Cognitive decline and healthy aging: an online activities and psychoeducational program for older adults in the context of COVID-19 Pandemic: preliminary results.

FELDBERG, C.; TARTAGLINI, M.F.; HERMIDA, P.D.; SOMALE, V.

Denver

Congreso; Alzheimer´s Association International Conference in Denver, Estados Unidos.; 2021

Alzheimer´s Association

The preventive and compulsory social isolation regulations due to COVID-19 affected the entire population, but this became more emphasized in the group of older adults. Many older adults who attended workshops, retirement centers and clubs had to interrupt their activities. This has impacted negatively on their activity level, socialization, and emotional state.The aim of the present study is to present preliminary results of the implementation of an online activities and psychoeducational program to prevent cognitive decline and promote healthy aging habits on older adults who live in Argentina in the context of Covid-19 Pandemic.Design: Descriptive studySubjects: 396 older adults, men and women, independent in daily living activities. The exclusion criterion was elderly people with motor and/or severe sensory deficits that impede to be part in the training program, and those individuals who had serious psychiatric disorders. Procedure: Intervention -The intervention consists of a series of workshops (yoga, meditation, gym, singing lessons, memory, preparation for retirement and reflection about grief) and monthly specialist ´s talks on different topics about healthy aging. -All the activities were done through zoom platform. All participants where offer one to one capacitation and written material about how to use this platform. -Older adults could choose in how many activities they would take part in.Instruments: -Instruments: socio-demographic and social participation questionnaire.Statistics Analysis of the information -Percentages, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Data of 396 older adults who have taken part in the on-line version of the program on 2020 indicate thatmedian age was 70.66 years old (ds= 8,7) of which 79 % were women. These results provide empirical evidence regarding the need to implement online intervention programs for olderadults. Older adults who took part in the program were mainly interested in increasing their self-care tools in health issues, as well as in incorporating strategies to improve their memory performance and regulate their emotions through the practice of yoga o meditation.