Sustaining Area Agency on Aging Services During a Pandemic: Innovation Through Community-Based Partnerships.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) have a long history of service provision, adapting to policy and funding shifts.
• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted traditional service delivery models for AAAs.
• Partnerships are increasingly recognized as vital for AAA adaptability, yet specific examples remain scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how partnerships facilitated service adaptation among AAAs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To understand adaptation strategies from the perspectives of both AAAs and their collaborating partners.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of qualitative data from a mixed-methods study.
• In-depth interviews conducted with representatives from 12 diverse AAAs and their partner organizations.
• Data analysis employed a constant comparative method using ATLAS.ti software.

Main Results:

• AAAs and partners identified strategies for rapid service transformation.
• Key adaptations included reducing social isolation and addressing food insecurity.
• Leveraging partnerships and repurposing resources were critical for service continuity and innovation.

Conclusions:

• AAAs and their partners demonstrated significant innovation capacity during the pandemic.
• The findings can inform the development of evidence-based programs for AAAs and partners facing future disruptions.