A SOCIAL CONNECTION HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR ISOLATED LATINX OLDER ADULTS AT RISK OF DEMENTIA

COVID-19 exacerbated the “epidemic of loneliness.” Although loneliness and social isolation are social determinants of health and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), culturally and linguistically responsive social connection interventions tailored to Spanish-Speaking community-dwelling immigrant older adults at higher risk of AD are lacking. UCLA’s Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellence (HNCE) collaborated with Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) to develop and implement a community-partnered social connection group intervention via Telehealth. All clients are homebound due to physical, psychiatric, and/or medical conditions. The main objective was to reduce feelings of loneliness by combining brain health education with skill-based exercises promoting self-efficacy, trust, belonging, and resilience by effectively communicating their needs in a psychologically safe group space. The effectiveness of the pilot intervention, however, required multiple refinements accounting for structural-social barriers, culture, language, and histories of trauma in country of origin and post-immigration to the United States.