María P. Aranda led a presentation on “Crossing a Continent and Ocean to Address the Health and Mental Health Needs of Older Adults in Puerto Rico.” Aranda as joined by co-presenters David Camacho, MSW ’10, from the University of Illinois, Chicago, College of Applied Health Sciences, Department of Disability and Human Development; and Álida R. Marrero Hernández, University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, Gerontology Program.

The presentation discussed the formation of a bilingual scientific team across social work and public health researchers from Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland, as well as the collection of qualitative pilot information to elucidate the health, mental health and neurocognitive needs of older adults and their family caregivers in Puerto Rico. Through co-designed, team-building processes, a multi-pronged approach was developed to collect qualitative information based on team meetings, listening sessions, and community events in urban areas of the general metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico.