Suicide in later life is a pressing public health concern, which has likely been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many older adults who need mental health treatment do not have access to necessary services and training for mental health providers to support older adults experiencing suicidality is limited. One solution is developing interventions based in a public health approach to suicide prevention, whereby natural helpers who provide community services are mobilised to respond to older persons-at-risk. Home-delivered meal (HDM) services, for example, are one effective means to reach older adults who are isolated due to being homebound and may be instrumental in preventing suicide. This study examined the experiences of 20 HDM volunteers who received Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), an evidence-based suicide intervention programme. Phenomenological analysis yielded findings centred on three areas demonstrating the impact of the ASIST training on HDM volunteers: putting asist skills into practice; response to ASIST skills; and role transformation. Implications for integrating suicide prevention efforts with HDM services and directions for future research are discussed.

Although resident wellness is increasingly a priority in senior living communities, there are few programs that promote holistic wellness in later life. A total of 79 residents (ages 71 to 97; M = 84.27, SD = 6.46) from eight senior living communities completed a pilot study of a novel, staff-led wellness coaching program consisting of resident-driven goals and individual and group coaching sessions. Participants completed surveys at three time points (pre-program, post-program, and 1-month follow-up). Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed positive changes in resident health satisfaction, physical quality of life (QOL), psychological QOL, loneliness, relatedness, competence, and sense of purpose. Some of these results (i.e., psychological QOL, loneliness) persisted at follow-up. Residents reported high satisfaction with the program. These findings have implications for the application of holistic wellness frameworks in later life, as well as the development and implementation of wellness coaching programs with older adults.