Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Outreach in the New Normal: Transitioning to the Virtual World

Following disruptions to research, clinical trials, and support for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), 2020 taught us important lessons about the need for creativity, flexibility, and resourcefulness during an urgent and global public health crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that we have knowledge and technology that can be rapidly implemented, adopted, and utilized by many sectors to allow the continued care and research of our older adult population with ADRD. Thus, this symposium will address virtual methods that are transforming ADRD research and support. First, Dr. Rhodus will discuss the implementation of online assessments in clinical trials at an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the effects of sociodemographic disparities in online accessibility. Next, Dr. Bazzano will describe methods of remote collection of brain health data through tablets, smartphones, and wearables in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Then, Dr. Andersen will report on the transition from in-person to virtual assessments of cognitive and physical function in centenarian studies and address strategies for inclusivity of individuals with limited technology experience. Next, Dr. Fazio will introduce Project VITAL which aims to impact social isolation by increasing accessibility to virtual education and support for care community staff, family caregivers, and individuals with dementia. Finally, Dr. Penfold will report on the translation of a paper-based, face-to-face intervention for reducing caregiver burden into a self-directed online learning program. Overall, these presentations highlight successes and challenges in incorporating virtual-based methods to maintain engagement with participants, individuals with ADRD, and caregivers during the pandemic and beyond.

Project VITAL: A Statewide Initiative Using Technology to Impact Social Isolation

Project VITAL leverages customized technology to enhance connection, engagement, education and support to individuals with dementia and their caregivers. The goal was to positively impact social isolation, stress, and well-being and help mitigate the effects of isolation experienced during the pandemic and beyond. Phase One included three components designed to impact connection, engagement, education and support. It’s Never Too Late provided 300 customized tablets to 150 care communities to facilitate connections to family members and increase individualized, person-centered engagement. Project ECHO, a video-based learning platform, educated and supported care community staff. Virtual education and support were offered to family caregivers at home. Phase Two provided the program to an additional 150 care communities and added online professional training/certification. Phase Three focuses on 150 family caregivers and individuals with dementia living at home. In addition to connection and individualized engagement, family caregivers now had direct access to virtual programs and services.

Investigation on the Operation Status of Community-Based Rehabilitation Station in a District of Chongqing

Objective. Investigate and analyze the current operation status of the community-based rehabilitation station in a district of Chongqing to provide some reference schemes for improving the construction of the community-based rehabilitation system for Chongqing. Methods. Self-designed questionnaires were issued to 36 community-based rehabilitation stations in a district of Chongqing to investigate the human resources status, service projects, service methods, and other aspects of the community-based rehabilitation stations. Results. The community-based rehabilitation station lacks the participation of medical rehabilitation personnel, and only 33.3% of the community-based rehabilitation stations are composed of multidisciplinary human resources of medical and community staff. Community-based rehabilitation services focus on supply education and publicity (86.11%), and rehabilitation treatment services are not fully involved in the community-based rehabilitation service (44.44%). The methods of community-based rehabilitation services are mainly posters and other publicity activities (94.44%), and the community-based rehabilitation service methods are not highly goal-oriented. Conclusion. The survey found some problems to be improved in the construction and operation of grass-roots community-based rehabilitation stations in Chongqing. Community-based rehabilitation stations should enrich the human resources and technology of medical rehabilitation, become an extension of the restoration of community health institutions, and promote the high-quality development of community-based rehabilitation.

Achieving effective patient outcomes with PolyMem® Silicone Border

Clinicians are under increasing pressure to provide high-quality patient outcomes at a reduced cost. Increasingly, community staff must acquire knowledge on advanced wound care products to cope with the growing caseload demands. This article describes the use of PolyMem® dressings to reduce pain, inflammation, oedema and bruising and their ability to debride and absorb exudate while providing an optimum healing environment. The PolyMem range includes multifunctional dressings for various painful chronic wounds. This article also presents five case studies with particularly good patient outcomes where PolyMem dressings were the primary dressing. All five patients were holistically assessed to enable consistent evidence-based treatment decisions. In four cases, the new PolyMem Silicone Border dressing was used. The patients found the PolyMem Silicone Border dressing comfortable and gentle on removal even when the skin was extremely fragile. The right dressing used at the right time on the right patient can improve patient outcomes.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental healthcare and services: results of a UK survey of front-line staff working with people with intellectual disability and/or autism

Aims and method Mental health services have changed the way they operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the challenges and innovations reported by staff working in services for people with intellectual disability and/or autism in National Health Service (NHS) and non-NHS sectors, and in in-patient and community settings. Results Data were drawn from 648 staff who participated in a UK-wide online survey. Issues around infection risk and mitigation were more important to those working in the NHS and in-patient settings. Community staff were more likely to express concern about the practicalities of a rapid shift to remote working and engaging patients remotely. Qualitative data revealed support for maintaining remote staff working and remote service provision post-pandemic. Clinical implications Given the current emphasis on community support for people with intellectual disability and/or autism, the focus of research and clinical practice should be the development of accessible and effective models of remote service provision.

STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED BY PLAN INTERNATIONAL IN KILIFI COUNTY, KENYA

The study focuses on stakeholder's participation and sustainability of community development projects implemented by Plan International in Kilifi County. The target population was 96 respondents and the study adopted census. Data was collected by use of questionnaires. Data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics and multiple regression model. The findings indicated that all the three factors which include, interactive participation, functional participation and passive participation are statistically significant in determining the sustainability of community development projects. From the study it is recommended that; Plan International should ensure local communities are involved when making decisions, goals and objectives should be stipulated by both Plan International and Local community. Staff should have adequate skills when implementing projects and should be trained on continuous basis and the organization should give community a chance to present their opinions. Plan International needs to reduce the extent of engaging stakeholder passively, ensure there is interactive participation, coordinate functional participation among stakeholders. Keywords: Functional participation, Interactive participation, Passive participation, Stakeholders' participation, Sustainability

131 Developing An Integrated Comprehensive Geriatric Unit

Introduction Surrey Downs Health and Care (SDHC) is an innovative partnership consisting of the acute trust, community provider, three local GP federations and local authority. Together they deliver integrated health and care services for the Surrey Downs population. In April 2019, SDHC formally took over the management of an acute escalation ward at Epsom General Hospital. The aim was to redesign the model of care to offer a more integrated approach towards the management of patients with frailty. Method A change in leadership with interface frailty consultants developing an integrated multidisciplinary team (MDT) with reassignment of community staff. All members of the MDT had an equal voice and this helped develop the one team ethos. There were many developments along the way, but key changes included the agreement that a patients’ time is the most valuable currency and that we should be changing conversations from “what is the matter with you?” to “what matters most to you?” Results 1. A 100% increase in average daily discharges 2. An increase to 70% being discharged to their own home, versus 20% previously 3. A reduction from an average length of stay of 40 days to 13 days compared to the same time last year 4. Reduced 30-day readmissions at 15% versus previous average of 25%. Conclusion By blurring boundaries between the acute and community, allowed a frictionless pathway for patients. This has led to improvement in patient care and outcomes for the patient and system as a whole.

We’re in This Together, but . . . : Community-Engaged Research Process of an Arts Intervention With Older Adults

Community engaged (CE) methods are used in health-related research, but few discuss methodological aspects among older adults. We describe the methodology and lessons learned from a CE study of whether ARTmail, a structured participatory arts program, benefited older adults aged 60+ with memory symptoms / cognitive impairment (MS/CI). Our study, conducted in 2015-2017 with support from the NEA, was a partnership between a non-profit organization in North Carolina that provides creative programming for older adults with varied abilities, and researchers in an area University. Older adults with MS/CI symptoms receiving care in area communities were recruited into either the art intervention or a control group, in collaboration with community staff. We reflect on the CE research process with a partnership among community organizations, researchers, care staff, and older adults. Asymmetries in priorities, resources, and decision-making power are described, and implications for the research process and findings are discussed.

Thinking Outside the (Enrollment) Box: “Who, disguised as a Public Educator, . . .”

“Thank you, I really enjoyed your talk. I understand you teach college classes and I’m wondering how . . .” That’s what can happen when a “College Educator” steps off campus, steps into the community. That’s the enrollment superpower of a “Public Educator.” We’ll track a decade of innovative off-campus educational presentations strategically positioned to target new students, lead to cognitive-enhancing programs with adult residential living communities, and, importantly, help reset the role and relevancy of today’s gerontology faculty. Examples will include service club meetings, public agency, business and non-profit training retreats, and residential community staff training. Examples include “This is Your Brain on . . .” events such as Music, Loneliness, Sleep, Volunteering, Sports Fandom, Quilting, Golf and, of course, TasteAerobics featuring Brain-Healthy Chocolate. We’ll conclude with an innovative enrollment and awareness-raising project in a small city west of Portland that kicked off with a 6-part Aging Education Series. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Community College Interest Group.

Against the Grain

This study explored the question “What roles does rurality play in the professional lives of teachers in northern Wisconsin?” Using narrative analysis of four participants’ interviews about their lives working in rural schools, this paper compares participants’ stories with dominant narratives about rural schools and communities. Common depictions of rural people, places, and work often oversimplify the complex relationships among school, community, staff, and students. This study found that participants a.) feel a sense of belonging in rural places despite the challenges of living and working there, b.) create and maintain a strong professional family in order to mitigate rural school recruitment and retention difficulties, and c.) experience school and community partnerships that are both supportive and challenging. This study calls for a more critical and complex representation of rural people and places, especially schools, in order to work against the dominant narratives about rurality that exist in popular imagination.