Peer-to-Peer Support and Changes in Health and Well-being in Older Adults Over Time.

Importance: Literature on peer-to-peer (P2P) programs suggests they improve health and well-being of older adults. Analysis from a previous study showed P2P to be associated with higher rates of hospitalization and no significant differences in rates of emergency department or urgent care visits; however, it is not known whether measures of health and well-being varied by group over time.

Objective: To compare the association between receiving P2P support and secondary outcomes (ie, health status, quality of life, and depressive and anxiety symptoms) with receiving standard community services (SCS) over time.

Evaluation of Peer-to-Peer Support and Health Care Utilization Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Importance: The vast majority of older adults desire to age in their communities, and it is not clear what helps them be successful at aging in place.

Objective: To investigate the comparative effectiveness of community-designed and community-implemented peer-to-peer (P2P) support programs vs standard community services (SCS) to promote health and wellness in at-risk older adults.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This comparative effectiveness study involved a longitudinal cohort of adults aged 65 years and older conducted between 2015 and 2017.

Older adults' perspectives regarding peer-to-peer support programs and maintaining independence.

Peer to peer (P2P) support has been suggested as one community program that may promote aging in place. We sought to understand challenges older adults have maintaining their independence and to identify how P2P support facilitates independence. We completed 17 semi-structured interviews with older adults receiving P2P support in 3 cities in the United States.