Next Avenue’s 2020 Influencers in Aging

Dr. Jeremy Nobel’s life work is dedicated to healing – as a physician and faculty member of the Harvard Medical School, in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, the list of achievements relative to his medical career is long.

He is also dedicated to the healing of soul and spirit, as the Founder and President of the Foundation for Art & Healing (FAH), a nonprofit based in Boston, where Nobel, 66, lives. It explores the connection between the two elements of healing and art, and raises awareness about points of connectivity. Loneliness and isolation, and the impact not only on individuals, but on society in general, are also areas of focus.

Partnering with Community Organizations to Address Older Adult Loneliness

Community-based organizations (CBOs) are well-positioned to provide effective programs that reduce loneliness, enhance social connection, and build social cohesion skills and confidence. Unfortunately, CBOs are often constrained by lack of suitable program content, skilled facilitators, and the ability to evaluate program outcomes to demonstrate benefit. This article describes an approach to partnering with CBOs to address loneliness that offers innovative program content, including creative arts expression, mindfulness, and social-emotional learning activities—all available for streaming or download from a digital platform, efficiently and cost-effectively.

The Foundation for Art & Healing