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Symposium

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Community-Based Research on Grief Support for Older Adults: From Exploration to Implementation

Saturday, November 11, 2023
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM ET
Location: Room 112

Community-based research has initiated a shift from research existing in an ivory tower to being collected and then implemented for the direct benefit of the public. The social sciences continue to struggle with the balance between rigorous science and feasible interventions, creating a common disconnect between research and practice. This is particularly relevant to grief and bereavement, for which services are often under-utilized among older adults. This symposium will discuss a multidisciplinary team’s application of the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) framework, describing the development, findings, and service outcomes of a community-based research initiative within a mid-sized city. First, Lisa E. Stone will describe the challenges and successful strategies in the collaborative process of questionnaire development with multidisciplinary community stakeholders. She will also present on the methodology used to attain large community and grief professional samples, including recruitment strategies for adults across the lifespan. Second, Caroline Collins-Pisano will present key age-related findings from the community study, highlighting the lifespan factors that impact grief experiences and utilization of grief resources among older adults. Lastly, Rachel E. Weiskittle will present on the team’s process of implementing data-driven grief interventions, focusing on the translation of community-based findings to multifaceted grief services for older adults. In sum, this symposium presents a community-based application of the EPIS framework that focuses on direct, tailored, and immediate implementation of grief services, a consistent need for the aging population.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe a community-based research project related to grief and bereavement, including the use of a community-academic partnership and methodological design.
  • Identify age differences in grief experiences and interest in receiving specific grief services per large community survey results.
  • Describe the process of implementing grief interventions for older adults within a multidisciplinary team, as informed by community-based research.

Presentations:

  • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM ET
    Exploration of the Need for Grief Services: Methodology of a Community-Based Research Study

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Lisa E. Stone-Bury, MA (she/her/hers) – University of Colorado Colorado Springs

  • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM ET
    Understanding Age Differences in Grief Support Needs: Results From a Community-Wide Survey

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Caroline Collins-Pisano, BA (she/her/hers) – University of Colorado Colorado Springs

  • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM ET
    Implementing Grief Services for Older Adults: Translating Survey Findings Into Targeted Programming

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Rachel E. Weiskittle, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Colorado Colorado Springs