For more than a year, Resilient Lehigh Valley and Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley—both powered by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley— have joined forces to drive real change through a shared mission: to enhance compassion resilience and support for older adults and their caregivers in the Lehigh Valley.
In the Lehigh Valley, social isolation among older adults is a pressing concern. A survey by United Way revealed that one in three seniors feels they lack companionship, and one in four often feels isolated. Nationally, approximately 24% of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated, with significant health risks associated.
The collaboration began with a pilot initiative at Phoebe Ministries, a local care provider. There, staff participated in Compassion Resilience Training, a program designed to help those in caregiving roles process stress, manage trauma and support one another through the emotional demands of their work. What began as a single initiative quickly became a long-term partnership grounded in empathy, education and action.
Out of that first training came an initiative aimed at embedding resilience into caregiving environments. Post-training surveys told a powerful story—100% of participants reported gaining new perspectives on supporting individuals who have experienced trauma. That kind of response is rare and speaks volumes about the demand for this kind of support.
Since then, Resilient LV and Age-Friendly LV have continued to collaborate on programs that bring visibility to the unique challenges faced by older adults and their caregivers. While AFLV ensures aging residents remain connected, respected and engaged in their communities, Resilient LV brings a trauma-informed lens that helps uncover the often-unseen emotional weight that aging and caregiving can carry.
Together, the organizations are addressing not only the impact of generational trauma on older adults but also the daily emotional toll caregiving can have on individuals. It’s a partnership that acknowledges the humanity behind the work and the need for support structures that go beyond the basics.
That support has taken many forms, including upcoming summer training sessions through Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Fleming Memory Center, restorative circles that offer space to reflect and heal and community events at local libraries that connect neighbors through conversation and shared experience.
Each touchpoint builds toward a Lehigh Valley where aging is met with dignity and caregiving is no longer a silent struggle but a shared responsibility.
Resilient LV and AFLV urge community members to follow both organizations on social media to stay up-to-date on events and announcements. Follow Resilient LV on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/resilientLV/ and Instagram @resilientlehighvalley. Follow AFLV on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/agefriendlylehighvalley and Instagram @agefriendlylehighvalley.
