Engagement and Advocacy of Community-Based Organizations Serving Older Adults in Native American, Rural, and Homeless Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jarmin Yeh; Lyn Holley; Cassandra D Ford; M Aaron Guest

doi:10.1080/08959420.2022.2133317

Engagement and Advocacy of Community-Based Organizations Serving Older Adults in Native American, Rural, and Homeless Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

J Aging Soc Policy. 2022 Oct 8:1-13. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2022.2133317. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jarmin Yeh¹, Lyn Holley², Cassandra D Ford³, M Aaron Guest⁴

Affiliations

¹ Assistant Professor, Institute for Health & Aging, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
² Professor, Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
³ Associate Professor, Capstone College of Nursing, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
⁴ Assistant Professor, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA.

PMID: 36208458
DOI: 10.1080/08959420.2022.2133317

Abstract

Older adults in Native American, rural, and homeless communities have been disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to structural and systemic inequities. However, community-based organizations (CBOs) serving these older adults are well positioned as frontline responders and trusted messengers to support their needs and provide vital services that enable them to stay safe. This commentary argues that CBOs are essential for engaging with and responding to community needs during a pandemic. The work of three CBOs is spotlighted to elucidate the importance of partnerships and trust in disseminating strategies for responding to and mitigating pandemic impacts.

Keywords: COVID-19; Native American; advocacy; community engagement; community gerontology; homeless; rural.