Connect ME: Improving Social Connectedness

To assess the reach and effectiveness of a behavioral activation intervention for older adults experiencing low social connectedness by Area Agency on Aging Staff.

Inclusion Criteria:Older adults (age>60) will be enrolled because they are the target population served by the home-delivered meals program and the target sample for this study.Exclusion Criteria:Clinically significant depression (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9 ≥ 10) or active suicide risk (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale; C-SSRS), or Cognitive Impairment (Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test>9)Clients who score 1 or greater on question 9 of the PHQ-9 will be further assessed for suicide risk using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)Clients will meet exclusion criteria for a positive response to any itemWe will exclude older adults with uncorrectable hearing or vision impairment rendering them unable to use the tele-conferencing equipment.Those who cannot speak English and have impaired decision-making capacityAdults unable to consent will be excludedIndividuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers) will be excludedPregnant women will be excludedPrisoners will be excluded