2022 International Conference on Aging in the Americas

Abstract

Recent census data indicates that 25% of the population of Puerto Rico is 65 years of age or older. The massive migration that was accentuated after hurricanes Irma and María in 2017 and the earthquakes of 2020, has had social and emotional consequences in the Puerto Rican family, with older adults being among the most affected. Older adults in Puerto Rico suffer from loneliness, chronic diseases and multimorbidity, conditions of poverty, high rates of depression and mental health disorders, and an increase in cases of suicide – specifically in the group of 85 years or older. Fulfilling its social role and the mission statement of the Inter American University of Puerto Rico of commitment to serving its peoples and communities, the Metropolitan Campus created InterACTIVO, a Center for Supervised Educational and Recreational Activities. InterActivo is not a regular day center. The added value of the program lies in the integration of educational activities offered by faculty and students from academic programs in areas such as music, arts, social work, and education, among others. InterActivo is bridging the gap between theory and practice in these disciplines and offers both faculty and students a chance to contribute to the solution of a real social problem. In this presentation, I will discuss the development and implementation of the service program, as well as the results of the first evaluation. It is hoped that the service model will reduce feelings of isolation and depression among participants as well as increase social participation and connectedness.