Minnesota nonprofits boost programs to combat senior isolation during COVID-19 pandemic Nonprofits strive to keep older adults active amid pandemic December 26, 2020 — 6:46am Text size Copy shortlink: Instead of meeting with friends over lunch, Marv Lofquist now goes online to chat with a half-dozen men who also have memory loss, taking comfort in sharing similar experiences while safely apart. "Humans are social beings," Lofquist, 77, said from his Golden Valley home — via Zoom. "It's important to use the functionality that I have maintained instead of isolating … like talking to people." The Alzheimer's Association, which organizes dementia support groups, has boosted online services to combat isolation during the pandemic. Other Minnesota nonprofits that serve seniors are doing the same, shifting senior center activities online, teaching older adults how to navigate FaceTime and Zoom, and recruiting volunteers to call seniors for informal chats.