Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Elderly African Americans in Milwaukee

Providing COVID-19 education and testing for elderly African Americans in congregate living situations in Milwaukee

Full Project Name:Intervention to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 in Elderly African Americans in MilwaukeePrincipal Investigator:Leonard Egede, MD, Center fo Advancing Population ScienceCo-Investigator(s):Aprill Z. Dawson, PhD, Medicine
Rebekah J. Walker, PhD, Medicine
Joni S. Williams, MD, MPH, MedicineAward Amount:$508,388

Award Date

April2020

Project Duration:6 months

Project Summary:

In Milwaukee, African Americans living in senior housing, assisted living, nursing homes or homeless shelters are at especially high risk for COVID-19. Older adults are a vulnerable population likely to have multiple comorbidities increasing their risk of experiencing complications or mortality due to COIVD-19. Current COVID-19 data for Milwaukee shows that 51% of confirmed cases are in individuals ages 50 and older; 32% are in individuals ages 60 and older. A hotspot has emerged in the city’s northside, with potential to spread across the city if effective measures are not taken.

This project aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by establishing a program to educate and test elderly African Americans living in senior housing, assisted living, nursing homes or homeless shelters located in Milwaukee’s northside.

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Provided 721 free oral and nasopharyngeal COVID-19 tests and 720 antibody screening tests to older African Americans