Program Area: Health Sciences
.jpg "An Nguyen, OTD, OTR/L photo")
An Nguyen, OTD, OTR/L
Project Scientist
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Kyle Moored, PhD (he/him/his)
Assistant Scientist
Epidemiology
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Kyle Moored, PhD (he/him/his)
Assistant Scientist
Epidemiology
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Quinton Cotton, MSSA
Geriatrics and Gerontology
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Breanna Crane, BS
PhD Candidate
Mental Health
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Homero del Pino, PhD, MS (he/him/his)
Associate Professor
Psychiatry and Human Behaviors
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Los Angeles, California, United States
Mirella Díaz-Santos, PhD
Assistant Professor
Neurology and Psychiatry
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
Melody Schiaffino, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
Public Health
San Diego State University
San Diego, California, United States
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed persistent disparities in the effectiveness of healthcare services and long-term care among the older adult population. For example, significant gaps disproportionately affected older adults living in rural areas, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with cognitive impairments, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. To improve health equity, research is needed to design, implement, and disseminate health interventions that address the heterogeneity of older adults and caregivers. Reflecting on lessons learned from including underrepresented key stakeholder groups in intervention research may reveal strategies to design health interventions that are more accessible and effective for diverse populations of older adults and their caregivers. This symposium highlights five studies that included diverse populations of older adults and/or caregivers in the design of health interventions. Dr. Schiaffino will share how disparities in co-morbid cancer and dementia across racial, ethnic, and age groups will inform improvements to care delivery processes for this population. Ms. Crane will discuss barriers to designing exergame interventions that are accessible to older adults with multiple chronic conditions and functional limitations. Dr. Díaz-Santos will describe results of piloting and refining a social connection intervention to reduce loneliness among Latinx older adults at risk for dementia. Dr. del Pino will highlight strategies to improve implementation of a screening intervention for at-risk drinking among African American older adults living with HIV. Mr. Cotton will present results of tailoring a crisis intervention to improve cultural fit for African American caregivers of people with dementia.
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Quinton D. Cotton, MSSA – University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Breanna M. Crane, BS – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Homero del Pino, PhD, MS (he/him/his) – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Mirella Díaz-Santos, PhD – University of California, Los Angeles