This Lightning Talk will describe and introduce a pilot research study using the Liberating Loneliness Program, a novel occupational therapy (OT) intervention, to address loneliness and chronic disease management among older adults in the primary care setting. The primary care setting is often fast-paced and requires the expertise and coordination of multiple professionals to provide the best quality of care. In addition, loneliness is a complex condition to address, as each person’s situation is unique. This intervention takes a holistic approach and requires building a relationship between…

The Lightning Talk will focus on my occupational therapy doctoral capstone research conducted at the Jefferson Center for Healthy Aging, a geriatric primary care clinic in Philadelphia. The project aimed to reduce caregiver burden and increase caregiver self-efficacy by utilizing Skills2Care- Primary Care, a modified version of the evidence-based practice Skills2Care. Skills2Care is a non-pharmacologic occupational therapy intervention for caregivers of individuals with dementia. The study explores the novel approach of utilizing Skills2Care for an expanded sample of caregivers of patients…