A group of community members sit together at the tea party (Photo credit: Andrew Gallardo)

By Mykola Washchuk – Staff Writer

Loneliness among older adults has increasingly become a public health concern across the United States. According to the National Institute of Aging, health experts have linked prolonged social isolation to higher risks of depression, cognitive decline, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. While the issue extends nationwide, the Township of Lyons attempts to address it locally by creating opportunities for seniors to socialize, remain active, and stay connected with their community. 

Through a year-round calendar schedule, the township’s senior programming aims to provide more than entertainment for its community’s seniors. According to program coordinator Aneta Garbacz, every event is designed to create meaningful social interaction for older adults who may otherwise spend much of their time alone. 

“We organize these events to prevent them from staying indoors all day and to encourage them to socialize and feel that human connection,” Garbacz said. “For some seniors, this could be the only day all week that they leave home.” 

Throughout August, the township is hosting a variety of senior activities, including movie afternoons, craft workshops, game days, bingo, and a Cubs-White Sox watch party. The department has also introduced more hands-on activities, including greeting card making and rock painting, which encourage both creativity and conversation among attendees, Garbacz said. 

Planning those events begins well before residents ever walk through the doors. Garbacz said she works alongside fellow staff members to develop calendars several months in advance, carefully selecting activities that are accessible, engaging and practical for seniors of varying abilities. Once an event is chosen, the team creates promotional materials, orders supplies, plans decorations, develops menus, and organizes room layouts, often with assistance from township interns. 

“We brainstorm activities that are easy for seniors, relatively mess-free, and don’t require a huge turnout,” Garbacz said. “Once we decide on an event, we start planning everything.” Accessibility remains a central part of that planning process. Garbacz said the township regularly asks participants for feedback, ensures meeting spaces remain wheelchair accessible, accommodates dietary restrictions, and even adjusts games or activities to meet seniors’ physical needs. 

“If we try a new event we’ll ask, ‘How can we make this better next time?’ or ‘What would you like to see?’” Garbacz said. “We genuinely listen to their comments and suggestions.” 

Rather than simply filling a room, Garbacz said the programs create opportunities for friendships that continue beyond a single afternoon. She regularly sees neighbors introducing one another, strangers sharing tables, and repeat attendees saving seats for new friends they’ve met through previous programs. 

“I’ve seen people sit down at a random table without knowing anyone, and by the time the event ends they’re walking out together because they’ve become friends,” Garbacz said. “Whether those relationships happen slowly over time or immediately, it’s always wonderful to see.” 

She recalled one township participant, Dolores, who lives alone and has very little family nearby. Garbacz said the senior events have become one of the few places Dolores regularly socializes. 

“I’ve had seniors who come because they don’t have friends or family anymore,” Garbacz said. “These events help them not feel so lonely.” 

Garbacz described one woman who initially arrived withdrawn and difficult to approach during a recent tea party; but by the time the event ended, after talking with old and new friends, there was a noticeable change in her mood. 

“She ended up winning one of the centerpieces, and she started crying because she was so happy,” Garbacz said. “Seeing her go from guarded and frustrated when she arrived to smiling and emotional by the end of the event was really special.” 

Stories like those reinforce why Garbacz believes social programming deserves the same attention as any other public service.

“Since we have the Mental Health Commission here, we’re very dedicated to promoting mental health, reducing stigma, and letting people know it’s okay to have a bad mental health day,” Garbacz said. 

Beyond combating isolation, Garbacz believes the programs remind seniors that they remain valued members of the community whose voices continue to matter. 

“I really want people to know that senior citizens are vital in the community,” Garbacz said. “They have the experience, they have the knowledge, they have the wisdom.” 

As the township continues expanding its senior programming, Garbacz hopes every event offers older adults something increasingly difficult to find in an age of growing isolation: a place to belong.