Mobilizing and Empowering the Nation and 

Technology to Address Loneliness & social 

isolation (MENTAL) Health Innovation 

Challenge

July 30, 2020
Agenda – July 30, 2020

I. Welcome & Introductions 

II. Opening Remarks and Overview of the Challenge 

III. Resources for Solvers 

IV. Upcoming Activities 

V. Questions

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Background / Problem 

· The number of people in the United States aged 65 or older will 

almost double from 49 million in 2020 to 95 million by the year 

2060 comprising nearly one quarter of the total US population.

· Approximately 25 percent of older adults in the United States are 

socially isolated and 43 percent of people over age 60 report feeling 

lonely.

· Analyses of Medicare spending found that $6.7 billion is spent on 

enrollees who are socially isolated.

· The COVID - 19 pandemic has exacerbated social isolation and 

loneliness due to the need to adhere to public health 

recommendations for social distancing to protect at - risk 

populations.
Social Isolation & Loneliness

• Social isolation is the objective physical separation from other 

people (living alone). It’s the result of feeling detached physically or 

psychologically, or being disconnected from support groups of family, 

friends, and community. 

• Loneliness is the subjective distressed feeling of being alone or 

separated. 

• Impact of social isolation 

– Premature mortality 

– Higher risk for developing dementia, heart failure, and stroke 

– Increased risk of hospitalizations 

– Medicare spending analyses revealed an additional $6.7 billion spent 

annually on enrollees who are socially isolated.1

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The Challenge 

• Develop innovative ideas and solutions for a software platform that 

increases awareness of, access to and use of social engagement 

technologies and programming to help curtail the impact of loneliness 

and social isolation.

• Identify solutions that assess socially isolated individuals and match 

them with appropriate technology tools and social engagement 

programming that best meet their needs. 

• Develop consumer facing app, clearinghouse with built - in algorithms 

to match people’s interest, accessibility needs to social engagement 

programing, technology, software, and apps and enable 

enrollment/fulfillment of needs.

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$750,000 Prize Purse

• The challenge will compete in two phases with cash prizes 

awarded in each phase. 

– Phase 1: Total prize funds is $ 150,000. Up to 3 finalists, 

each winning $50,000 and move to Phase 2. 

– Phase 2: Total prize funds is $550,000 . 

• The winner will be awarded $450,000 

• The runner - up will be awarded $ 100,000 

• The top two contenders will present their solution at the CES 

2021 - January 6 - 9, 2021 

• Finalists and the winner are eligible for a bonus prize of 

$50,000

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Resources

• Eldercare Locator 

• Educational Webinars Using Technology to Address Social 

Isolation 

• ADRC/No Wrong Door Partnership 

• July 9th MENTAL Health Challenge Informational Webinar 

• MENTAL Health Innovation Challenge Platform

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The Eldercare Locator

1 - 800 - 677 - 1116 

eldercare.acl.gov
Eldercare Locator

Website

Searchable Database 

• Information and Assistance 

• Aging and Disability Resource 

Center 

• Area Agency on Aging 

• State Unit on Aging 

• Elder Abuse Prevention 

• Health Insurance Counseling 

• Legal Service Program 

• Long Term Care Ombudsman

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Application Programming Interface (API)

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Educational Webinars 

Using Technology To Address Social 

Isolation

• June 26th webinar: Addressing Social Isolation 

Through Technology Solutions 

• July 9th webinar: Successfully Engaging Older 

Adults & Adults with Disabilities via Technology 

Strategies and Best Practices

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ADRC/No Wrong Door Partnership

• Critical partners for designing solutions to this challenge 

should include a team of key stakeholders with relevant 

technical expertise as well as knowledge in technologies and 

programs that address social isolation. 

• Preference will be given to teams that coordinate with or are 

informed by a state ADRC/No Wrong Door (NWD) System. 

• To connect with an ADRC/No Wrong Door (NWD) System email 

the MENTALHealthChallenge@acl.hhs.gov

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July 9th MENTAL Health Challenge 

Informational Webinar

• Recording

• PowerPoint Slides

• Transcript

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CES 2021 Update

• CES 2021 is going all - digital. This will allow the 

entire tech community to safely share ideas 

and introduce the products that will shape our 

future. 

• https://www.ces.tech/planning-for-ces2021.aspx

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Addressing Social Isolation for Older 

Adults During the COVID - 19 Crisis 

Report

• Addressing Social Isolation for Older Adults 

During the COVID-19 Crisis Report (click here ) 

• An updated version of this report will be 

posted on the ADvancingStates website this 

Friday, July 31, 2020. 

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MENTAL Health Innovation Challenge 

Platform

• What is the MENTAL Health Challenge Platform? 

– A technology platform that registrants will use to submit 

information about their team and solution. 

– Will provide an opportunity to collaborate/match with 

other teams 

• How will Team Leads be notified when the platform is 

live? 

– Registrant Team Leads will receive an email with 

instructions to access the MENTAL Health Challenge 

platform in the next week

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Upcoming Activities

• Team Leads will receive an email with instructions 

to access the MENTAL Health Challenge Platform 

• Booking Link — Opportunities for Teams to engage 

with the MENTAL Health Innovation Challenge 

Team 

• A process/approach for the public to share social 

engagement programming and technologies that 

could be included in the clearinghouse. 

• Next Webinar will be announced soon

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Frequently Asked Questions

• July 16, 2020: Frequently Asked Questions 

Document

• An updated FAQ will be posted on August 4, 

2020 . 

• Additional Questions?

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Questions

Additional feedback or questions about this challenge can be sent via e - mail to 

MENTALHealthChallenge@acl.hhs.gov

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More Information at Challenge.gov

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