iMprovIng the meNtal hEalth of home healTh AiDeS: A study protocol for the MINDSET study

Home health aides and attendants (HHAs) are a fast-growing healthcare workforce who are integral to the rising movement that allows older adults to age in place. However, HHAs themselves are a vulnerable group of caregivers. Mostly middle-aged women of color paid dismally low wages, HHAs' work is physically taxing, emotionally challenging, and socially isolating. Consequently, HHAs have high levels of depressive symptoms and stress. Prior studies suggest that HHAs want to address this, but do not know how and cannot access or afford traditional mental health services. Here we describe the protocol for a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) that aims to improve the mental health of HHAs through peer coaching (PC), an established and effective behavioral health intervention which has never been applied to HHAs or their workplace, the home environment. In collaboration with a labor and management fund of the largest healthcare union in the US (1199SEIU), we will conduct a single-site parallel arm pilot RCT with 100 HHAs to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of an adapted Living Healthy Program for HHAs delivered by PCs (intervention arm) vs. a general health promotion program (attention control arm). Primary effectiveness outcome will be a reduction in depressive symptoms; secondary effectiveness outcomes will be a reduction in stress and loneliness. This study offers a novel and potentially scalable way to improve the health of HHAs, an often overlooked, undervalued, but increasingly vital workforce that is needed to care for our rapidly aging population.