Health Support for At-Risk Older Adults during COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Communication

Background:

• Older adults faced significant risks from COVID-19, compounded by limited access to reliable health information and support.
• Early pandemic challenges highlighted the need for accessible, health-literate resources tailored for seniors.
• Health literacy levels among older adults often pose a barrier to understanding and adopting health recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of engaging older adults through community partnerships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate a low-touch intervention's impact on COVID-19 knowledge, mitigation behaviors, healthcare utilization, physical activity, and loneliness.
• To determine if health literacy best practices in resource design enhance intervention effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, experimental cohort study involving 98 older adults, with 87 completing the intervention.
• Participants were randomized into a control group (receiving a senior resource kit) and a treatment group (kit plus telephonic health coaching).
• Intervention materials were developed using health literacy best practices, with assessments including the BRIEF screening tool.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in COVID-19 mitigation behaviors and exercise frequency were observed across the entire cohort.
• No significant changes were noted in COVID-19 knowledge, telehealth/doctor visits, or loneliness scores.
• The study achieved an 88.7% completion rate, indicating successful engagement despite moderate clinical risk and varying health literacy levels.

Conclusions:

• Collaborating with trusted community entities is a viable strategy for reaching older adults during public health crises like pandemics.
• Low-touch interventions, designed with health literacy principles, can positively influence specific health behaviors in older populations.
• Further research with extended follow-up may reveal broader impacts on knowledge, healthcare access, and well-being.