Louisiana Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program: Analysis of Learning Outcomes From Dementia Training

A recent Alzheimer’s Association report noted that by year 2050, the number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) will triple to over 15 million. The report referred to primary care as the front line for meeting this demand, yet the nation faces a severe shortage of ADRD trained, primary care professionals (PCPs). Louisiana Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (LA-GWEP) addresses this demand. The purpose of this study was to examine preliminary data respective to LA-GWEP effectiveness with interdisciplinary education and training seminars, primarily aimed at medical, nursing, and social work PCPs. Three seminars were conducted in south Louisiana: Seminars 1 and 2 addressed effective communication, verbal and nonverbal, among persons with ADRD and caregivers; Seminar 3 offered basic overview of dementia symptomology, stages, and behaviors. Pre- and post-training session data were collected on-site. Participants completed questionnaires that included a 10-item knowledge assessment and 20-item Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS). These measures contained Likert response formats; higher scores indicating greater levels of ADRD knowledge, in patient and caregiver contexts. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to observe any significant pre-to-post improvement, Cohen’s d for effect size. Seminar 1 revealed no significant pre-to-post difference: t = -1.019, p = 0.320. Adjusting content from audience feedback, Seminar 2 revealed significant pre-to-post difference: t = -7.516, p < .001, Cohen’s d = 1.2. Seminar 3 yielded significant improvement on DAS scores: t = -2.96, p < .01, Cohen’s d = 0.34. Implications for seminars in future years of LA-GWEP are discussed.

Adult Age Differences in Coping Strategies After the 2016 Flood

The 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had a devastating impact on south Louisiana, as did the more recent flooding in 2016. Multiple disaster exposures are associated with distress which may be lessened through adaptive coping behaviors, although prior disaster losses may affect current coping responses. In this study, we assessed self-reported coping strategies, resilience, and mental health outcomes after the 2016 flood. The sample was comprised of mostly middle-aged and older adults (N = 223, age range: 18-89 years). Three groups were compared: (1) non-flooded adults as controls, (2) once-flooded adults with structural damage to homes and property in 2016, and (3) twice-flooded adults who had relocated to Baton Rouge because of catastrophic losses in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and they experienced damage in the 2016 flood. Analyses of variance confirmed that the three groups differed in coping responses, with non-flooded controls using significantly fewer strategies than their once and twice flooded counterparts. Correlation analyses demonstrated that age was positively associated with adaptive forms of coping (acceptance, religiosity) and negatively correlated with maladaptive coping (self-blame). These data suggest that awareness of prior severe weather experiences and catastrophic losses, which are likely for older adults living in hurricane prone areas, are an important consideration for disaster planning and the development of age-sensitive interventions to mitigate adversity.

Public Risk Perception Attitude and Information-Seeking Efficacy on Floods: A Formative Study for Disaster Preparation Campaigns and Policies

Floods are among the most frequent and devastating natural hazards and disasters in many southern states in the United States. This study examined the relationship and reciprocal predictability between two theoretical constructs—risk perception attitude (RPA) and information-seeking efficacy (ISE)—in regard to pluvial floods. In addition, this study extended these theoretical constructs to investigate differences in RPA and ISE among potential audience segments, providing practitioners with applicable insights for designing effective flood prevention and risk management campaigns. Analysis of data from 716 residents in south Louisiana revealed a statistically strong relationship between RPA and ISE. This research also identified specific audience segments that would benefit from an increase in RPA and ISE concerning floods. These meaningful findings inform a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of the relationship between RPA and ISE and guide future disaster preparation campaigns and policies.

The Future of French in Louisiana

The vernacular variety of French historically spoken in south Louisiana, commonly known as Cajun French or to linguists as Louisiana Regional French (Klingler 2003), is the unique product of the contact between varieties of French spoken by the colonists, immigrants, and Acadian exiles who populated the region. The Acadian influence on this Louisiana dialect of French is reflected in its common name, ...