Senior Centers and LGBTQ Participants: Engaging older adults virtually in a pandemic.

Upon the outbreak of Covid-19, recommendations to cease all non-essential in person services were mandated across the United States to prevent transmission to non-infected individuals. As a result, approximately 96% of all senior centers in the United States were closed to in-person programming. Senior centers have had a long history of engaging older adults, maintaining community connections, enhancing social support and reducing social isolation. SAGE, the first publicly funded senior center for LGBT older adults in the US, serves a traditionally under-served population with a vast array of services and programs. This exploratory, cross-sectional study utilized an online survey to evaluate the experiences of 113 SAGE members after the Coronavirus pandemic closed their senior center. Participants reported a relatively easy adaptation to technology, steady participation in programs and services, satisfaction with virtual senior center programming and a stable sense of engagement with their peers. Higher levels of engagement with senior center programs was associated with stronger feelings of social support. Additionally, stronger perceptions of social support and participation in exercise and fitness programming were associated with higher life satisfaction and lower depression and anxiety. Implications and recommendations for other gerontological service providers are offered.

Motivation to volunteer among senior center participants.

Senior centers in the United States play a vital role in the aging continuum of care as the focal points of a community-based system of services targeting independent older adults to promote their social integration and civically engagement. Although several studies have evaluated the diversity of senior center programs, demographic characteristics of participants, and benefits of participation, very few have explored motivations to volunteer among participants. Many senior centers rely on a cadre of participants who volunteer there to assist with programs and meal services. However, a systematic examination of volunteering interests and the rationale for volunteering among senior center participants has been missing from the literature. This mixed-methods study, conducted at a large suburban senior center, explores the interests and motivations of volunteerism among the participants. The study found that there was limited interest in volunteering among senior center participants. Those who were motivated to volunteer wanted to do so in order to stay connected with their community. There was strong interest in volunteering for single events or projects rather than a long-term commitment. Implications for senior centers are discussed.

Ethnicity matters: the experiences of minority groups in public health programs.

The minority population in the US is expected to overtake the nonHispanic Caucasian population by 2050. Compounding this demographic shift are the significant disparities between Caucasian and non Caucasian groups especially with regard to income, living standards, health and access to healthcare and vital services. Thus, healthcare and social service programs are being charged with identifying barriers and providing effective, culturally competent care to reduce these disparities in health and quality of life. But the issue of poverty and access is global and disparities affect communities worldwide. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to assess the service concerns of 137 low-income or poor consumers receiving healthcare and social services in publicly funded facilities. Utilizing a modified cultural competence assessment tool, this study evaluates the impact of race/ethnicity on the experiences of receiving vital services and identifies factors that impact the help-seeking decisions made by consumers. Recommendations for practitioners and organizations to help promote effective models of services for a vulnerable, diverse population are provided.

Alzheimer's in the workplace: a challenge for social work.

It is estimated that 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder (ADRD) with approximately 500,000 of these persons younger than 65. Moreover, the number of people affected by the disease will increase 350% by the middle of this century. Although research exists on organizational policies with regard to caregivers, very little is known about how organizations deal with employees themselves who show symptoms of ADRD. This article reports on a pilot study of employers' responses to dementia as it impacts both caregiving employees and employees who themselves show signs of cognitive impairment.

New York City Senior Centers: Who Participates and Why?

Purpose: Senior centers are focal points of services and programs. Study aims were to describe the frequency of and benefits of attending senior centers and nonmembers' reasons for nonattendance. Methods: A total of 597 senior center members and 298 community-residing nonmembers in New York City were interviewed. Males and age of 75+ years members were oversampled. Results: Mean days attended weekly = 3.00 days/week (SD = 1.71). Latinx seniors attended 1 day > White non-Latinx seniors. Seniors in poor/bad health attended .67 fewer days than seniors in excellent health. Almost all members (96.3%) reported benefiting from attendance. The most common benefits were socialization/making friends, educational programs, something to do, being with people like them, meals, and improved mental and physical health. Reasons nonmembers gave for nonattendance were too busy with social/leisure activities or work, not interested or do not need programs/services, do not want/need socialization, and members were older or more disabled than them. Conclusion: Implications for recruiting underserved and isolated seniors are discussed.

Age-Tastic! An Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Intervention for Older Adults.

Background: Raising awareness of holistic health and safety among older adults is critical to enhancing their wellbeing in many cases, improving health outcomes and motivating positive behavioral changes. Age-Tastic! is a comprehensive health and safety promotion intervention that uses the concept of a competitive board game to entice older adults to participate and stay engaged. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Age-Tastic! on the level of awareness, health literacy, self-efficacy and positive behavioral change among the participants. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted with 98 older adults assigned to an experimental and control group. Interviews were conducted at baseline, right after the eight-week intervention ended and again eight weeks after the end of the intervention. Results: The results showed significant increases among experimental group participants in knowledge about health, self-efficacy and behavioral change in the areas of nutrition, financial exploitation, health literacy and emotional well-being. Discussion: Implications for replication and engagement are discussed.

Dislikable Clients or Countertransference: A Clinician's Perspective.

Dislike of one's clients is a problem many clinicians encounter and it can have a drastic negative impact on client-clinician rapport, as well as the intervention outcome. Reasons for dislike can be varied and are not clearly known, as little research has been done on the topic. The purpose of this pilot study was to begin to understand how clinicians experience and navigate dislike for clients in practice. The study yielded critical information regarding the factors that influence dislike and the coping skills utilized by practitioners to counter or ameliorate such feelings. Recommendations for practitioners are provided, including a better understanding of feelings of dislike for one's client outside of the countertransference framework of understanding.