Carson M. De Fries

Background: Financial fraud and exploitation (FFE) are associated with billions of dollars lost annually and have significant adverse effects on older adults. Objective: Given the challenges and complexities of FFE identification and response, this study aimed to identify domains associated with elder FFE risk from a multidisciplinary perspective. Methods: This qualitative study interviewed experts within the field through six qualitative focus groups conducted in 2024. A thematic analysis approach was used to identify themes. Results: Five domains were identified encompassing intersecting factors associated with elder FFE: cognitive health, individual behaviors, social health, financial well-being, and health and environment considerations. These findings demonstrate nuanced FFE risk considerations and the need to approach assessment models from a multidisciplinary, accessible perspective to enhance financial empowerment in older adulthood. Findings will be used to inform development of a financial tool to assess potential risk for FFE among older adults.

Community well-being is increasingly strained by the intersecting challenges of social disconnectedness, generational divides, and climate change. Strengthening ties across generations can promote trust, empathy, and holistic wellness for current and future communities. This intergenerational, community-engaged study engaged older adults (aged 65+) and emerging adults (aged 18-29) in rural Appalachian Ohio to: (1) explore intergenerational dynamics of social connectedness, and (2) examine whether cross-generational dialogue supports collective care amid rapid environmental change. Guided by the intergenerational solidarity framework and contact theory, we employed Participatory Photo Mapping, combining photo mapping with photo-and-map elicitation interviews (n = 16) and focus groups (n = 11). Findings reveal strong intrafamilial connections and intergenerational ties to place, but limited non-familial intergenerational relationships and perceived connection to future generations. Intergenerational contact fostered mutual learning and trust-building. Health professionals can apply these insights to promote lifelong community well-being through strategies such as intergenerational wellness programs, arts-based initiatives, and shared-interest groups that enhance intergenerational contact and encourage legacy thinking. Moreover, providers may benefit from deepening their knowledge of intergenerational place identity as climate change reshapes community landscapes.

Background: Chinese Americans, the largest Asian American subgroup in the U.S., face linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic barriers to dementia prevention. To promote brain health in this population, a culturally tailored community approach is essential. This study evaluates a culturally tailored community brain health education program to enhance brain health knowledge and motivate lifestyle changes to prevent the risk of dementia among Chinese Americans aged 50 or older. Methods: The program was developed and evaluated in four phases. First, we assessed participants’ interests in brain health topics, availability, and preferred delivery modes. Next, experts on the identified topics developed educational content and outcome assessments. The third phase focused on implementing a six-session program covering general knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, diet, sleep, physical exercise, health checks, and mindfulness. Finally, we evaluated the program’s feasibility and effectiveness using pre–post surveys, feedback questionnaires, and focus groups. Results: Seventy-seven participants registered for the program, and sixty-nine (90%) attended at least four sessions. The quantitative results, based on paired t-tests, showed significant increases in brain health knowledge, sleep quality, and behavioral motivation for lifestyle changes, and a decrease in depressive symptoms, with two-tailed p-values lower than 0.05. The qualitative results further revealed promising feasibility and acceptability, as well as the perceived benefits of the program. Conclusions: The findings highlight the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a culturally tailored community education approach for promoting brain health and lifestyle changes. Sustained community outreach and education efforts among Chinese Americans are needed.

As individuals age, they encounter new or persistent needs that affect their ability to use formal services. Social capital, can help individuals overcome these barriers. This scoping review aimed to identify how an older adult's social capital may help them utilize formal services. The search, conducted in January 2023, resulted in 57 articles included for analysis. Results demonstrate how certain types of relationships may support older adults' use of formal services and highlight gaps in methodologies and measurements used. Future research should explore mechanisms behind different types of relationships and how they can support older adults obtain needed care.

Climate change is leading to worsening disasters that disproportionately impact older adults. While research has begun to measure disparities, there is a gap in examining wildfire-specific disasters. To address this gap, this scoping review analyzed literature to explore the nexus of wildfires and older adults. We searched peer-reviewed literature using the following inclusion criteria: (1) published in a peer-reviewed journal; (2) available in English; (3) examines at least one topic related to wildfires; and (4) examines how criterion three relates to older adults in at least one way. Authors screened 261 titles and abstracts and 138 were reviewed in full, with 75 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Findings heavily focused on health impacts of wildfires on older adults, particularly of smoke exposure and air quality. While many articles mentioned a need for community-engaged responses that incorporate the needs of older adults, few addressed firsthand experiences of older adults. Other common topics included problems with evacuation, general health impacts, and Indigenous elders’ fire knowledge. Further research is needed at the nexus of wildfires and older adults to highlight both vulnerabilities and needs as well as the unique experience and knowledge of older adults to inform wildfire response strategies and tactics.

Objectives: Ageism is a prevalent, insidious social justice issue that has harmful effects on the health of older adults. Preliminary literature explores the intersectionality of ageism with sexism, ableism, and ageism experienced among LGBTQ+ older adults. Yet, the intersectionality of ageism with racism remains largely absent from the literature. Therefore, this study explores the lived experience of the intersectionality of ageism and racism among older adults.Methods: This qualitative study applied a phenomenological approach. Twenty participants 60+ years of age (M = 69, standard deviation = 8.84) in the U.S. Mountain West identifying as Black, Latino(a), Asian–American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous, or White engaged in a 1-hr interview between February and July 2021. A 3-cycle coding process applied constant comparison methods. Five coders independently coded interviews, engaging in critical discussion to resolve disagreements. An audit trail, member checking, and peer debriefing enhanced credibility.Results: This study focuses on individual-level experiences exemplified by 3 umbrella themes and 7 subthemes. The subthemes are (a) compounding oppression, (b) intersection of disparities, (c) White privilege, (d) racism and ageism: being tokenized or ignored, (e) ageism and racism: unspoken bias, (f) racism versus ageism: overt or covert? and (g) racism versus ageism: differentiated or ubiquitous?Discussion: The findings indicate how ageism may be racialized through stereotypes related to mental (in)capability. Practitioners can apply the findings to enhance support for older adults by designing interventions aimed at reducing racialized ageist stereotypes and increasing collaboration through education across anti-ageism/anti-racism initiatives. Future research should focus on the impacts of the intersectionality of ageism and racism on specific health outcomes in addition to structural-level interventions.

“Critical Gerontology for Social Workers” is a collection of scholarly writings, edited by Dr. Sandra Torres and Dr. Sarah Donnelly, that provides readers an overview of challenges faced by the growing older adult population using a critical gerontology lens. The book is divided into two sections that 1) provides readers with a contextual and theoretical foundation of gerontological social work and 2) applies these concepts to different practice settings to guide social workers in utilizing a critical gerontology lens in their work. Written by experts from different countries and backgrounds, this book teaches social workers how to employ a critical gerontology perspective to address issues faced by older adults, on both a macro and micro level, through research, policy, and practice.

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions pose a significant health threat to older adults. Fear of COVID-19 is associated with increased disease transmission and numerous psychosocial health challenges. While social support has been studied extensively in gerontological literature, there is a gap in understanding how social networks influence fear of COVID-19. This study drew from a convenience sample of 239 adults 60+ years of age in the United States who completed a 20-min survey. Regression results indicate that higher social network was significantly associated with decreased fear of COVID-19. Identifying as female and as an ethnic minority were associated with increased fear of COVID-19. These findings document the need for social workers to promote enhanced social networks in reducing fear of COVID-19 among older adults and attend to disparate levels of fear among older women and people of color.

Objectives: To examine the association between post-traumatic stress and depression and whether such an association differs by level of loneliness among older Puerto Ricans. Methods: Data were collected from 304 Puerto Ricans aged 60 and above living in the Greater Boston area who responded to questionnaires. We used ordinary least squares regression to examine the association between post-traumatic stress, loneliness, and depressive symptoms. Results: Post-traumatic stress was significantly associated with higher levels of depression. The association between post-traumatic stress and depression was stronger for those experiencing a higher degree of loneliness. Discussion: In working with older Puerto Ricans experiencing post-traumatic stress, it is important for mental health professionals to incorporate the assessment of loneliness and to prevent and reduce comorbid depression by addressing loneliness through improving social skills, enhancing social support, and reducing maladaptive social cognition.