<p> With the rapidly increasing older adult population in our nation and around the world, the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other related dementias also increases. Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias are devastating illnesses. The most important risk factor for dementia is advanced age. Adult day care programs are valuable services that assist people diagnosed with AD and their families. The purpose of this project was to obtain funding to support the expansion of an existing adult day care service so that older adults with limited resources can access services.</p>

<p> The purpose of this grant proposal was to develop and seek funding from the Archstone Foundation to implement program &ldquo;Tech Connect,&rdquo; which bridges gaps between generations of college students and older adults in Long Beach, California. The grant writer identified a need for older adults to be more connected socially and technologically as well as a need for more geriatric social workers. The Tech Connect program will take place at Menorah Housing Foundation's Long Beach Senior Housing building and will work with students from California State University Long Beach&rsquo;s School of Social Work. The Tech Connect program outlines how students will teach older adults to use iPads while students learn about the lives of older adults and experience meaningful connections through games. The goals of the program include older adult participants reporting less loneliness and social isolation, continuing to use iPads, and student participants reporting a higher interest in working with older adult populations.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to develop a fall prevention intervention that includes an evidence-based strategy, Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance (TJQMBB), in a low-income, senior independent living apartment building, Providence Gardens, with its non-profit partner, Las Palmas Housing Foundation. An extensive literature review determined that fall prevention can enhance quality of life and aging in place. The program will offer TJQMBB classes which increase strength and balance, as well as home safety evaluations, by a Tai Chi certified instructor and a Service Coordinator. The specific objectives include increased strength and balance and decreased fear of falling.</p><p> The Archstone Foundation was chosen as an appropriate funder due to its focus on supportive housing. The actual submission of the grant was not a requirement of the thesis project.</p>

<p> The social work practice problem of this doctoral action research project was the unmet mental health needs of veterans 65 and older in Puerto Rico. This action research project explored the experiences and challenges of social workers when they offer mental health services to veterans 65 and older. This study was framed using social support theory, integrating the 3 core elements of tangible support, emotional support, and informational support. The data collection technique included a semistructured interview protocol used in a focus group setting. Purposive sampling was used to identify 9 participants who were licensed social workers in Puerto Rico. Through content analysis, the findings were coded and organized into the following themes: educational background; ethics and wellbeing aspects; evaluation, interventions, and treatments; professional social and cultural competencies; social support experiences; multidisciplinary service coordination processes; and the elderly veterans&rsquo; unmet needs. The results of this study could be used by social workers and administrators to contribute to positive social change through the improvement of social work practices and the development of innovative knowledge when intervening with veterans 65 and older and their families in Puerto Rico.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum for adults over age 50 who are searching for employment. Older adults are more likely to be unemployed longer after a job loss, need to return to work after retirement, need health insurance or need to supplement their retirement income. They may desire social interaction, and/or need a sense of meaning in their lives that being employed can provide. Older adults are more likely to experience lower self-esteem and isolation than younger adults. This curriculum includes a focus on identifying and strengthening internal and external strategies and support systems for adults over 50 who are looking for employment.</p><p> This curriculum incorporates modules on the job search process, coping with stress, identifying transferable skills, resume creation, building computer skills including online professional networks, interviewing, and networking. It is hoped this curriculum will provide older adults with the skills and strategies to build greater confidence and secure employment that meets their unique needs to enhance their quality of life.</p>

<p> This content analysis of existing literature explored older adults' perceptions and use of technology in healthcare. Thirty studies within the last 10 years were analyzed for content. Results of the content analysis revealed that many older adults used the Internet as a health resource and/or to search for health-related information. Some predictors of computer and/or Internet use for health-related information were younger age, more years of education, and more diagnosed diseases and conditions. Barriers of computer and/or Internet use included lack of interest, functional limits, cost, complexity, and security and privacy concerns. Privacy was also an identified as a potential barrier of smart home technology use. Perceived need for technology was important in older adults' willingness to use smart home technology. Implications for social work practice were discussed.</p>

<p> The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore, from the perspectives of clinicians, the therapeutic techniques they have found to be effective in helping older adults recover from elder abuse. The researcher developed the interview guide. A total of 12 clinicians, who had experience working with survivors of elder abuse in a therapeutic setting, were interviewed. </p><p> The results indicated that clinicians saw similar symptoms, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and fear. Methods for addressing those symptoms included cognitive-based therapy, active listening, life reviews, and making referrals. Therapeutic involvement with the family was low, but when used included education and active listening. Lastly, there was a high demand from clinicians for prevention efforts and education regarding elder abuse. </p><p> More research is needed on effective interventions for helping older adults recover from elder abuse.</p>

<p> Depression is a prevalent problem within the elderly population and the problem is expected to increase with the projected growth of this population. Depression is often caused by inevitable losses related to aging including retirement, moving out of the family home, loss of a spouse or other loved one, and loss of mobility. Depression that is left untreated can put an older adult at risk for suicide and a higher mortality risk due to physical illness. Social support and social contact are important factors in quality of life and mental health outcomes for older adults. Lack of reliable transportation and loss of driving privileges can lead to social isolation and can be a barrier to attending social events and maintaining contact with friends and family members. The purpose of this project was to create a transportation program intended to decrease depression in older adults by reducing social isolation and connecting them to community activities. A search of funding agencies was conducted using the Internet and personal contacts. Archstone Foundation was chosen as the most suitable funding source based on the project goals. Actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not required for successful completion of this project.</p>

<p>Health literacy is described as the ability to process and understand basic health-related information in order to make appropriate health care decisions. It has been shown that many older Latinos have low health literacy resulting in poor health outcomes. Research has also identified that some older Latinos with low health literacy often also have symptoms of depression. The purpose of this project was to write a grant to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to fund a program entitled Tu Vida, Tu Salud, a two-fold program to help older Latinos residing in La Habra, California. The goals are to (1) increase their health literacy through work with a Promotora and (2) decrease their depressive symptomatology through a cognitive-behavioral intervention program. The Institute for Healthcare Advancement and the Family Resource Center in La Habra are the host agencies for this grant. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not required for the successful completion of the project.

<p> The older adult population in the United States is projected to more than double by the year 2050. An important subgroup of this growing population includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults. It has been estimated that there are approximately 2.4 million people in the United States identifying as LGBT, with nearly 90,000 residing in Los Angeles County. Throughout their life, many of these LGBT individuals experienced harassment, discrimination, and persecution only because of their sexual identity. As a result, many today experience social isolation, depression, and a poor quality of life in later years. Project Resilience is an in-home case management program for LGBT older adults with the goal of improving the mental health and well-being of this hidden population. The LGBTQ Center Long Beach in Long Beach, California will serve as the host agency for this proposed program. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not required for the successful completion of the project.</p>