scholarly journals Building and Sustaining a Community Advisory Board of African American Older Adults as the Foundation for Volunteer Research Recruitment and Retention in Health Sciences.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. 755-764
Author(s):  
Jamie Mitchell ◽  
Tam Perry ◽  
Vanessa Rorai ◽  
Joan Ilardo ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Advisory Board ◽  
Community Advisory Board ◽  
Research Recruitment ◽  
Recruitment And Retention ◽  
Older African Americans ◽  
African American Older Adults

Older African Americans’ participation in health-related research is severely limited; they are not involved in sufficient numbers to ensure the applicability of advance­ments in medical and behavioral health. This research participation gap exacerbates older African Americans’ vulnerability to poor health outcomes and disparities. The Michigan Center for Urban African Ameri­can Aging Research employs a progressive community-based participatory model that utilizes a structured community advisory board (CAB) of African American older adults in metro Detroit, Michigan to oversee the research recruitment and retention of fellow minority older adult research partici­pants. CAB members develop and support community health programming that provides free resources to older adults and also serves as fertile ground for recruiting participants in a volunteer research registry. CAB members are also provided ongoing training on social and behavioral health research and are supported in acting as a consultancy to outside researchers where they can be compensated for their expertise and engagement. This community-engaged model of sustaining a CAB of African Ameri­can older adults offers key lessons learned on building relationships and trust, valuing and leveraging community members’ exper­tise and time, sharing decision-making, and fostering genuine community all while pro­moting research recruitment and retention among underserved populations.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(Suppl 2):755-764; doi:10.18865/ed.30.S2.755

scholarly journals Building and Sustaining a Community Advisory Board of African American Older Adults for Volunteer Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 844-844
Author(s):  
Jamie Mitchell ◽  
Tam Perry ◽  
Vicki Johnson-Lawrence ◽  
Vanessa Rorai
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Research Participation ◽  
Advisory Board ◽  
Community Advisory Board ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Research Recruitment ◽  
Ongoing Training ◽  
Health Related Research

Abstract Older African Americans’ (AA) participation in health-related research is severely limited; they are not involved in sufficient numbers and for sufficient duration to ensure the applicability of advancements in medical and behavioral health. This research participation gap exacerbates older AAs vulnerability to poor health outcomes and disparities. The Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research employs a progressive community-based participatory model that utilizes a structured community advisory board (CAB) of older AAs in metro Detroit to oversee the research recruitment and retention of fellow AA older adult research participants. CAB members are provided ongoing training on social and behavioral health research, supported in acting as a consultancy to outside researchers where they can be compensated for their expertise and engagement, and empowered as gatekeepers of a participant research registry of over 1000 AA older adults. This model has broad potential for advancing community engaged research with AA older adults.

scholarly journals Correlates of internet use among African American older adults: Gender and age differences

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Wang ◽  
Kefentse Kubanga
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Older African Americans ◽  
Gender And Age Differences ◽  
African American Older Adults

This study aimed to compare internet use among African American older adults by gender and age group and investigate correlates of internet use by gender and age group. A total of 1117 African American older adults aged over 50 from the 2016 Wave of the Health Retirement Study were included in the study. Sequential ordinal logistic regressions were conducted to investigate correlates of internet use among older African Americans by gender and age group. Significant gender and age differences were identified in internet use frequency. Gender differences on correlates were revealed: being old-old and limitations on activities of daily living were only associated with decreased odds of more frequent internet use among women. In addition, higher depression was only associated with reduced odds of more frequent internet use among men. Age differences on correlates indicated that education and cognition were the only two significant factors pertinent to internet use among the old-old. By contrast, for young-old adults, retirement, poverty, education, cognition, and depression were also predictive. Practitioners should consider these gender and age differences when promoting internet use among older African Americans. The results presented in this study might also inform the design of future gender- and age-tailored interventions.

scholarly journals The Health and Well-Being of African-American Older Adults With a History of Incarceration

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 506-506
Author(s):  
Rodlescia Sneed
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Formerly Incarcerated ◽  
Older Prisoners ◽  
Health Related ◽  
History Of ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract African-Americans are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Longer prison stays and release programs for older prisoners may result in an increased number of community-dwelling older adults with a history of incarceration. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in research on health-related outcomes for currently incarcerated older adults; however, there has been little inquiry into outcomes for formerly incarcerated African-American older adults following community re-entry. In this study, we used secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study to describe employment, economic, and health-related outcomes in this population. Twelve percent of the 2238 African-Americans in our sample had been previously incarcerated. Those who had been previously incarcerated had higher rates of lung disease, arthritis, back problems, mobility problems, and mental health issues than their counterparts. They also had higher rates of hospitalization and lower use of dental health services. Further, while they did not experience lower employment rates than those with no criminal history, those who had been incarcerated had more physically demanding jobs and reported greater economic strain. Given the disproportionate incarceration rates among African-Americans, the aging of the prison population, and the increase in community re-entry for older prisoners, research that explores factors that impact the health and well-being of formerly incarcerated individuals has broad impact. Future work should focus on addressing the needs of this vulnerable population of African-American older adults.

scholarly journals Binge Drinking among Economically Disadvantaged African American Older Adults with Diabetes

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
James L. Smith ◽  
Mohammed Saqib ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
African American Older Adults

Purpose. This study investigated the effect of demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors as well as the role of health determinants on alcohol consumption and binge drinking among economically disadvantaged African American older adults with type 2 diabetes mellites (T2DM). Methods. This survey recruited 231 African Americans who were older adults (age 65+ years) and had T2DM. Participants were selected from economically disadvantaged areas of South Los Angeles. A structured face-to-face interview was conducted to collect data on demographic factors, objective and subjective socioeconomic status (SES) including education and financial difficulty, living arrangement, marital status, health, and drinking behaviors (drinking and binge drinking). Results. Age, gender, living alone, pain, comorbid conditions, and smoking were associated with drinking/binge drinking. Male gender, pain, and being a smoker were associated with higher odds of drinking/binge drinking, while individuals with more comorbid medical conditions had lower odds of binge drinking. Conclusion. In economically constrained urban environments, gender, pain, and smoking but not age, SES, depression, and health may predict binge drinking for African American older adults with T2DM. African Americans older adult men with T2DM with comorbid pain should be screened for binge drinking.

scholarly journals Insights Gained From Developing Academic-Community Partnerships for Minority Aging, Community-Engaged Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 844-844
Author(s):  
Ronica Rooks ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Community Advisory Board ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Dementia Patient ◽  
Community Engaged Research ◽  
Academic Partnerships ◽  
Older African Americans ◽  
Minority Aging

Abstract Increasingly community-engaged research, characterized by collaborations between researchers and community partners, is recognized as an important part of translating research into improved health outcomes and reduced health disparities for community participants. Training community participants to engage in some or all aspects of this research, particularly focusing on racial and ethnic minority older adults, highlights the need to understand its opportunities and challenges. With this symposium we will discuss and reflect on community-engaged and community-based participatory research approaches to community-academic partnerships with minority older adults. The first presentation addresses recruitment, retention, and training of a community advisory board of older African Americans in Michigan. The second presentation addresses a health education outreach and engagement program to improve health outcomes among older African Americans in California. The third presentation combines community engagement with survey design methods for research with older Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults to improve data collection and health outcomes in this U.S. population. The final presentation examines partnerships between a hospital memory clinic, meal delivery service, research university, and low-income health clinic to improve caregiver and dementia patient outcomes for minority older adults. The symposium discussant will address opportunities, challenges, and implications of community-academic partnerships promoting minority aging.

scholarly journals Spirituality and the Illness Experience: Perspectives of African American Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 104990912098828
Author(s):  
Shaunna Siler ◽  
Kelly Arora ◽  
Katherine Doyon ◽  
Stacy M. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Illness Experience ◽  
Spiritual Coping ◽  
Illness Experiences ◽  
African American Older Adults

Background: Disparities in hospice and palliative care (PC) for African Americans have been linked to mistrust toward the healthcare system, racial inequalities, and cultural preferences. Spirituality has been identified as important to African Americans in general. Less is known about the influence of spirituality on African American illness experiences. Objective: The goal of this study was to understand older African Americans’ perspectives on how spirituality influences chronic illness experiences to inform the development of a culturally tailored PC intervention. Methods: In partnership with 5 churches in the Denver metropolitan area, we conducted focus groups with African American older adults (n = 50) with chronic health conditions and their family caregivers. Transcripts were analyzed using a deductive approach. The theoretical framework for this study draws on psychology of religion research. Results: Themes referenced participants’ spiritual orienting systems, spiritual coping strategies, and spiritual coping styles. Psycho-spiritual struggles, social struggles, and sources of social support were also identified. Findings suggest African Americans’ spirituality influences chronic illness experiences. Participants relied on their spirituality and church community to help them cope with illness. In addition, social struggles impacted the illness experience. Social struggles included mistrust toward the healthcare system and not being connected to adequate resources. Participants expressed a need to advocate for themselves and family members to receive better healthcare. Churches were referred to as a trusted space for health resources, as well as spiritual and social support.

scholarly journals THE MEANINGS OF TRUST IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH PARTICIPATION IN DEMENTIA RESEARCH

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S421-S421
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Sahru Keiser ◽  
Leah Vest ◽  
Marsha Maloof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Total N ◽  
Dementia Research ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract African American /Black American older adults’ low participation in research reduces the generalizability of research findings and hinders understanding of dementia mechanisms, further widening health disparities. Both the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institutes of Health have identified recruitment of African Americans with cognitive impairment into dementia research as an area of high priority. Distrust of research and medical institutions is often cited as a barrier to participation of African Americans in dementia research. Therefore, the goal of this study is to better understand African American community members’ expectations associated with trust. We used focus groups and semi-structured interviews to examine the expectations associated with overall trust. We conducted 6 focus groups: 4 with African American older adults and 2 with caregivers of African American older adults with cognitive impairment. We also interviewed 5 African American older adults with cognitive impairment (total n=59). Data were analyzed with content analysis. Five themes emerged: 1) Importance of providing truthful help/information leading to trust; 2) Long relationships leading to trust; 3) Acting efficiently and consistently (e.g., “not fooling around”) leading to trust; 4) Transference of trust (e.g., I can likely trust someone trusted by a trusted person); 5) Difficult to trust because of a harsh social environment. To conclude, trust is a complex belief associated with multiple expectations and relationships. It is critical that researchers understand these expectations related to trust in order to increase recruitment of African American older adults into dementia research.

scholarly journals Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Health Status Among African Americans Living in Low-Income Housing

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 577-578
Author(s):  
Adrienne Aiken-Morgan ◽  
Dextiny McCain ◽  
Karon Phillips ◽  
Keith Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Health Status ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Socioeconomic Disadvantage ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
African American Older Adults

Abstract Research has shown the importance of social determinants of health in explaining racial/ethnic disparities in many health outcomes; however, less attention has been given to within-group differences in social determinants of health among low-income African American older adults. The Physical and Cognitive Health Pilot Study (n=50) was utilized to examine associations between level of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and self-reported health in African American older adults living in public housing in Durham, NC and Annapolis, MD. Results from ANOVA showed that Durham participants living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods had statistically significantly worse cardiovascular health, higher depression symptoms, worse sleep quality, and higher alcohol use (p=.05) than Annapolis participants living in a more resource-rich neighborhood. These findings suggest that among low-income African American elders, greater neighborhood/state socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with worse health status. Future research should consider neighborhood context as an essential variable when assessing health status among aging African Americans.

scholarly journals Earning the Trust of African American Communities to Increase Representation in Dementia Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. 719-734
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Nynikka R. Palmer ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Catherine M. Waters ◽  
Carl V. Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Community Advisory Board ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Black African ◽  
Dementia Research ◽  
African American Communities ◽  
African American Older Adults

Black/African American populations are un­derrepresented as participants in dementia research. A major barrier to participation of African American older adults in dementia research is a tendency to distrust research institutions owing to both historical and contemporary racism. Building on the Ford framework, the objective of our study was to examine factors that influence participa­tion in dementia research among African American older adults and caregivers, with an emphasis on understanding factors related to trust. Data were collected during January 2019 and March 2020 from 10 focus groups with African American older adults (n=91), 5 focus groups with caregiv­ers (n=44), and interviews with adminis­trators of community-based organizations (n=11), and meetings with our Community Advisory Board. Inductive/deductive con­tent analysis was used to identify themes. The results identified an overall tension be­tween distrust of researchers and a compel­ling desire to engage in dementia research. This overarching theme was supported by six themes that provided insights about the multiple layers of distrust, as well as expectations about the appropriate conduct of researchers and academic institutions. Strong commitment to the community was identified as a priority. The findings suggest that a paradigm shift is needed to increase the representation of African Americans in dementia research. In this new paradigm, earning the trust of African American com­munities becomes a systemic endeavor, with academic, state, and national institutions deeply committed to earning the trust of African American communities and guiding researchers in this endeavor. The findings also generated actionable recommendations to help improve representation of African American older adults in dementia research.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(Suppl 2):719-734; doi:10.18865/ed.30.S2.719

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