Engaging Aging Communities in Research: Effective Strategies for Better Health Outcomes

Ryan A. Mace, PhD; Sarah Bannon, PhD; Heather Derry-Vick, PhD; Jacquelyn J. Benson, PhD; Meghan Mattos, PhD, RN, CNL; Andrew C. Pickett, PhD; Sandra J. Winter, PhD, MHA; Elizabeth Orsega-Smith, PhD, FSBM; Jacqueline Guzman, PhD; Michelle Jaldin, MPH; Diana Morales, BS - Aging SIG

As the population ages, health research faces a pressing challenge: how can we develop inclusive, effective interventions that reflect the diverse needs of older adults? Many older adults, particularly those from historically marginalized groups and/or with health challenges such as cognitive decline, face significant barriers to participating in research. Community engagement promotes equity in research by involving older adults directly at all stages of behavioral research. Participatory methods—where community members contribute insights and co-design interventions—enhance relevance and impact. Recent projects by the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Aging Special Interest Group (SIG) demonstrate how engagement can overcome common barriers in aging research.

Recent Community Engagement Studies from SBM’s Aging SIG

SBM Aging SIG members are conducting community engagement studies to tackle these challenges and develop contextually relevant interventions.

Virtual community engagement studios for caregiver support:

Dr. Jacquelyn Benson (Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis) used virtual community engagement studios to refine a one-to-one, peer-delivered psychosocial intervention for caregivers of individuals with dementia. Through sessions with caregivers and service providers, the intervention incorporated specific needs such as grief support, exemplifying how feedback-driven design fosters practical and relevant interventions.

Dr. Benson’s Profile link

Internet-based recruitment for older adults with cognitive impairment:

Dr. Meghan Mattos (University of Virginia) used an online recruitment strategy for the SHUTi MIND (https://www.shutimind.org/interest_site/welcome) trial, an insomnia intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment. By using targeted digital outreach, her team engaged older adults often excluded from behavioral medicine research.

Dr. Mattos’ Profile link

Engaging LGBTQ+ older adults:

Dr. Drew Pickett’s (Indiana University School of Public Health- Bloomington) work focuses on LGBTQ+ older adults—a population often marginalized in health research. Dr. Pickett’s team is using community-based, participatory methods to foster trust and promote engagement of LGBTQ+ identifying caregivers of people living with dementia. Working with small business partners at CareVirtue (https://carevirtue.com), their work is ensuring digital caregiving interventions are inclusive and meet the needs of diverse families and families of choice.

Dr. Pickett’s Profile link

Health Promotion Programs in Senior Centers:

Dr. Elizabeth Orsega-Smith (University of Delaware) led health promotion programs across 16 Delaware senior centers, offering activities from physical exercise to social groups that reduced isolation and encouraged healthy behaviors. Using mixed methods, Dr. Sandra Winter (Senior Coastsiders, https://www.seniorcoastsiders.org) is examining how senior centers play a crucial role in recruiting older adults for research, fostering ethical practices, reducing participation barriers, and enhancing the relevance of research findings. Together, their work underscores the potential of senior centers to engage older adults meaningfully in both health initiatives and research.

Dr. Orsega-Smith’s Profile link

Dr. Winter’s Profile link

Effective Strategies for Engagement

These studies by Aging SIG members highlight several opportunities for engaging older adults in research, which can be applied to engage other populations of interest to SBM members:

1. Empowering older adults as co-researchers: Beyond participating in research, older adults can be included and trained as research partners. This approach not only enriches the research with their lived experiences but also empowers them, leading to increased engagement and relevance.
2. Addressing ageism in research practices: Actively identifying and mitigating ageist assumptions within research design and implementation can improve inclusivity. This involves critically examining recruitment materials, consent processes, and data interpretation to ensure they are free from bias.
3. Offering flexible participation methods: Recognizing the diverse abilities and preferences among older adults, providing options such as home visits, telephone interviews, and online or mailed surveys can reduce participation barriers. Flexibility in engagement methods respects individual needs and can improve recruitment and retention rates.
4. Partnering with senior centers: With over 11,000 senior centers serving more than 1 million older adults daily across the U.S., these centers are not just gathering places but vital community hubs that can play a pivotal role in behavioral health research.
5. Establishing a consistent and long-term presence: Building trust, adding value, and maintaining continuous feedback loops is essential for enhancing the engagement of older adults in research. By prioritizing sustainability from the earliest stages of research design, researchers can ensure that their interventions and relationships have a lasting impact.

Through these initiatives, SBM’s Aging SIG demonstrates how community engagement strengthens research with older adults, promoting inclusive, effective interventions that improve health outcomes across diverse populations.