Search Results (3)

Background: Food insecurity and social isolation among older adults are pressing public health concerns that significantly impact physical and mental health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges while forcing innovative adaptations to traditional congregate meal programs. Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of Kūpuna U, an alternative flexible congregate meal program comprising three models (virtual, hybrid, and traditional), in addressing food insecurity, loneliness, and self-rated health among older adults in Hawaiʻi. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent groups analyzed secondary program evaluation data. Participants (N = 270, follow-up N = 116) self-selected into virtual (grab-and-go meals + online activities), hybrid (grab-and-go meals + virtual and in-person activities), or traditional (in-person congregate meals + in-person activities) models. Food insecurity (6-item scale), loneliness (UCLA 3-item scale), and self-rated health (5-point scale) were measured at the baseline and 6-month follow-up. Results: The Virtual group showed significant improvements in food insecurity (baseline: 1.73 to follow-up: 0.04, p < 0.001) and self-rated health (baseline: 2.92 to follow-up: 3.72, p = 0.005). The Hybrid group demonstrated a significant increase in loneliness (baseline: 4.25 to follow-up: 5.00, p = 0.024). The Traditional group showed no significant changes in any outcome measures. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant between-group differences for food insecurity (F = 9.047, p < 0.001) and self-rated health (F = 5.814, p = 0.004) change scores. Conclusions: The Virtual model demonstrated a superior effectiveness in improving food security and self-rated health outcomes. However, self-selection bias limits causal inferences. These findings suggest that flexible, technology-enhanced nutrition programs may effectively serve older adults with mobility or transportation barriers while maintaining program benefits. Full article

For many vulnerable older adults, food access was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Hawai‘i, the Kūpuna (the Hawaiian word for elders) Food Security Coalition (KFSC) was formed in March 2020 to address this challenge, leveraging local and federal funding support. This case study presents information on coalition formation and success in addressing this emergency, as well as evaluation data on coalition functioning as assessed by the Collective Impact (CI) framework. Coalition functioning was assessed across the five CI conditions: common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and backbone support. Case study data were available from interview and learning circle transcripts, survey findings, and other program documents. Between March and December 2020, the KFSC coordinated efforts of 46 organizations to serve approximately 1.2 million meals to 8300 vulnerable seniors in Honolulu County. Within the first 9 months of existence, the coalition’s measurement system and the common agenda conditions showed advanced maturity, while the other conditions demonstrated moderate maturity levels. Despite challenging leadership transitions, the coalition was successful in helping increase food access and then pivoting in 2021 to promote kūpuna vaccinations, and the coalition continues to meet regularly to address issues of concern to vulnerable older adults. This study provides evidence-based guidance for communities seeking to establish public/non-profit partnerships for emergency food response for older adults, demonstrating how structured coalition approaches can effectively mobilize and coordinate multi-stakeholder efforts during and beyond crises. Full article

Language loss hinders the expression of Indigenous Peoples and their unique worldviews, impairing the intergenerational transfer of knowledge. In Hawai‘i, where a vast majority of the population was fluent and “universally literate” in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i from the mid to late 1800s, colonial impositions drastically reduced the number of fluent speakers to roughly 2000 by the 1970s. Efforts to revitalize the language since then have greatly increased the number of current ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i speakers and resources. Building upon this great work, the Hā Kūpuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders at the University of Hawai‘i has initiated projects to contribute to the reclamation of ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i by increasing our contemporary understanding of ancestral Hawaiian perspectives on elders. To support these projects, significant changes in power structures within our organization were necessary. Insights gained from these projects include gaining clarity on the evolution of the usage of the word “kupuna”, identifying more nuanced perspectives on elders, understanding the importance of family relationships on caregiving outcomes, and understanding the importance of carefully translating English words into ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. Full article