Blogs

@Amber Carroll serves as Senior Director, Connection Programs at Front Porch Communities and Services. 

Tell us about the work that your organization does. What is your mission and what population(s) do you serve? 

Front Porch is a nonprofit provider of retirement and affordable housing communities, serving more than 7,500 residents across 54 sites. Guided by its vision to empower individuals to live connected and fulfilled lives through community and innovation, Front Porch integrates housing with programs that promote well-being, foster creativity, and strengthen social connection for older adults both within its communities and nationwide. 

Please tell us about the goals of the program you are involved with and how you support social connection? 

Front Porch's Connection Programs include Well Connected and Well Connected Español. These programs offer hundreds of virtual classes, conversations, and activities accessible by telephone or online. Available 365 days a year, these activities connect older adults to a nationwide community that provides mental stimulation, friendship, emotional support, and fun! 

These programs provide older adults living throughout the United States with a variety of opportunities for lifelong learning and social engagement, ensuring meaningful, accessible connection to each other– as participants and/or as volunteers. Through the vibrant communities of the Well Connected programs, older adults have the opportunity to meaningfully connect and engage with each other every day. 

Share one of your top achievements or a success story. 

Porch proudly celebrated milestone anniversaries for our Connection Programs in 2024: Well Connected reached 20 years, and Well Connected Español marked five years. These programs continue to lead the way in combating loneliness and isolation by fostering meaningful relationships for older adults across the country. As members of the Foundation for Social Connection Action Network, we helped pilot an innovative evaluation tool in collaboration with the Scientific Advisory and Older Adult Working Groups. As founding members of the UCSF Coalition for Social Connection, we continue to play a leading role in advancing social well-being across the Bay Area, including the launch of the inaugural Social Connection Week in October 2025. 

Program milestones included Well Connected Español’s partnership with UC Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare, which culminated in the inspiring “Way of Life” exhibit at Front Porch’s Ruth’s Table, and the publication of Well Connected’s first Writers Anthology, a rich collection of poems, essays, and stories showcasing the creativity and voices of our community. As one participant shared, “Being a part of Well Connected for a year now, my sense of well-being has been enhanced 100-fold. It is so meaningful to have this communication vehicle… We are indeed a community.” 

Why is promoting social connectedness important to the community/population you serve? Why and when did you start incorporating social connectedness into your programming? 

All Connection Programs were founded with the mission to create accessible spaces where older adults can connect and engage meaningfully, all from the comfort of home. Social isolation and loneliness remain critical challenges among older adults, affecting their health, well-being, and overall quality of life. The Connection Programs address these issues by offering opportunities for participation and volunteerism, fostering community for a diverse population of older adults across the nation. 

Do you have tips for others looking to increase social connection and engagement programming or a key resource you can share? 

Listen and embrace change! The Connection Programs honor and prioritize people at their core, continuously evolving based on invaluable feedback from members.