranteed basic income

Media reformMassive public transportation

Local food relianceVillage living (cities and rural)

Multi-use zoningPublic spaces

Political festivalsParticipatory governance

Participatory budgetingAnti-corruption policies

Transparency in governmentCompassion training for policeCommunity-based monitoring

Sousveillance Vote holiday

Vacation lawsFamily leave laws

Sick leave lawsFlex time and job share laws

Telecommuting policiesBabies at work policiesIntergenerational care

Department of neighborhoodsVolunteer programs

Mindfulness practice in schoolsSocial justice awareness raising

Mental health –priority counselingSame Sex Marriage Laws

Public child care

We envision a world where all beings can thrive.

Can you envision it too?happycounts.org