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adults are multidimensional in that disparities are due to
multiple, interacting factors such as socioeconomic status,
disability status, geographic location, and race/ethnicity.
Achieving health equity in late-life requires innovative strat-
egies to address interconnected environmental, sociocultural,
behavioral and biological factors that impede opportunities
to achieve optimal health and quality of life. This sympo-
sium will present state-of-the-art innovations and strategies
employed among socially disadvantaged racial, ethnic, and
other population groups, and communities. We will discuss
innovations in the workforce enhancements with older adult
peer support specialists and community health workers,
community engagement techniques in program design, and
digital solutions aimed at addressing multiple dimensions of
health in older adults.
OLDER ADULT PEER SPECIALISTS’ ROLE IN
REDUCING LONELINESS AMONG PEOPLE WITH
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
KarenFortuna,1 GeorgeMois,2 JessicaBrooks,3
AmandaMyers,4 and CynthiaBianco,1 1. Dartmouth
College, Concord, New Hampshire, United States,
2. University of Georgia, Lawrenceville, Georgia, United
States, 3. Columbia University, New York, New York,
United States, 4. Rivier University, Hudson, Massachusetts,
United States
PeerTECH is a peer-delivered and technology-support in-
tegrated medical and psychiatric self-management interven-
tion developed by peers. Apre/post trial by our group has
shown PeerTECH is associated with statistically signicant
improvements in self-efcacy for managing chronic disease
and psychiatric self-management skills. This presentation
will discuss the feasibility and potential effectiveness of
using ecological momentary assessments (EMA) with older
adults with mental health conditions to allow us to recognize
early signs of loneliness and intervene as early as possible
in real-world settings. EMA involves repeated sampling of
an individual’s behaviors and experiences in real time, real-
world environments on the smartphone application. Then,
we will discuss the main and interactive effects of loneliness
and factors linked to mortality. In conclusion, we will discuss
potential effectiveness of PeerTECH with older adults with
SMI.
TELEHEALTH-DELIVERY OF A MULTICOMPONENT
OBESITY INTERVENTION IN OLDER, RURAL ADULTS
WITH OBESITY
JohnBatsis,1 CurtisPetersen,1 RimaAl-Nimr,1
TylerGooding,2 SummerCook,3 and ToddMackenzie,1
1. Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire, United
States, 2. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon,
New Hampshire, United States, 3. University of New
Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States
Older, rural residents with obesity aged ≥65 years have
reduced access to health promotion programs due to geog-
raphy. We conducted a 26-week intervention of 24 older
obese adults (BMI≥30kg/m2) in a geographically isolated
area in Northern New England. The telemedicine delivered
intervention consisted of individual, weekly, dietitian visits
focusing on caloric restriction, and twice-weekly physical
therapist-led group strength training classes. Participants’
age was 73.4±4.4years (79% female); pre-post assessments
consisted of bioelectrical impedance-based body compos-
ition, functional measures, and satisfaction questionnaires.
Feasibility was high (50% enrolled, 85% completed). Weight
decreased 4.5±3.8kg (4.5±0.5%; 48% achieving ≥5%), 30s
sit-to-stand improved (+3.8±4.1repetitions), as did 6-mi-
nute walk, +76.2±70.1m (all p<0.001). Appendicular mass
did not change (+0.20±2.3kg); % body and visceral fat both
decreased (-1.8±2.8% [p=0.009], -1.2±2.7L [p=0.025]).
Participants endorsed telemedicine (96%); 78% preferred
a home-based study. Satisfaction was high (4.2/5) and only
17% faced difculties. Despite geography, this intervention
holds promise in improving physical function.
PREVENTING CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASE IN
HIV-INFECTED LATINO MEN: THE HAPPY OLDER
LATINOS HEALTH PROMOTION STUDY
DanielJimenez, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida,
United States
Older Latinos living with HIV have been disproportion-
ately affected by the epidemic and experience compounded
health disparities that have deepened over time. Eighteen
Latinos living with HIV with a mean age of 60.3 years
(SD=6.4) were enrolled in the Happy Older Latinos are Active
(HOLA), a community health worker-led, multicomponent,
health promotion intervention. Participants were assessed
at three time points on measures of cardiometabolic risk
and psychosocial functioning. We evaluated the feasibility
of recruitment, retention, acceptability, and implementa-
tion of HOLA. In 4months, we met our enrollment target
with <5% of eligible participants refusing participation.
Participants attended over 70% of sessions and 1 par-
ticipant was lost to follow up. These results indicate that
HOLA is an innovative health promotion program that is
uniquely tailored to address the multiple concerns that are
prevalent in this community (cardiometabolic risk, psycho-
logical distress) in a nonstigmatizing and culturally accept-
able manner.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AS A MEANS TO
REDUCING MENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES: THE
ROLE OF ETHNICITY, SES, AND GEOGRAPHY
GiyeonKim, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of
Korea
This presentation discusses the importance of using
digital technologies on reducing mental health disparities
among older adults from diverse backgrounds. This talk pri-
marily focuses on the role of ethnicity, socioeconomic status
and geography. First, the speaker presents the current status
of digital technology use among older adults and how dif-
ferent levels of digital technology use affect mental health
disparities by ethnicity, SES, and place of residence. Second,
the speaker introduces a recently funded government pro-
ject on developing an IoT-based home system (Internet of
Things) to screen mild cognitive function for Korean older
adults. Lastly, the speaker discusses potential implications,
as well as directions for future research on using digital tech-
nologies to reduce mental health disparities among diverse
populations.
GSA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting
662 Innovation in Aging, 2020, Vol. 4, No. S1
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