PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF INCREASED VERBAL/PHYSICAL CONFLICT DURING COVID-19: CLSA FINDINGS

Abstract Child and spousal abuse rates have been shown to increase during various types of disasters. This study sought to determine the prevalence and determinants of older adults’ experiences of increased verbal or physical conflict (+VPC), as a proxy for elder abuse, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data are from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a cohort study of 51,338 Canadians aged 45–85 at enrollment (2012-15) with follow-up every 3 years until 2033.. We analyzed data of participants aged 65 or above at follow-up1 who took part in a COVID-19 sub-study (n=24,306). Experiencing +VPC was the main outcome variable; explanatory variables included gender identity, sexual orientation, age group, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, household income, working status, living alone, social support availability, cohesion with community, self-rated physical and mental health, anxiety, depression, and previous history of elder abuse. The overall weighted prevalence of +VPC was 7.4%. Gay/bisexual men, 55-64 age-group, not living alone, low social support, poor social cohesion, low self-rated health, poor mental health, and past history of psychological or physical abuse were all significantly associated with +VPC. Weighted multivariable logistic regression revealed gender, not living alone, higher scores of depression and anxiety, and past history of psychological abuse to be independent predictors of +VPC. Implications for post-pandemic recovery and for prevention strategies during future disasters include targeted outreach programs for the most vulnerable group which includes males, persons age 55-64, those with self-rated poor mental health and/or history of elder psychological abuse.


COVID-19 I FAMILY CAREGIVING FOR OLDER ADULTS IN LONG-TERM CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC: STRESS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND ADAPTATION
Geunhye Park, Erin Robinson, and Gashaye Melaku Tefera, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States Older adults residing in long-term care (LTC) are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal and local health officials have issued strict visitation guidelines, including family caregivers. Given that family caregivers are essential in the well-being for older adults in LTC, these measures have had an enormous impact. As little is known about the experiences of family caregivers, the purpose of this study was to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted family caregivers' roles, mental health, and adaptation. Semistructured interviews (N=25) were conducted with family caregivers of older adults in LTC (Mean age= 59.7; 92% female) via phone/Zoom. An interview guide led the question asking process and participants were asked open-ended questions about the impact of COVID-19 related protocols on their caregiving, mental health, and sources of social support. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed in Nvivo, guided by Grounded Theory methods. The majority of participants (76%) identified as a child of their care recipient. Findings highlight that most participants experienced numerous changes to their caregiving tasks, such as assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), limited monitoring for their loved ones, and a reduction of social support provided to the care recipient. Family caregivers also reported other changes in their roles that resulted in increased stress and mental health concerns. These concerns were discussed in detail, including ways in which family caregivers adapted to their new roles and managed their stress. Findings from this study will inform interventions geared to better support family caregivers, particularly during times of crisis.

FAMILY CAREGIVING IN LTC SETTINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC: COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES AND LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY
Gashaye Melaku Tefera, Erin Robinson, and Geunhye Park, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States COVID19 related lockdown and protocols caused disruptions in family caregiving for older adults living in LTC settings. However, there is a paucity of research on the challenges and experiences of family caregivers in maintaining their caregiving role during the pandemic. Hence, this qualitative study explores family caregivers' communication challenges and the role technology played in performing their caregiving roles. One-on-one in-depth interviews (N=25) were conducted with family caregivers (Mean age= 59.7; 92% female; 76% child) via phone/Zoom. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed using Nvivo12. Findings demonstrate that family caregivers of older adults in LTC settings experienced severe communication barriers with staff at those facilities in the early onset of the pandemic, including delays of important information about their care recipients. Participants highlighted high staff turnover, inadequate training, staff unfamiliarity with technology, and poor internet connections as perpetuating communication barriers. During this time, their older care recipients experienced visual and hearing impairments that affected their ability to communicate, as well as cognitive decline. Despite this, family caregivers were able to successfully utilize various forms of technology to continue providing care supports and social support to their loved ones. Although participants relied on phone calls and email communications, they also used other platforms including Zoom, FaceTime, Nixplay, and TextNow. Participants used devices including landline phones, cellphones, computers, tablets, Ipads, and walkie-talkies to execute their communication. Implications of this study suggest that improving access and utilization of technology in LTC settings can enhance family caregiving during unprecedented events like the COVID19 pandemic.

PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF INCREASED VERBAL/PHYSICAL CONFLICT DURING COVID-19: CLSA FINDINGS
Gloria Gutman 1 , Mojgan Karbakhsh 2 , and Heather Stewart 3 , 1. Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Innovation in Aging, 2022, Vol. 6, No.S1 British Columbia, Canada, 2. Simon Fraser University Gerontology Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 3. Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada Child and spousal abuse rates have been shown to increase during various types of disasters. This study sought to determine the prevalence and determinants of older adults' experiences of increased verbal or physical conflict (+VPC), as a proxy for elder abuse, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data are from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a cohort study of 51,338 Canadians aged 45-85 at enrollment (2012-15) with follow-up every 3 years until 2033.. We analyzed data of participants aged 65 or above at follow-up1 who took part in a COVID-19 sub-study (n=24,306). Experiencing +VPC was the main outcome variable; explanatory variables included gender identity, sexual orientation, age group, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, household income, working status, living alone, social support availability, cohesion with community, self-rated physical and mental health, anxiety, depression, and previous history of elder abuse. The overall weighted prevalence of +VPC was 7.4%. Gay/bisexual men, 55-64 age-group, not living alone, low social support, poor social cohesion, low self-rated health, poor mental health, and past history of psychological or physical abuse were all significantly associated with +VPC. Weighted multivariable logistic regression revealed gender, not living alone, higher scores of depression and anxiety, and past history of psychological abuse to be independent predictors of +VPC. Implications for post-pandemic recovery and for prevention strategies during future disasters include targeted outreach programs for the most vulnerable group which includes males, persons age 55-64, those with self-rated poor mental health and/or history of elder psychological abuse.

. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound implications on how older adults engage with the digital world. While there is converging evidence that during the pandemic the number of online newcomers has increased the most among older adults, digital inequalities have become even more condensed among the socially disadvantaged groups in this period. Importantly, such patters of age-related digital exclusion were not observed only in terms of self-reliant internet use but also in older adults' ability to access internet resources indirectly by asking others to act on their behalf -a practice known as use-by-proxy. Drawing on the van Dijk's resources and appropriation theory, we aim to understand which categorical and resource inequalities determine the direct and indirect forms of internet use among older adults during the pandemic. Therefore, in November 2021 a telephone survey (N = 701) was carried out among individuals aged 65+ in Slovenia. Three logistic regression models were fitted to explore the association between sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and their access to material and social resources with internet use as well as with availability and activation of use-by-proxy. The results suggested that both categorical and resource inequalities are predictors of internet use. Conversely, availability of use-byproxy is strongly associated only with social resources, while use-by-proxy activation depends on material resources and household composition. Overall, we argue that social inequalities affect also the indirect forms of internet use in later life which means that the ability to compensate by help for digital inequalities is also stratified unevenly.

DEMYSTIFYING NIH PEER REVIEW: YOUR APPLICATION FROM SUBMISSION TO SCORE
Elia Ortenberg 1 , Karen Roberto 2 , Dana Plude 3 , Janetta Lun 1 , and Helena Gabor 4 , 1. National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,Maryland,United States,2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University,Blacksburg,Virginia,United States,3. National Institute on Aging/ National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,Maryland,United States,4. Center for Scientific Review/National Institutes of Health,Bethesda,Maryland,United States What happens to applications after they are submitted to the National Institutes of Health, and how can you better prepare for the process of peer review? The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) works closely with the 24 funding institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health that provide funding support for projects of high scientific merit and high potential impact. CSR conducts the first level of review for the majority of grant applications submitted to the NIH, which includes 90% of R01s, 85% of Fellowships, and 95% of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) applications as well as many other research and training opportunity activities. In this capacity, CSR helps to identify the most meritorious projects, cutting-edge research, and future scientists who will advance the mission of the NIH: to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. The purpose of this symposium is to provide an overview of 1) what happens to NIH applications before, during, and after peer review at CSR; 2) new and current peer review policies and practices that impact application submission; and 3) strategies for developing a strong NIH grant application. Peer review is the cornerstone of the NIH grant supporting process, and demystifying the process can help attendees understand what's inside the "Black Box" and the criteria used to identify the most meritorious applications.

AFTER REVIEW AND WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Elia Ortenberg, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
After the review meeting, the SRO prepares the Summary Statement, which is the primary outcome of peer review. Program staff and Advisory Councils at the Institutes use this official document to make decisions about which applications to fund. How can you best prepare for the next steps for your application? Understand the qualities of a competitive NIH application, talk to Program staff, and take