Development and Evaluation of Let’s Do Lunch: A Congregate Meal Program at an Urban Senior Center

Abstract To more rigorously examine the University of Rhode Island Cyber-Seniors Program, we conducted a quasi-experimental study to examine if older adult senior center participants (n=25) improved scores on social and technological measures compared to a sample of senior center participants (n=25) who did not take part in the program. Findings showed that participants improved on technology measures compared to the non-participants, including searching and finding information about goods & services, obtaining information from public authorities or services, seeking health information, sending or receiving emails, and participating in online social networks (p<.05). However, participants did not change on social measures. There is either a need to identify better social measures to understand the social benefits of taking part, or to bolster the program to aid in helping older adults alleviate isolation and loneliness. Information on best practices and challenges for gathering outcomes from older participants will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by Intergenerational Learning, Research, and Community Engagement Interest Group.

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Voices of Experience: What Do Low-Income Older Adults Tell Us About Mobility, Technology, and Social Participation?

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/07334648211012530 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 073346482110125

Author(s):

Haley B. Gallo ◽

Lia W. Marshall ◽

Lené Levy-Storms ◽

Kathleen H. Wilber ◽

Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Los Angeles ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Social Participation ◽

Low Income ◽

Technology Use ◽

Diverse Group ◽

Senior Center ◽

Perceived Safety

Mobility and technology can facilitate in-person and virtual social participation to help reduce social isolation, but issues exist regarding older adults’ access, feasibility, and motivation to use various forms of mobility and technology. This qualitative study explores how a diverse group of low-income, urban-living older adults use mobility and technology for social participation. We conducted six focus groups ( N = 48), two each in English, Spanish, and Korean at a Los Angeles senior center. Three major themes emerged from thematic analysis: using technology for mobility; links between mobility and social participation; and technology-mediated social participation. Cost, perceived safety, (dis)ability, and support from family and friends were related to mobility and technology use. This study demonstrates the range of mobility and technology uses among older adults and associated barriers. The findings can help establish a pre-COVID-19 baseline on how to make mobility and technology more accessible for older adults at risk of isolation.

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Daily Time Use by Activity of Community-Dwelling Older Koreans: Focus on Health Management

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041688 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1688

Author(s):

Hana Ko

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Time Use ◽

Health Management ◽

Subjective Evaluation ◽

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Senior Center ◽

The Mean ◽

Daily Time

This study aimed to examine the daily time use by activity and identified factors related to health management time (HMT) use among 195 older adults (mean age = 77.5, SD = 6.28 years; 70.8% women) attending a Korean senior center. Descriptive statistics were analyzed and gamma regression analyses were performed. Participants used the most time on rest, followed by leisure, health management, daily living activities, and work. The mean duration of HMT was 205.38 min/day. The mean score for the subjective evaluation of health management (SEHM) was 13.62 and the importance score for SEHM was 4.72. Factors influencing HMT included exercise, number of chronic conditions, fasting blood sugar level, low density lipoprotein level, and cognitive function. HMT and frailty significantly predicted SEHM. HMT interventions focus on promoting exercise and acquiring health information to improve health outcomes among older adults in senior centers.

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Enhancing Behavioral Health Competencies for Senior Center Staff: Lessons Learned From Workforce Training Efforts

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Bronwyn Keefe ◽

Jennifer Tripken

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Behavioral Health ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Organizational Level ◽

Senior Center ◽

Senior Centers ◽

Knowledge And Skills ◽

Center Staff ◽

The Impact

Abstract Increases in the numbers of older adults with mental health and substance use concerns compel us to identify best practices in training to address these issues. Senior Centers are an ideal location for behavioral health education programs as they are the go-to place for many older adults. This session will describe a program funded by The Retirement Research Foundation and offered in collaboration with Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research at Boston University and NCOA to increase senior center staff knowledge and skills. Approximately 250 senior center staff in Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin completed an online certificate in Behavioral Health and Aging. Results show that 100% of respondents felt that the training was useful for their job; 93% felt that they will be a more effective worker as a result of the training; and 97% felt that the information they learned in the training will make a difference with the people they serve. We held key informant interviews to assess the impact of training and participants stated that their knowledge, skills, and behaviors were influenced by the program. At the organizational level, leaders reported new programming related to behavioral health and revised practices and protocols. This presentation will cover: (1) the extent to which training participants mastered the competencies needed for effective practice; (2) knowledge and skills gained from the training program; (3) Senior Centers’ capacity to identify and refer older adults to mental health services; and (4) organizational changes related to behavioral health programming with older adults.

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Physical activity benefits of attending a senior center depend largely on age and gender: a study using GPS and accelerometry data

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-020-01527-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Oriol Marquet ◽

Monika Maciejewska ◽

Xavier Delclòs-Alió ◽

Guillem Vich ◽

Jasper Schipperijn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Senior Center ◽

Age And Gender ◽

And Gender

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WHY DON’T OLDER ADULTS USE SENIOR CENTERS? EVIDENCE FROM A SAMPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS ADULTS AGE 50 AND OLDER

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1845 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S498-S498

Author(s):

Ceara Somerville ◽

Nidya Velasco Roldan ◽

Cindy N Bui ◽

Caitlin E Coyle

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Age Groups ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Senior Center ◽

Community Resource ◽

Senior Centers ◽

Data Set ◽

Younger Age ◽

And Gender ◽

Vast Range

Abstract Senior centers are an integral community resource, providing programs and services intended to meet the vast range of needs and interests of older adults. There is a growing literature describing senior center participants and benefits to participation, but little is known about those who choose not to participate at a local senior center. This presentation uniquely characterizes non-users of senior centers, based on a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 50+ from seven communities in Massachusetts (N = 9,462). To date, this is the largest data set that describes senior center usage. Most of the sample were women (60%) and in the 60-69 age group (36%). More than three quarters of the sample do not use the local senior center (77%). The most common reasons for non-usage were lack of interest (27%) and not feeling old enough (26%). There are significant differences in reasons of non-usage among age groups and gender (p < .001). Younger age groups’ (50-69) most popular reasons for non-usage were not feeling old enough, not having time, inconvenient senior center hours, and not knowing what is offered. In contrast, older age groups (80+) more frequently reported having no interest or using programs elsewhere. Men were more likely to report not being interested and not being familiar with what is offered. Women were more likely to report not having time, inconvenient hours of programming, and using programs elsewhere. Based on results from this study, this presentation will outline implications for the future of senior centers and their programming.

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