Resources
Resource sharing is the cornerstone of CIPHER’s mission. Below you can find a list of websites and resources vetted and compiled by our students. If you have any additional resources or opportunities you’d like to share with our team, please feel free to submit them in the form provided at the bottom of this page.
Addressing Social Isolation
Social Isolation & Loneliness
This article by Bei Wu in the journal Global Health Research and Policy details how social isolation and loneliness are risk factors that affect older adults’ health outcomes. The article also describes approaches to decrease incidents of social isolation.
Stay Connected at Home
Created and compiled by engAGED, this two-page flyer provides tip for creating connections without technology, for staying active (mentally and physically), and ways to incorporate technology when engaging older adults.
Social Isolation Response
This extensive resource by ADvancing States outlines the different states’ responses in addressing social isolation. Contents include COVID background and impact, a list of activities and ideas to address social isolation in older adults as well as resources for social engagement and mental stimulation.
Engage Virtually
Produced by the Administration for Community Living, this one-page flyer lists ideas for virtual engagement that allows older adults to socialize, explore, unwind, and connect while at home. Activities include “virtual tours”, online classes, books, theater, games and more!
COVID-19 & Loneliness
Dr. Gary Call underlies the crucial components of patient engagement communication strategies and solutions for healthcare entities and employers in forming partnerships with technology vendors to boost emergency communication efforts.
COVID-19 Impact on Older Adults
Read about the social & physical health impacts COVID-19 has on older adults in this Q&A with Dr. Sarah Szanton, Endowed Professor for Health Equity and Social Justice at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Director of the Center for Innovative Care in Aging.
Natl. Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults
The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults (engAGED) has compiled a list of resources for organizations to better meet the needs of older adults in their communities.
Mental Health During COVID-19
Coping with Mental Health Challenges
This chapter in the book Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapeutics details the various mental health challenges that COVID-19 poses for a wide range of age groups and populations.
COVID-19 & Mental Health: Literature Review
From the Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Dr. Rajkumar has conducted a comprehensive literature review on all existing publications relating COVID-19 to mental health and highlights the need for more representative research from a wider range of affected countries, especially in more vulnerable populations.
Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health & Substance Use
This brief explores mental health and substance use in light of the spread of coronavirus. It discusses the implications of social distancing practices and the current financial crisis on mental health, as well as challenges to accessing mental health or substance use services. The brief draws on mental health data prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and includes recent Kaiser Family Foundation polling data post-COVID-19.
Maintaining Trust with Seniors During COVID-19
This comprehensive guide from Oxfam titled “Community Engagement during COVID-19: A Guide for Community-Facing Staff” works to support teams working directly with communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. General guidance includes how to support an integrated response and outbreak prevention.
Telehealth & Senior Care
The Challenges of Telehealth for Seniors
This blog post, “How Telehealth Makes It Harder for Seniors to Get Healthcare” discusses how telehealth can increase access to care for some, while creating barriers for others. One solution the blog offers is increasing access through traditional sites of care like community centers:
“Community centers can have the advantage of bringing together high tech services (e.g. telehealth) along with high touch services (e.g. real people). They usually have an existing system of caregivers and volunteers along with a variety of other social supports — meal programs, clubs, hobbies, and activities. Thus, telehealth services may be more easily offered and more likely to be used when embedded into a senior’s existing social fabric.”
How to Use Telehealth to Improve Home-based Care
Produced by AARP, this is a great resource for senior care providers, non profits, and community-based organizations grappling with senior health during COVID-19. While not specific to the pandemic context, the document provides examples of home telehealth strategies for different health management needs. The document also examines the benefits of telehealth services for family caregivers and adults with chronic conditions, telemonitoring, insurance coverage, barriers, challenges, and concerns.
How to Become Tech Savvy Seniors in 10 Days
Aging in Place presents all-you-need-to-know tech savvy tutorials for seniors! The table of contents includes technology basics, how to use a computer, types of computers, and resources like workshops, books, and more online instruction.
Interested in more digital literacy resources? Visit our resource page linked below for tutorials!
More Important Resources
Importance of Dental Care for Older Adults
In the American Journal of Public Health, the article titled “Burden of Oral Disease Among Older Adults and Implications for Public Health Priorities” highlights the importance of dental disease prevention in older adults. Oral care, especially during a pandemic, should remain a health priority as dental health affects one’s ability to eat, talk and can restrict social contact and inhibit intimacy.
Key COVID-19 Resources: Websites & Hotlines
From the National Council on Aging (NCOA), this list of key COVID-19 resources for older adults and caregivers includes resources on government information, benefits and services, caregiving, chronic illness and disability, finances, food and nutrition, LGBTQ needs, medicines, mental health and social isolation, physical activity, and veterans. The list also includes mental health and LGBTQ hotlines.
Are we missing an important resource?
We’d like to know! Don’t hesitate - submit your resource, questions or concerns in our contact form provided here. Your name is optional. We’d love to hear from you!