The Mediating Role of Sense of Control in the Associations Between Remote Contacts and Loneliness Among Older Adults.

This study explored whether a sense of control over social life mediated the associations between using remote contact (phone calls, letters/emails, social media) and loneliness for socially isolated older adults. We used path analysis with the 2014 and 2016 Health and Retirement Study datasets (N = 3767). Results showed that more frequent phone calls and letters/emails were associated with lower levels of loneliness through sense of control. However, sense of control did not mediate the association between social media and loneliness. Findings suggest that promoting sense of control over social life by remote contact, particularly phone calls and letters/emails, may be effective in alleviating loneliness for isolated older adults.

"The Real Impacts That AAAs are Making:" Developing Measures of Area Agency on Aging Success.

The more than 600 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) throughout the U.S. are as diverse as the communities they serve, making it challenging to establish indicators of success that are not simply compliance-focused. This study builds agreement among AAAs to identify impactful, feasible, and measurable indicators of success. A mixed methods study was conducted with two surveys of AAA experts to identify indicators of success; assessments of those indicators' impact, feasibility, and measurability; and virtual focus groups to interpret findings. Most indicators that had the potential for high impact received low feasibility and measurability scores. AAAs want more technical assistance, funding, and staffing resources from their states and the Administration on Aging to make data collection and analysis less burdensome and more outcome-oriented. State Units on Aging and the Administration on Aging can use the study findings to improve assessments of AAAs without placing undue burdens on staff attempting to demonstrate their impact. This study can help to identify future priorities regarding AAA assessments and innovations.

It's Time We Looked Under the Hood: An In-Depth Examination of Five Public California Area Agencies on Aging.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As the older adult population grows, it is important to understand the effectiveness of service delivery systems that support aging in place. Studying service delivery processes and organizational structures of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) is essential for future efforts to understand service delivery outcomes and innovations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted site visits with 5 government-run California AAAs. We used a template and constant comparative analysis to analyze transcripts from site visits and focus groups with key informants. RESULTS: AAA representatives discussed how their organizational structure was related to (a) which services and programs they provided; (b) administrative cost savings and access to funding sources; (c) inter- and intra-agency coordination; and (d) visibility among clients and community partners. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings can be used to guide decisions surrounding how changes in AAA structure may affect funding, coordination, service delivery, and visibility, among other factors. Consolidating the AAA with other departments and programs facilitates coordination and shared administrative costs, yet consolidation may reduce standalone AAAs' visibility and ability to innovate. AAA structure should be tailored to fit community resources, local government organization, and the needs of older residents.

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

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.

Older Americans' Perceptions of the Federal Government's Pandemic Response: Voices From the COVID-19 Coping Study.

There is limited understanding of how older adults evaluated the federal government's COVID-19 response, despite their increased health risks during the pandemic and their important role in politics. We conducted qualitative thematic analysis on a nationally representative subsample of respondents aged 55+ from the COVID-19 Coping Study (N = 500) who were asked: "How do you feel about federal government responses to and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic?" Analyses identified largely negative opinions about the federal government and former President Trump's leadership, though some were neutral or positive. Participants expressed concerns that the federal government was undermining science, and that sending mixed messages about personal protective equipment and masks was dangerous. Perspectives were divergent and reflective of the country's polarization surrounding COVID-19 policies. Results can inform efforts to build unity between political parties and identify strategies that governments can use to better respond to future public health crises.

Transforming Aging Services: Area Agencies on Aging and the COVID-19 Response.

For over four decades, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) have served as focal points to help older adults remain in their homes and communities. AAAs partner with other organizations to administer services authorized under the Older Americans Act (OAA). AAAs represent loosely coupled systems; they are responsive to guidelines established by the OAA while maintaining flexibility to leverage limited resources, establish partnerships, and create innovative programs to meet community needs. As stay-at-home orders and concern for safety have kept many older adults homebound during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an important question is how the Aging Network, including the over 600 AAAs, has responded to these rapidly changing needs. Although time and more systematic assessments are required, available information suggests that the loosely coupled network of AAAs has been a key, adaptable resource. This article begins with a description of the Aging Network and its history before turning to how the community-specific, collaborative, and evolving nature of AAAs places them at a unique position to respond to the challenges that arise with COVID-19. It concludes with how AAAs can continue to adapt to meet the needs of older adults and the people who care for them.

Memory for Weather Information in Younger and Older Adults: Tests of Verbatim and Gist Memory.

Background/Study Context: Memory for specific, verbatim details tends to decline with age, and reliance on gist-based information increases. However, instructions that direct attention toward certain types of information can benefit memory accuracy for that information. Previous work has examined gist-based and verbatim memory for images, but little work has utilized stimuli that participants may study in their daily lives, such as a weather forecast. METHODS: The current study examined how younger and older adults recall both general, gist-based information and specific, verbatim details of a weather forecast, and whether differences in the task instructions to focus on gist-based information may affect recall. Two study-test cycles with different forecasts were used to determine whether experience with the task may affect performance. RESULTS: While there was no effect of additional gist-based instructions on recall of gist-based information, participants who received the additional instructions recalled fewer verbatim details than those who did not. There were no age-related differences in recall of the gist of the forecast, but younger adults correctly recalled more verbatim details than older adults did. CONCLUSION: Environmental support and use of gist-based processing can allow both younger and older adults to remember information that can be useful in their daily lives. The current study informs future research on prospective memory and memory for everyday information.

Assessing the Federal Response to Elder Abuse, While the Opioid Crisis Rages On.

The opioid crisis directly connects to elder abuse: grandparents may be caring for grandchildren of parents addicted to opioids; and family members, caregivers, and older adults may misuse opioids. The Elder Justice Act, the Older Americans Act, the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981, and the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act dictate responses to such opioid misuse. The Administration for Community Living, the Administration on Aging, the Office of Community Services, and the Department of Justice administer these laws. This article describes the laws, their status, and programs these agencies authorize.