Recent Innovations in Peer Programs for Socially Isolated Older Adults: Implications for Public Health Emergency Preparedness.

Background: Peer programs, which pair individuals of similar age or life experience, can address complex psychosocial needs, loneliness, and social isolation among diverse older adults. However, these services were heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined which pandemic-era innovations were sustained across six peer programs and identified core features of peer programs relevant to future public health emergency preparedness.

The Use of Age-Friendly Technology in the Care of Older Adults: Two Implementation Case Studies.

Telemedicine has become standard in health care, and telehealth access is increasingly important. Some populations such as older adults may not have the tools nor the understanding to successfully use telehealth. We describe two cases where GrandPad, a tablet designed for older adults, was implemented at the University of California, San Francisco in (1) a home-based primary care practice and (2) a dementia specialty clinic.

A proactive phone intervention for older adults to address loneliness identified by a health plan.

Social isolation and loneliness are associated with poor health and higher health care costs among older adults. Our objective was to determine if older adults identified as at risk for loneliness by a Medicare Advantage health plan could benefit from a proactive telephone support program. We conducted a mixed-methods pilot efficacy study of outbound calls from an established community-based telephone program to support older adults identified as at risk for loneliness.

What Are "Social Prescriptions" and How Should They Be Integrated Into Care Plans?

Health consequences of social isolation and loneliness include worsened morbidity and mortality. Despite wide recognition of this fact, little is understood about how to intervene successfully. "Social prescribing" is one approach by which clinicians can intervene on social determinants of health, which include social isolation and loneliness.

The Role of Digital Technologies in Facilitating Psychosocial Resilience to Sudden Social Isolation Among Older Adults: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study investigated how older adults adopted new technologies in response to sudden social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and how this adoption was related to their long-term psychosocial well-being. The study involved a 6-month longitudinal survey of 151 older adults and two phone-based focus groups, which informed a semi-structured interview guide and purposive sampling of diverse community-dwelling older adults. We then conducted twenty qualitative interviews and thematic analysis and mapped themes to 6-month quantitative trajectories of psychosocial health.

Key Elements and Mechanisms of a Peer-Support Intervention to Reduce Loneliness and Isolation among Low-Income Older Adults: A Qualitative Implementation Science Study.

This paper describes the evaluation of a longitudinal peer-support program developed to address loneliness and isolation among low-income, urban community-dwelling older adults in San Francisco. Our objective was to determine barriers, challenges, and successful strategies in implementation of the program. In-depth qualitative interviews with clients ( = 15) and peers ( = 6) were conducted and analyzed thematically by program component.

A peer intervention reduces loneliness and improves social well-being in low-income older adults: A mixed-methods study.

Background: Evidence-based interventions addressing loneliness and social isolation are needed, including among low-income, community-dwelling older adults of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Our objective was to assess the effect of a peer intervention in addressing loneliness, isolation, and behavioral health needs in this population.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-method, two-year longitudinal study of a peer-outreach intervention in 74 low-income older adults recruited via an urban senior center in San Francisco.