Evaluation of a community-based socialization program for independently living older adults

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Educational Gerontology

DOI

10.1080/03601277.2025.2533507

Abstract

Social isolation among older adults is a major public health concern because of the adverse impact it has on health and well-being. Reducing social isolation can improve health and decrease the use of costly healthcare services. However, there is little consensus on the critical ingredients of programming to reduce social isolation. Bay Area Older Adults® (BAO) is a nonprofit organization whose community-based Healthy Living Program (HLP) focuses on building and nourishing older adults’ social networks through transitions such as retirement, divorce and loss of loved ones. The current study was a program evaluation of the HLP using a survey to understand the changes that the HLP had on participants’ social network over a one-year period. Participants (n = 177) included adults aged 50 and older who voluntarily joined the HLP. Participants were followed six months later for a second assessment (n = 92). Two naturalistic groups were compared: those who participated in the HLP (n = 81) and those who did not (n = 96). Results indicated that the participant and nonparticipant groups did not differ on any demographic or socialization variables. In bivariate analyses, the participant group had a significantly higher social network score at six-month follow up. Regression analyses at six- and 12-month follow up indicated that HLP participation was significantly associated with social network score when controlling for income. The results of the current study indicate the HLP has the potential to be an effective, customized, community-based intervention that could be implemented by multiple types of care providers.

Department

Psychology

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