# Social Connections and Health among Older Adults Living in Low-income Housing

> **NIH NIH R03** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $122,813

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Social isolation exists when one has limited social connections. Approximately 1 in 4 older adults are socially
isolated. Social isolation is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality comparable to well-established risk factors
including smoking, hypertension, and a sedentary lifestyle. Older adults with limited social connections account
for an estimated additional $6.7 billion dollars in annual Medicare spending. Low income older adults have two
times the odds of experiencing social isolation compared to those with higher incomes. Amidst current aging
projections and reports that the current cohort of older Americans have high debt and insufficient savings, the
demand for low income housing has increased. Despite epidemiologic evidence demonstrating the deleterious
effects of limited social connections on health, gaps exist in our knowledge regarding the best solutions to
address this problem. Focusing on social connections to improve the physical and mental health of older adults
who live in low income housing is an important area of study. We will use qualitative and quantitative methods
to increase our understanding of the factors that affect the social connections of this population. We propose
the following specific aims: Aim 1A. To characterize the social connections of older adults who live in low
income housing, utilizing social network inventory interviews. We will identify the frequency, function, and
relationships that can be targeted in an intervention that focuses on social connections to improve the physical
and mental health of older adults who live in low income housing. Aim 1B. To explore the perspectives of older
adults who live in low income housing regarding their preferences for social connections, the factors that
influence their social connections and its impact on physical and mental health. We will conduct semi-
structured interviews to explore the following perspectives: 1) preferences for social connections, 2) facilitators
and barriers to social connections, 3) resources that impact social connections, 4) perceptions regarding social
connections impact on physical and mental health, and 5) perspectives regarding the acceptability of different
interventions. Aim 2. To explore the perspectives of local low income housing stakeholders on social
connections and the feasibility of an intervention to improve the social connections of older adults. We will
convene 3-4 focus groups with low income housing stakeholders (e.g. service coordinators) to explore
perspectives regarding existing approaches to identify and address social isolation in this population and elicit
reactions on the feasibility of several community based intervention ideas. Accomplishing these aims will
provide the foundation for future work that advances our understanding of the health of older adults who live in
low income housing and facilitate the development of an intervention that focuses on social connections to
improve the ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9986597
- **Project number:** 5R03AG064253-02
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas Kofi Mensah Cudjoe
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $122,813
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9986597

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9986597, Social Connections and Health among Older Adults Living in Low-income Housing (5R03AG064253-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9986597. Licensed CC0.

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