Background and Objectives: Complicated grief (CG) is severe, prolonged (>12 months) grieving. Complicated grief disproportionately affects older adults and is associated with negative physical/psychological effects. Although treatment options exist, those which do are time-intensive. We report on a randomized clinical trial (RCT) which examined whether accelerated resolution therapy (ART), a novel mind-body therapy, is effective in treating CG, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression among hospice informal caregivers. Research Design and Methods: Prospective 2 group, wait-listed RCT. All participants were scheduled to receive 4 ART sessions. Inclusion: ≥60 years, inventory of CG >25, and PTSD checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition >33 or Psychiatric Diagnostic Screen Questionnaire PTSD subscale >5. Exclusion: Major psychiatric disorder, other current psychotherapy treatment. Depression was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression. Results: Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 54 participants was 68.7 (7.2) years, 85% female, and 93% white. Participants assigned to ART reported significantly greater mean (SD) CG reduction (−22.8 [10.3]) versus Wait-list participants (−4.3 [6.0]). Within-participant effect sizes (ESs) for change from baseline to 8-week post-treatment were CG (ES = 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-2.47; P < .0001), PTSD (ES = 2.40 [95% CI: 1.79-3.00]; P < .0001), depression (ES = 1.63 [95% CI: 1.18-2.08; P < .0001). Treatment effects did not substantially differ by baseline symptom levels. Discussion and Implications: Results suggests that ART presents an effective and less time-intensive intervention for CG in older adults. However, it should undergo further effectiveness testing in a larger, more diverse clinical trial with a focus on determining physiological or behavioral mechanisms of action.

The National Aging Network serves millions of older Americans seeking home- and community-based services, but places others on waitlists due to limited resources. Little is known about how states determine service delivery and waitlists. We therefore conducted a process evaluation and analyzed data from one five-county Area Agency on Aging in Florida, where an algorithm calculates clients’ priority scores for service delivery. From 23,225 screenings over 5.5 years, clients with higher priority scores were older, married, living with caregivers, and had more health problems and needs for assistance. Approximately 51% received services (e.g., meals/nutrition, case management, caregiver support), 11% were eligible/being enrolled, and 38% remained on waitlists. Service status was complex due to multiple service enrollments and terminations, funding priorities, and transfers to third-party providers. More research is needed regarding how other states determine eligibility and deliver services, potentially informing national standards that promote optimal health in older Americans.

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Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) screen older adults and oversee delivery of a wide range of home- and community-based services (HCBS). We examined the assessment process, services, and mortality and health outcomes for older adults screened by an Area Agency on Aging in west-central Florida. Most were self/family referred (78.9%). Using data from July 2013-December 2018, 23,225 older adults were screened. Individuals had an average of 2.6 years follow-up in the dataset, during which time 63.6% received additional assessments: follow-up screening (50.6%), comprehensive assessment for enrollment in HCBS (35.7%), or assessments for congregate meals or other services (13.7%). Results revealed differences in mortality: 22.5% of clients receiving services died compared to 32.1% of clients prioritized as lower risk and on waiting lists for services. Long-term care placement and functional decline outcomes also will be reviewed, along with implications for service delivery and managing waitlists.

Complicated grief (CG), severe, prolonged (&gt;12 months) grieving, disproportionately affects older adults. A prospective two-group, waitlisted RCT examined whether four sessions of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) was effective in informal caregivers by comparing pre-to-post ART changes and investigating variation in treatment response by baseline CG levels. Inclusion: ≥60 years, Inventory of Complicated Grief &gt;25. Paired t-tests of mean (SD) differences compared pre- to post-ART; pre-ART to 8-week follow-up, and post-ART to 8-week follow-up; then stratified by median baseline level of CG. Mean (SD) age of 54 participants was 68.7 (7.2) years, 85% female, and 93% white. Significantly greater CG reduction (-22.8 (10.3)) vs. waitlist (-4.3 (6.0)) was found. Within-participant effect sizes from baseline to 8-weeks post treatment were 1.96 (95% CI: 1.45, 2.47; p&lt;0.0001). Treatment effects did not substantially differ by baseline levels. Lesson learned was that it was possible to successfully recruit and treat CG in the community.