Regan Roderigues

Put that in your pipe and smoke it: Consequences of loneliness as we age 

Increased risk of heart disease, depression, and cognitive decline—what do these describe? Health consequences of social isolation. Specifically for older adults. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 25% of adults 65 and older are socially isolated. When one loses a spouse through death or divorce or when that spouse is unreachable from illness, loneliness is felt. Seniors whose friends have passed away or whose lives are disconnected from their families understand loneliness. Social isolation and loneliness were common prior to the pandemic; however, during and post-COVID the issue has blossomed.

Typically, advisories from the surgeon general are reserved for public health emergencies. For the first time ever, one has been issued to highlight the concern of loneliness. In May of this year, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy stated, “Loneliness is far more than a bad feeling. Unless we take serious steps to address it, we will further retreat to our corners— angry, sick, and alone.”

Is it not fair to say we live disconnectedly in a connected world, surrounded by people but not interacting on a real level? Though imperative to an evolving, modern society, technology has played a big role in exacerbating the problem of loneliness. In an era of telehealth visits, online shopping (must admit— I do A LOT of that), banking, and more, the need to leave our four walls has decreased dramatically. Coupled with the lingering fear of COVID, many older adults think twice before leaving the house at all.

With that statement, the issue is twofold. Seniors either do not have the skills to utilize technology or are desperately in need of face-to-face interaction. The problem is not just in the U.S., other countries are taking a stab at dealing with a lonely population in various ways.

According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, primary care providers are exploring the value of Social Prescriptions for patients, targeting the social needs of patients through non-drug interventions. For example, physicians in Montreal can now prescribe a trip to the museum for patients who might benefit from a day spent admiring fine art. Nicole Parent, director general of Médecins francophones du Canada says, “We strongly believe that this exposure to art will help alleviate symptoms and anxiety.”

Participating physicians can prescribe free museum admission for a patient and 3 family members. Studies have shown that art therapy can improve the emotional well-being in patients. In 2018, a Minister of Loneliness was appointed in the United Kingdom after the government identified social isolation as a health priority and included funding to address it. The government’s Tackling Loneliness Network has launched multiple projects to help the country tackle loneliness including the Connection Coalition’s Loneliness Advice chatbot service on WhatsApp.

The service enables people feeling lonely to simply message the app to access information and resources. In Japan, 28% of the population is over 65—the highest in the world. That percentage poses numerous challenges for policymakers, but social isolation is a problem that is hard for government-led programs to address.

According to their experts, community-driven initiatives rolled out to suit local conditions have proved successful. In the town of Taketoyo (about 165 miles from Tokyo) “salons” have been set up around the community to provide physical exercises and enjoyable social activities like poetry writing and recreational games. The municipal government supported the initiative by providing meeting space, financial assistance, and publicity.

Similar activity hubs known as “community cafes” have sprung up around Japan. About a third of participants reported feeling happier, while they also enjoyed meeting new friends and learning health tips, a survey found.

In the United States, Age-friendly States and Communities are becoming more wide-spread. The focus on age-friendly communities began with the World Health Organization in 2010. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) joined with WHO, with the goal of implementing policies, services, and structures related to helping seniors “age actively,” enabling seniors to live safely, enjoy good health, and stay involved in their community.

In Massachusetts alone, there are 115 age-friendly communities that have adopted an Age-Friendly Plan and 230 communities are working toward it. The ones who are the most successful take community feedback seriously.

Thankfully, the beautiful town of Duxbury is already laying the groundwork to implement a *base of fire* at loneliness on a local level (after watching "Band of Brothers" recently, I have been inserting military terms in my daily life).

First formed during the pandemic as Pea Pods, the Duxbury Senior Center (my home away from home) created an initiative to address the concern about the social isolation of our older population. Small groups of seniors regularly and safely connected in-person during a time in which many were unable to do so. Following the success of Pea Pods, the Circle of Friends program was launched. The group meets twice a month and focuses on conversation circles and social time. The intention is for folks to meet and create bonds within a facilitated environment. The program has proven hugely popular with an average of 35 participants showing up each time.

Led by Carol Boudrieau (DSC Pea Pod program coordinator who retired last year and now works for free), this program has proven how many are affected by loneliness and disconnection in our small part of the world.

“For me, the ah-ha moment in Pea Pods was witnessing how connected participants became during conversation circles. They enjoyed sharing and reminiscing—embracing the opportunities to share this way,” said Boudrieau.

As the population in Duxbury ages, the Duxbury Senior Center and the Town of Duxbury have taken on the task of ensuring that the community is livable and inclusive for people of all ages. As a first step, residents were surveyed to determine what would make the town more age-friendly. The answer: Focus on housing, transportation, and mental health.

“We don’t know what our plan in Duxbury will look like yet,” says Age-Friendly Task Force member, Brooke McDonough, “but we have had tremendous support from the community and town officials. Duxbury is committed to doing what it takes to be a town where people can live well and age well.”

The detrimental impact of loneliness has been equated to the impact of smoking. In 1964, the Surgeon General’s first report on smoking and health was released. It was a turning point in the understanding of the impact of tobacco use on the health of the American people. Can Murthy’s report do the same for loneliness?

Social isolation comes at a price: it is associated with roughly $6.7 billion in additional healthcare costs annually among Medicare beneficiaries and contributes to poor health outcomes, including a 50 percent increased risk of early mortality.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060, and the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population will rise from 16 percent to 23 percent.

It is essential we address these health consequences for the aging population. Not only do our elders deserve to be taken care of, but wouldn’t the younger generations hope for assistance and compassion, too?

Thyme Sullivan + Denielle Finkelstein

From Shelf to Every Stall with UNICORN

Thyme Sullivan (tampon) and Denielle Finkelstein (unicorn) are in the stalls tackling period poverty in a very magical way.

Picture this: You’re at an office, a restaurant, maybe even a stadium—and Mother Nature calls. You head to the nearest restroom, confident that what you need is just within reach. No second-guessing, no fumbling for change, no emergency texts to friends. This is the world my cousin Denielle and I are creating with UNICORN. We’re more than fun co-founders with a shared DNA and a knack for shaking things up; we’re mothers with a vision for a future where our daughters–and everyone’s daughters–will find it absurd that once upon a time, period products weren’t as common as toilet paper in every stall.

In 2018 when we launched TOP, the organic project, our purpose was to elevate women, and that will never change. Our pivot to UNICORN is because we didn’t just want to start a business; we wanted to spawn a movement. A movement that says goodbye to period poverty by making sure that organic tampons and pads are right there, in every stall, free and accessible. Just like toilet paper. Yes, it’s that simple and that ground-breaking.

Echoing Phil Knight of Nike, “The cowards never started and the weak died along the way—that leaves us.” That is exactly how we felt 2 years ago when we recognized that our impact would be limited if we continued to simply sell organic period products on shelves and donate to those in need. To enact real, systemic change, we had to focus on access.

Imagine a world where you never have to worry about being caught off guard by your period. It’s a world where the phrase “period poverty” is as foreign as floppy disks and dial-up internet. Access to period products is the game-changer, the knight in shining armor for anyone who’s ever had to fashion a makeshift pad out of toilet paper–we’ve all been there.

Our first step was to create a low cost, low profile acrylic dispenser that installs in seconds. Responding to customer demands for an alternative to the archaic metal dispensers, we delivered. Gone are the days of empty, broken, or coin-operated machines dispensing less-than-ideal products. We listened to the janitorial staff and made it easy to service, we listened to our customers and stock products that are just like what you use at home. A compact plant-based applicator tampon and a thin pad with wings—and we are organic.

We hired 2 badass executives, Ellen Cynar and Lindsay Domaas, whose expertise in public health, policy, consumer product sales, and operations fortified our foundation.

Next, we brought men into the conversation.

We have been customers of JPMorgan Chase since our very first day, and they have been much more than a bank for us. We were invited to an intimate cocktail party when Jamie Dimon’s cross country bus tour stopped in Boston. As CEO of JPMorgan Chase he is the 19th most powerful human in the world.

Everyone was trying to get his attention, asking about everything from the economy to crypto currency, and we asked him if he ever carries toilet paper around with him. The shock factor was enough to get his attention and as a man with a wife, daughters and granddaughters he was open to a brief conversation about providing period products as a benefit for his female employees. He is a vocal advocate for women and he walked the talk that day when he added us to his famous “list” of follow up from the bus tour.

Within 2 weeks, we launched a pilot program providing period products in every stall in every bathroom, in every branch, in New England. We personally did the installs and we were overwhelmed by the emotional reaction from the branch employees. It makes it easier for them to come to work, and stay at work. It removes a mental load and makes them feel seen and heard as female employees. We were witnessing something important happening, women realized we have not had period products where we need them because we never asked.

Since the pilot, we have been featured on their “Women On the Move Podcast,” been interviewed on ChedHER TV, and appeared in an advertising campaign. We were invited to their National Women’s conference, First time CEO group, and Women’s Presidents Organization. We have been to inspiring women’s panels and participated in their community events, all with the focus on advancing women in society. They have opened doors to opportunities we would never have had.

We needed to know if this would resonate with other influential companies so we signed up to be a lead sponsor at The IFMA (International Facility Manager) conference. This conference is exactly what it sounds like, a lot of office supplies and solutions, and a lot of dudes. This is where we saw first hand the power of our new mascot, the UNICORN. We had a line around our booth out of sheer curiosity.

Men didn’t just understand the concept, they embraced it. It was simply a matter of fact, they never thought about the impact of period products within the facilities they managed. The most memorable were 3 men from American Express who realized the potential heroism in implementing our program within their organization.

New York City was our first American Express location to launch. Once again Denielle and I did the installs personally with their team to see the reactions. Within 2 days of launching in New York, a Senior Executive gave the green light for the entire country and asked if we could expand globally.

We are aligning with many other innovative leaders and organizations with a commitment to DEI & B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging), sustainability, supplier diversity, and improving the workplace for women. This isn’t just about ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting or ticking boxes—it's about setting a transformative precedent that will redefine corporate responsibility and gender equality.

With UNICORN, Denielle and I aren’t just changing the way period products are distributed, we're challenging each business to take a stand for gender equality. We're not just rewriting our stories, we're editing the societal blueprint, ensuring that restroom equity isn't a policy, but a practice.

We are fueled by the opportunity to create a legacy, to craft a world where our daughters, and yours, will one day tell their children about the ancient times when period products weren’t in every stall, and watch them gasp in disbelief.

If you are a business, a school, a government institution and you want to respect your female employees, customers, constituents, etc., put period products directly in the stall. That is simply the most dignified thing you can do.

If you are a company that is recognized as a great place to work for women. If you want to attract and maintain talent with return to work, make it easy for them to be there, provide free tampons and pads!

If you are a luxury resort and your customers have to go to the front desk to get period products—then you’re not really offering luxury. If you're an arena and make people walk to first aid for period products—then you are not respecting half of your customers. If you are a restaurant owner and want to respect people that work hard for you and the customers who pay you for a great experience—then you should provide period products.

So here’s to change. Here’s to being bold, a little brash, and a lot brave. Because that’s what it takes to lead a revolution from the restroom stall outwards. This isn’t just corporate responsibility; it’s about starting a revolution with forward-thinking leaders and organizations.

Wherever there's toilet paper, there will be period products in EVERY stall.

---

UNICORN is revolutionizing restroom equity by redefining essential needs. They are making period products as ubiquitous and accessible as toilet paper, positioning them in EVERY stall. This monumental shift is propelled by co-founders Thyme Sullivan and Denielle Finkelstein, seasoned executives with a proven track record in operational and branding excellence with global powerhouses Nestlé, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Kate Spade and Coach. They have joined forces with impact-driven giants like JPMorgan Chase, American Express and Fidelity, aligning their mission with these organizations’ commitment to DEI&B goals, sustainability and workplace excellence. This isn’t just about ESG reporting or ticking boxes—it's about setting a transformative precedent that will redefine corporate responsibility and gender equality.