HARTFORD INSTITUTE FOR GERIATRIC NURSING |
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Dear Friends,
For many years we have talked about medically underserved areas, inadequate insurance protection, food deserts, poor access to appropriate healthcare, and many other conditions that contribute to health disparities. COVID-19 highlighted and brought into focus what we already knew- health disparities contribute to poor health outcomes. There are multiple factors contributing to health disparities that are embedded in societal structures and policies, many of which are archaic. We need to address these issues with appropriate public health strategies and community investment. Our community-based organizations were critical during this past year in supporting many vulnerable older adults who live in areas where poverty is prevalent. Dr. Anderson Torres, the CEO and President of R.A.I.N TOTAL CARE, INC in the Bronx, is our guest contributor this month. R.A.I.N Services provide 20 programs including 13 full-service senior centers, home-delivered meals, home care services serving the homebound, integrated care coordination, housing, case management, advocacy, support groups for older adults and caregivers, dementia initiatives, and intergenerational programs. Dr. Torres describes the work that this community-based organization has done over the past year.
Happy Spring. Soon every adult will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Be sure that you have yours!
Warmly,
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Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN, FAAN |
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When Time Stood Still
Anderson Torres, PhD, LCSW-R
President and CEO
R.A.I.N. Total Care, Inc.
R.A.I.N. is a comprehensive not-for-profit social service organization that has been a provider of quality and compassionate services since 1964. Our integrated and holistic service model addresses food insecurity through our meals on wheels program, home care services, residential housing for low-income seniors, case management, advocacy and education, and a R.A.I.N. News streaming program. We look at interventions and their impact on social determinants of health.
As the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York, R.A.I.N. was impacted tremendously. We had to quickly respond to this crisis in innovative ways to ensure that our community was taken care of and that appropriate supports were in place. We quickly learned that the Bronx had 6 of the 10 designated hot spots for COVID-19 cases in New York City. Our beloved Borough of the Bronx quickly became ground zero for COVID-19, for not only infection rates but mortality- this was terrifying. It is a well-known and documented fact that the Bronx is the unhealthiest county in New York State, ranking last in health outcomes. As we analyzed the data, it was of no surprise that our brothers and sisters most impacted in our area were from Hispanic and African-American backgrounds. This posed a tremendous challenge because we were dealing with a community that is significantly impacted by social determinants of health. This meant that we were working with those that are marginalized by society due to poverty, lack of access to appropriate nutrition, medical care, housing, overcrowding in apartments with intergenerational family compositions, isolation, crime, low health literacy, and poor health outcomes due to complex comorbidities such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and obesity. Our minority community had limited opportunity for social distancing and minimal options outside of public transportation, which increased the risk for COVID-19.
Intervention/Action Plan:
R.A.I.N. went into emergency preparedness mode. To ensure everyone's safety, we kept a limited number of staff at our locations while other staff and social work interns worked remotely. Our Meals on Wheels program saw an increase in demand for home-delivered meals to our homebound older adults. Our Cucina Dolores Mobile Food Kitchen provided meals to displaced minority workers in the South Bronx. Since the pandemic, R.A.I.N. has conducted over 215,000 telephone reassurance calls to our members to ensure their safety. Home care was engaged in coordinating our homebound clients' complex needs with their home health aides while also distributing personal protective equipment. We had to train our social work interns and staff in trauma-focused interventions, which continues this day.
Currently, R.A.I.N. is represented in the New York State Vaccine Task Force and has also had successful vaccine drives focusing on our older adult and front-line workers. Our workforce primarily mirrors black and brown communities, and they serve as advocates to ensure a safety net for our most vulnerable.
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2021 HIGN Virtual Interprofessional Summer Research Scholars Program
July 14th - 20th
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Applications are now being accepted for HIGN's Annual Interprofessional Summer Research Scholars Program.
The 5-day intensive virtual program is open to doctorally prepared healthcare professionals who are interested in conducting research in aging related fields.
NYU faculty mentors will guide you on advancing your career through building grant writing and research skills.
Early Submission: May 1st
Deadline: June 15th
Click here to learn more and download the 2021 application .
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Behavioral Health in Primary Care Across the Lifespan
Free Courses and Case Studies
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BHPC Series:
Depressive Disorders
LGBT Diversity Inclusion
Risk Screening for Behavioral Health
Social Determinants of Health
Substance Use Disorders
Trauma-Related Disorders
RNs will receive .5-1.5 CE credits per course
Click here to learn more and register.
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Webinar: Addressing Health Disparities to Support Aging in Place
HIGN recently convened a panel of experts to discuss strategies to address health disparities and support aging in place.
Topics Include:
Building Healthier Communities with Health Literacy
Using Advocacy to Address Food Insecurity and Social Isolation
Addressing Health Disparities by Focusing on Function
Click here to view the webinar
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Recent Publications from HIGN Affiliated Faculty
Raveis, Victoria; VanDevanter, Nancy; Kovner, Christine; Yu, Gary; Ridge, Laura Jean; Glassman, Kimberly (2020). Front-line Experiences and Perspectives of Older and Younger Registered Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Innovation in Aging, 4(Suppl 1), 947. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3467 PMCID: PMC7740894
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