The Role of Community Health Workers in the Health and Well-Being of Vulnerable Older Adults during the COVID Pandemic

Matthew Hodges, Dawn Butler, Ariel Spaulding and Debra K. Litzelman ()
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Matthew Hodges: Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Dawn Butler: Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Ariel Spaulding: Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Debra K. Litzelman: Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted social support networks as well as resource access for participants. The purpose of this study was to: analyze the experiences of older adults enrolled in a geriatric-focused community health worker (CHW) support program, to gain a better understanding of how CHWs might enhance care delivery, and to further understand how COVID-19 affected the social and emotional needs and well-being of older adults during the first 18 months of the pandemic. Qualitative analysis was performed on notes entered by CHWs based on 793 telephone encounters with 358 participants between March 2020 and August 2021. Analysis was performed by two reviewers independently coding the data. Weighing the benefits of seeing family against the risks of COVID exposure was a source of emotional distress for participants. Our qualitative analysis suggests that CHWs were effective in providing emotional support and connecting participants to resources. CHWs are capable of bolstering the support networks of older adults and carrying out some of the responsibilities conventionally fulfilled by family supports. CHWs addressed participant needs that are frequently unmet by healthcare team members and provided emotional support to participants contributing to health and well-being. CHW assistance can fill gaps in support left by the healthcare system and family support structures.

Keywords: older adults; wellness; health promotion; community health worker; social determinants of health; social needs; emotional support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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