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Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Case Study
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) oversees programs and services for older adults through the aging service network, and worked closely with the COVID-19 command center during the COVID-19 pandemic. EOEA worked with senior affordable housing providers and advocated for vaccines for older adult populations. They also used their network to disseminate COVID-19 information to older adults, caregivers, and those working directly with older adults.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative, and Tufts Health Plan Foundation partnered with FSG to conduct interviews and secondary research of COVID-19 lessons and recommendations framed for three key audiences: organizations, partnerships and collaborations, and funders and policymakers. This research was conducted in six communities in Massachusetts, and identifies key themes and strategies to lift up based on real-world activities implemented during the pandemic. Findings emphasize the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on older adults across a broad range of social, economic, and health factors, and effective strategies for supporting older adults are outlined such as direct communication and flexible services. Gaps are also identified across each of the findings, indicating where there is room for improvement and community strengthening. Lessons and recommendations are also clearly outlined by audience, with clear suggestions for implementing effective strategies to support older populations in various community settings.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article describes structural barriers contributing to inequitable health outcomes for people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides policy recommendations (based on Canadian examples) to address structural barriers that exacerbated the effects of the pandemic on people living with dementia.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Evaluation Report, Peer Review Study
The article evaluates the connection between health care workers’ unions and Covid-19 mortality rates in nursing homes. Using regression analysis, the presence of a union were associated with lower Covid-19 mortality rates (30% lower) and infection rates (42% lower) among nursing home residents. Nursing homes with unions saw increased access to N95 respirators and eye shields as well. These results ultimately show that health care worker unionization may better ensure access to appropriate PPE and infection control policies that will protect nursing home residents.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Case Study, Peer Review Study
Practice strategy involves including unhoused peer ambassadors in outreach plans to encourage vaccination against Covid-19 in homeless encampments/shelters. Peer ambassadors were found to be effective in promoting vaccination among their peers. However, some concerns existed around the ethics of exploiting the trust unhoused PAs had with their communities, as well as apathy and frustration towards the academic and bureaucratic nature of the research study.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Toolkit
Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives is designed to support older adults thorough depression education and skill building to increase self sufficiency and active living. The program is structured over 6-8 weeks of sessions and is designed to be administered by staff who have no previous counseling or mental health education. The program originally started in the 1990’s in Washington state and has since been implemented with a wide range of minority and hard-to-reach populations.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Peer Review Study
This study develops a microsimulation model of COVID-19 transmission in a homeless shelter and calibrated it to data from surveys conducted during COVID-19 outbreaks in five homeless shelters in three US cities from March 28 to April 10, 2022. The study estimates the probability of averting a COVID-19 outbreak when an exposed individual is introduced into a representative homeless shelter of 250 residents and 50 staff over 30 days under different infection control strategies. The results show that within communities with high COVID-19 community incidence are unable to prevent a large outbreak, despite extensive infection control strategies. This study suggests a need for non-congregate housing in high-risk settings, is needed to avoid outbreaks within these settings.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Peer Review Study
This study sought to assess the correlation between population and spatial characteristics of COVID-19 by examining positive COVID-19 data from New York City with ZIP Code Tabulation Areas to determine what social determinants of health increase an individual’s risk of contracting COVID-19. Results showed that neighborhoods with larger proportions of Black people, people older than 65, people with heart disease, and people living in densely populated housing are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Case Study
This paper describes how a local public health agency joined a multi-sector community partnership made up of community-based organizations, clinical providers, and peer navigators and others with lived experience of homelessness. Together, this group created a strategic plan to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on people experiencing homelessness. They prioritized education, increased resource allocation and testing in shelters, and slated housing for those who tested positive or those at increased risk of COVID complications. Most of this work took place in shelters.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This study examines the challenges of using community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 brings unique challenges to this approach due to social distancing and the closure of key community organizations. They identify three key challenges: flexibility to pivot when needed, inequity in research participation, and the well-being of the research team. The study focuses on impacts for immigrant and communities of color and examines intersectionality’s with age and gender.