Symposia
Dissemination & Implementation Science
Taylor Loskot, PhD
Pacific University
Hillsboro, Oregon
Background: Some older adults may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and worsening wildfire seasons along the West Coast in the United States. Dangerous air quality from fires and physical distancing guidance during the pandemic both advised individuals to isolate indoors to protect against physical illness. In the wake of a disaster, there can be the opportunity for increased feelings of connection (e.g., “we’re in this together”), but also risk greater isolation and feelings of loneliness or disconnection. This isolation can exacerbate already-present barriers to social connection and have negative impacts on physical, mental, and cognitive health and resilience for some older adults in the context of a disaster. In this talk, we will present findings from semi-structured interviews with older adults to examine barriers and facilitators to social connection during disasters and describe a brief social connection intervention and how to adapt it to disaster situations and cultural minorities.
Method: Study 1 will interview 30 English- and Spanish-speaking adults 60 and older residing in Oregon with the aim of gathering information surrounding 1) changes to social relationships and interactions experienced during the pandemic and wildfires, and 2) the unique needs and experiences of Latiné and other cultural minority older adults. Study 2 will use lessons learned from Study 1 to adapt the VA Connection Plans, a brief safety plan intervention based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that was designed to help veterans cope with distress related to social isolation, for use with older adults. A directed content analysis approach, informed by pre-existing research and theory relevant to well-being in late life, will be used to guide qualitative analysis.
Implications: Findings will inform development and adaptation of interventions to promote social connection and improve resilience and well-being during and following a disaster. Analysis of interviews will identify important contextual factors and culturally-specific themes of social activities and feelings of loneliness, as well as the lessons learned surrounding best practices for promoting the well-being of older adults in the face of disasters. Continued development of the intervention aims to improve its reach and effectiveness as a tool for bolstering social-connection among isolated older adults.