Ashwin A. Kotwal, Shannon Fuller, Katrina Hough, Nandini Singh, Soe Han Tha, Janet Myers, Daniel Hill, Richard Zevin, Diane E. Meier, Carla M. Perissinotto
{"title":"社会孤立的老年人同伴计划的最新创新:对公共卫生应急准备的影响。","authors":"Ashwin A. Kotwal, Shannon Fuller, Katrina Hough, Nandini Singh, Soe Han Tha, Janet Myers, Daniel Hill, Richard Zevin, Diane E. Meier, Carla M. Perissinotto","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19614","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>Peer programs, which pair individuals of similar age or life experience, can address complex psychosocial needs, loneliness, and social isolation among diverse older adults. However, these services were heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined which pandemic-era innovations were sustained across six peer programs and identified core features of peer programs relevant to future public health emergency preparedness.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>In this mixed-methods study, we first thematically analyzed 67 qualitative interviews (August, 2023–April, 2024) with diverse stakeholders, including older adult participants (<i>n</i> = 24), peer specialists (<i>n</i> = 12), program leaders across six peer programs (<i>n</i> = 12), and experts in aging, public health, and peer programs (<i>n</i> = 19) using a rapid assessment process. Qualitative findings were compared with quantitative trajectories of loneliness and depression among peer program participants over 6-month intervals (May 2020–April 2024).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Peer programs have been involved in ongoing efforts to help older adults recover from prolonged loneliness and isolation related to pandemic restrictions. Two pandemic-era innovations were sustained: (1) hybrid communication (in-person, virtual, and telephone) that expanded reach, and (2) new partnerships with health and city services. However, “peer drift,” where peers roles can become diluted as they are asked to do more, emerged as a challenge, complicating the consistency and effectiveness of programs. Core features of peer programs identified as relevant to future public health emergency preparedness included: (1) fostering trust with marginalized communities, (2) flexibility in responding to urgent public health needs, and (3) complementary expertise to clinical teams. Quantitative data demonstrated diverse trajectories of loneliness and depression for participants over multiple years of the public health emergency, with interviews indicating how peers helped older adults navigate these challenges.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusion</h3>\n \n <p>Peer programs have continued to leverage hybrid communication and expanded health and city partnerships to meet the needs of socially isolated older adults. Results further suggest their potential to be integrated into future public health emergency responses.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":17240,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":"73 9","pages":"2798-2807"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Recent Innovations in Peer Programs for Socially Isolated Older Adults: Implications for Public Health Emergency Preparedness\",\"authors\":\"Ashwin A. Kotwal, Shannon Fuller, Katrina Hough, Nandini Singh, Soe Han Tha, Janet Myers, Daniel Hill, Richard Zevin, Diane E. Meier, Carla M. Perissinotto\",\"doi\":\"10.1111/jgs.19614\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div>\\n \\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Background</h3>\\n \\n <p>Peer programs, which pair individuals of similar age or life experience, can address complex psychosocial needs, loneliness, and social isolation among diverse older adults. However, these services were heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined which pandemic-era innovations were sustained across six peer programs and identified core features of peer programs relevant to future public health emergency preparedness.</p>\\n </section>\\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Methods</h3>\\n \\n <p>In this mixed-methods study, we first thematically analyzed 67 qualitative interviews (August, 2023–April, 2024) with diverse stakeholders, including older adult participants (<i>n</i> = 24), peer specialists (<i>n</i> = 12), program leaders across six peer programs (<i>n</i> = 12), and experts in aging, public health, and peer programs (<i>n</i> = 19) using a rapid assessment process. Qualitative findings were compared with quantitative trajectories of loneliness and depression among peer program participants over 6-month intervals (May 2020–April 2024).</p>\\n </section>\\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Results</h3>\\n \\n <p>Peer programs have been involved in ongoing efforts to help older adults recover from prolonged loneliness and isolation related to pandemic restrictions. Two pandemic-era innovations were sustained: (1) hybrid communication (in-person, virtual, and telephone) that expanded reach, and (2) new partnerships with health and city services. However, “peer drift,” where peers roles can become diluted as they are asked to do more, emerged as a challenge, complicating the consistency and effectiveness of programs. Core features of peer programs identified as relevant to future public health emergency preparedness included: (1) fostering trust with marginalized communities, (2) flexibility in responding to urgent public health needs, and (3) complementary expertise to clinical teams. Quantitative data demonstrated diverse trajectories of loneliness and depression for participants over multiple years of the public health emergency, with interviews indicating how peers helped older adults navigate these challenges.</p>\\n </section>\\n \\n <section>\\n \\n <h3> Conclusion</h3>\\n \\n <p>Peer programs have continued to leverage hybrid communication and expanded health and city partnerships to meet the needs of socially isolated older adults. Results further suggest their potential to be integrated into future public health emergency responses.</p>\\n </section>\\n </div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":17240,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society\",\"volume\":\"73 9\",\"pages\":\"2798-2807\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":4.5000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-07-23\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"3\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.19614\",\"RegionNum\":2,\"RegionCategory\":\"医学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.19614","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Recent Innovations in Peer Programs for Socially Isolated Older Adults: Implications for Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Background
Peer programs, which pair individuals of similar age or life experience, can address complex psychosocial needs, loneliness, and social isolation among diverse older adults. However, these services were heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined which pandemic-era innovations were sustained across six peer programs and identified core features of peer programs relevant to future public health emergency preparedness.
Methods
In this mixed-methods study, we first thematically analyzed 67 qualitative interviews (August, 2023–April, 2024) with diverse stakeholders, including older adult participants (n = 24), peer specialists (n = 12), program leaders across six peer programs (n = 12), and experts in aging, public health, and peer programs (n = 19) using a rapid assessment process. Qualitative findings were compared with quantitative trajectories of loneliness and depression among peer program participants over 6-month intervals (May 2020–April 2024).
Results
Peer programs have been involved in ongoing efforts to help older adults recover from prolonged loneliness and isolation related to pandemic restrictions. Two pandemic-era innovations were sustained: (1) hybrid communication (in-person, virtual, and telephone) that expanded reach, and (2) new partnerships with health and city services. However, “peer drift,” where peers roles can become diluted as they are asked to do more, emerged as a challenge, complicating the consistency and effectiveness of programs. Core features of peer programs identified as relevant to future public health emergency preparedness included: (1) fostering trust with marginalized communities, (2) flexibility in responding to urgent public health needs, and (3) complementary expertise to clinical teams. Quantitative data demonstrated diverse trajectories of loneliness and depression for participants over multiple years of the public health emergency, with interviews indicating how peers helped older adults navigate these challenges.
Conclusion
Peer programs have continued to leverage hybrid communication and expanded health and city partnerships to meet the needs of socially isolated older adults. Results further suggest their potential to be integrated into future public health emergency responses.
期刊介绍:
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) is the go-to journal for clinical aging research. We provide a diverse, interprofessional community of healthcare professionals with the latest insights on geriatrics education, clinical practice, and public policy—all supporting the high-quality, person-centered care essential to our well-being as we age. Since the publication of our first edition in 1953, JAGS has remained one of the oldest and most impactful journals dedicated exclusively to gerontology and geriatrics.