Symposia
Dissemination & Implementation Science
Emily Bower, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor
Pacific University
Hillsboro, Oregon
Nirmala Dhar, LCSW
Operations & Policy Analyst
Oregon Health Authority
Salem, Oregon
Hannah Gregorio-Zellmer, MPH, MSW
Crisis Intervention Specialist
Lines for Life
Portland, Oregon
Yvette Garza, LPC
Specialty Crisis Lines Supervisor
Lines for Life
Portland, Oregon
Taylor Loskot, B.A.
Graduate Student
Pacific University
Hillsboro, Oregon
Social disconnection–including loneliness and isolation–is associated with negative health outcomes and low quality of life. Although many people experience positive social connections with aging, rates of social disconnection are high among older adults, particularly in rural-dwelling communities. Social disconnection is a modifiable health risk factor, yet there are currently no evidence-based interventions for promoting social connection. The Social Connection Plan (SCP) intervention is a brief, evidence-informed and person-centered approach for increasing feelings of social connection that is based on the cognitive behavioral model of loneliness and isolation stress. Employing an approach similar to safety planning, the SCP was developed to optimize flexibility for use as an adjunct to ongoing therapy or as a stand-alone intervention when more intensive intervention is not possible or indicated. We present initial findings from a program development project to identify programmatic needs to implement the SCP Intervention for frequent callers to a statewide Senior Loneliness Line serving many rural-dwelling older adults. The pilot program opened to enrollment in February 2023 and will run for approximately one year. Up to 50 adults aged 55 years and older who contact the Senior Loneliness Line 10 or more times per month (complex needs callers) will be enrolled in the SCP program. Callers meet about three times via phone over the course of approximately one month with a non-clinician support specialist who is trained to deliver the SCP program. The support specialist works with the caller to identify their social needs and practice behavioral strategies to support feelings of social connectedness by changing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to social activities and relationships. Loneliness (Three-Item Loneliness Scale), satisfaction with activities and relationships (PROMIS), and resilience coping (Brief Resilience Coping Scale) are assessed at program entry (pre-intervention) and exit (post-intervention) to evaluate change in outcomes of interest. Program acceptability is assessed post-intervention using a quantitative response scale and open-ended questions. Feedback about barriers and facilitators to successful implementation will be obtained from staff stakeholders using a semi-structured interview to identify needs to implement the program to scale. Findings from this project will inform future implementation of the SCP intervention for call centers serving socially disconnected older adults.