Responding to COVID-19: Lessons Learned from a Senior Living and Social Service Organization.

This case study analyzes one senior living and social service organization's coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis response. We conducted interviews with n = 14 department managers to explore the organization's pivot to remote work and service provision. We used the Pearson and Mitroff Crisis Management Framework to organize themes. A pre-existing culture of teamwork, willingness to adapt and adopt new approaches, and responsiveness to new policies and procedures facilitated the COVID-19 crisis response. However, low levels of digital literacy among staff, decreased job satisfaction due to no face-to-face interaction between care recipient and service provider, and lack of proactive policies for crisis response, which decreased the speed of enacting remote service provision, were obstacles in effective crisis response. Lessons learned from this case study highlight the need for pre-emptive policy creation on remote service provision and work from home policies, as well as training considerations for senior living and social service organizations.

The Bureau of Sages: Incorporating Older Adult Voice into Meaningful Research.

BACKGROUND: Older adults receiving long-term care are often excluded from the design, development, and implementation of health-related research. The project aimed to create, implement and evaluate a sustainable research advisory board consisting of researchers, clinicians, and older adults living at home or in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). METHODS: To initiate Bureau development, 15 older adults, researchers, and clinicians came together to engage in research. In meetings and retreats, stakeholders mutually developed group procedures, roles, and values. Process evaluation focused on stakeholder experiences, development of the Bureau, and its impact. RESULTS: Trained Sages were able to offer meaningful input to researchers and present their own proposal at a conference. Lessons learned centered around continuously seeking feedback from participants, emphasizing co-learning, adapting to virtual engagement, and remaining flexible in structure and content of meetings. CONCLUSIONS: Results can inform future development of research advisory boards of older adult populations.