Maria Aranda 
Executive Director of the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute Associate Professor of Social Work | USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES
Research interests address interplay between chronic illness, social resources & psychological well-being in low-income minority populations
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Biography
María P. Aranda is an associate professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the executive director of the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging. She holds a joint appointment with the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and is a psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience providing mental health services to middle-aged and older adults and their families.
Dr. Aranda developed the first Spanish-language support group for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. She is well-known among community leaders for establishing model support programs such as the El Portal Latino Alzheimer's Project, Programa Esperanza, and Siempre Viva for individuals and families in East Los Angeles affected by depression and Alzheimer disease.
Her research specializations address the unique needs of middle age and older adults with co-occurring medical and psychiatric illnesses, and the caregiving families who provide them with love and care. She focuses on psychosocial intervention development, and evaluation of bilingual, evidence-based interventions on behalf of adults with chronic medical conditions and disabilities.
She has received funding for her research from NIA, NCI, PCORI, the Southern California-CTSI, The John A. Hartford Foundation/GSA, the National Institute of Rehabilitation and Research, the Alzheimer’s Association/HRSA, the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, and the California Community Foundation.
Dr. Aranda has served on four consensus committees of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the geriatric workforce in mental health and substance use service sectors, family caregiving to older adults with functional limitations, financial capacity determination among social security beneficiaries, and functional assessment for adults with disabilities.
She is also an expert on the Caregiving Advisory Panel for AARP and a fellow of The Gerontological Society of America, the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging.
To reference the work of Maria Aranda online, we ask that you directly quote their work where possible and attribute it to "Maria Aranda, a faculty at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work” (LINK: https://dworakpeck.usc.edu)
Education (4)
University of Southern California: PhD 1995
University of Southern California: MPA 1991
University of Southern California: MSW 1982
California State University, Los Angeles: BSW 1979
Areas of Expertise (8)
Aging
Alzheimer's Disease
Dementia
Caregiving
Family Caregiving
Mental Health
Behavioral Health
Diversity/Cross Cultural
Industry Expertise (2)
Research
Education/Learning
Accomplishments (11)
Member, Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles (professional)
2018-present
Member, Board of Directors of St. Barnabas Senior Services (professional)
2017-present
Appointed Member, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Committee on Functional Assessment for Adults with Disabilities (professional)
2017-present
Appointed Member, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Committee on Family Caregiving for Older Adults (professional)
2015-2016
Appointed Member, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Committee to Evaluate the Social Security Administration’s Capability Determination Process for Adult Beneficiaries (professional)
2015-2016
Leadership and Advocacy Award, California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (professional)
2013
Appointed Member, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Committee on Mental Health Workforce for Geriatric Populations (professional)
2011-12
Summer Biomarker Institute: Cells to Society (C2S): The Center on Social Disparities and Health at the Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University (professional)
2011
Social Worker Award, AltaMed Health Services Corp., Los Angeles, CA (professional)
2011
Chair and Member, 2010 Aging Achievement Award, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging for “The State of Aging and Health Among Latino Elders" (professional)
2010
CIBER Global Immersion Program in Social Work, University of Southern California (professional)
2010
Affiliations (10)
- Fellow, Gerontological Society of America
- Member, American Society on Aging
- Member, AARP
- Member, Society for Social Work Research
- Member, National Association of Social Workers
- Member, Council on Social Work Education
- Member, Association of Latino Social Work Educators
- Member, American Association of Hispanic Psychiatrists
- Director, Education and Engagement Core of the USC Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC)
- Co-Director, Education Core, USC Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR)
Links (1)
Languages (2)
- English
- Spanish
Media Appearances (5)
USC Doctor Researches Depression and Disability in Aging Latinos
NBC Los Angeles online
2017-07-23
University of Southern California associate professor Dr. Maria Aranda never left the east side of Los Angeles, a community where she was born and raised and where she's now doing research aimed at helping an older generation of Latinos. "I see the immense need in our community," Aranda said. Older Latinos suffer higher rates of severe depression and disability and are less likely to get quality treatment, she said.
El Alzheimer se ensaña con los latinos
Noticias Telemundo tv
2017-06-16
Según un estudio de la Universidad de California, el mal crece vertiginosamente entre los latinos y hasta 2060 unos 3,5 millones padecerán de la enfermedad
Como en su casa, dos médicos de USC regresan al Este de L.A. para mitigar depresión y Alzheimer
Hoy Los Angeles online
2017-06-08
El Este de Los Ángeles le resulta familiar a María Aranda y William Vega; ambos expertos en siquiatría y profesores de la Universidad del Sur de California (USC) nacieron en este vecindario, y ahora regresan para dirigir un estudio científico que busca combatir las enfermedades mentales.
Se dispararía Alzheimer entre latinos. Además, Los latinos viven más: por qué?
Radio Bilingüe radio
2016-10-12
En el primer estudio de su tipo, investigadores advierten que los números de latinos que viven con la enfermedad de Alzheimer pudieran escalar astronómicamente en las próximas décadas y las familias están sumamente impreparadas para lidiar con la enorme factura. Llaman a invertir más en investigación médica entre los latinos, ya que aunque están más en riesgo, son los menos diagnosticados con Alzheimer.
Feria de salud en LA con el encanto de lowriders
La Opinión print
2013-06-23
El Instituto de Gerontología Edward R. Roybal organizó ayer una feria de salud gratuita para hombres, en el campus de la USC y con motivo del Mes de Concientización de Salud Masculina. El certámen contó con la participación de distintas organizaciones de salud y comunitarias, así como profesionales de la salud de escuelas de USC, como farmacia, odontología y medicina. “Estamos enfocándonos en los caballeros, porque vemos que ellos tardan en recibir servicios médicos para prevenir condiciones o tratar condiciones que ya han surgido”, dijo María Aranda, doctora en Trabajo Social, del Instituto de Gerontología Roybal. “El hombre, más que la mujer, es más propenso a morir de las primeras 10 enfermedades mortales, como el mal de Alzheimer y derrames cerebrales, entre otras”, dijo Aranda.
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
Research Grants (3)
Programa Esperanza (Project Hope)
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) $1,500,000
2014-2018 The primary aim of the study is to test the comparative effectiveness of Programa Esperanza (Program Hope) and enhanced usual care (EUC). Programa Esperanza is a short-term, culturally modified psychosocial intervention for Spanish-speaking Latino patients 55 years of age or older with depression and multiple medical conditions. Our long-term goal is to widely disseminate the results and actionable steps needed to increase the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based behavioral health practices for low-income, Limited-English-speaking geriatric populations.
Caregiving to Diverse Families in Los Angeles County
California Community Foundation $100,000
2015-2018 Los Angeles County is home to upwards of 30,000 informal caregivers of older adults—one of the largest group of caregivers in the nation. Today, almost 30% of Los Angeles County is Latino, and 73% speak English less than “very well.” Several Los Angeles County-based non-profit organizations are funded to provide services to this target population in the form of information and referral, caregiver intervention programs, and/or respite care. The research team will test a pilot psychosocial intervention aimed at increasing family caregiver physical and psychological well-being. Based on the intervention, the team will pilot the intervention with English- and Spanish-speaking family caregivers in Los Angeles County.
Enhanced Geriatric Depression Treatment in Adult Day Health Care
National Institute of Mental Health $452,442
2009-2012 The major goal of the project was to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of adding individually administered Problem Solving Therapy (PST) to enhanced usual care as an approach for treating depression in adult day health care (ADHC) for predominantly low-income Latinos with depression and significant comorbid medical illnesses.
Research Articles & Publications (8)
Discrimination, Serious Psychological Distress, and Church-Based Emotional Support Among African American Men Across the Life Span
The Journals of GerontologyAnn W. Nguyen Linda M. Chatters Robert Joseph Taylor María P. Aranda Karen D. Lincoln Courtney S. Thomas
2017 This study tested whether church-based social support buffers the negative effects of discrimination on serious psychological distress (SPD) among three age groups—early, middle, and late adulthood—of African American men.
Descriptions of depression and depression treatment in older Hispanic immigrants in a geriatric collaborative care program
Aging & Mental HealthDavid Camacho, Elena Estrada, Isabel T. Lagomasino, Maria P. Aranda & Jennifer Green
2017 Findings revealed that participants used various idioms to describe their experiences with depression, and that depression had a strong impact on functioning. Other findings indicated that depression was caused by various psychosocial problems, antidepressants were helpful in reducing depression, and that bilingual psychotherapists provided a welcoming and safe environment to express emotions and find solutions to problems.
Promotora assisted depression and self-care management among predominantly Latinos with concurrent chronic illness: Safety net care system clinical trial results
Contemporary Clinical TrialsKathleen Ell, Maria P. Aranda, Shinyi Wu, Hyunsung Oh, Pey-Jiuan Lee, Jeffrey Guterman
2017 The study evaluated depression and self-care management among patients with diabetes and/or heart disease in a 12-month randomized trial conducted in Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LAC-DHS) community clinics. We compared LAC-DHS clinic usual care (UC) versus A-Helping-Hand (AHH) intervention in which bilingual promotoras, hired and supervised by the research project, provided 6 weekly psychoeducational sessions followed by boosters.
For Their Financial Benefit: Determination of Financial Capability for Adult Beneficiaries of Social Security Disability
Social WorkJulie Birkenmaier, María Aranda, Paul S. Appelbaum, Marc A. Norman
2017 More than 17 million disabled Americans receive financial benefits from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) through the Supplemental Security Income or the Social Security Disability Insurance programs, or both. Taken together, 3.5 million disabled adults are appointed a representative payee who receives and manages their SSA benefits because they have been determined not to be financially capable (that is, able to manage or direct the management of his or her social security funds) (SSA, 2015). Instead, an approved payee receives and disburses the SSA payments to ensure that the beneficiary's basic needs of shelter, food, and clothing are met.
Re-Engagement into Care: The Role of Social Support on Service Use for Recurrent Episodes of Mental Health Distress Among Primary Care Patients
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & ResearchMarissa C. Hansen, Dahlia Fuentes, Maria P. Aranda
2017 Given high rates of relapse of depression, understanding mechanisms that provide long-term benefits and optimal outcomes for depressed individuals is crucial. The current study examines social support as a relevant component in service use to manage mental health needs for individuals with recurrent depression over a 5-year period. Conducting a secondary data analysis from a randomized clinical trial titled Partners in Care, the study examines direct and moderating effects over two time points of reported 12-month social support on service use for mental health needs at 57-months for an adult sample (n = 991).
The protective effect of neighborhood composition on increasing frailty among older Mexican Americans: a barrio advantage?
Journal of Aging and HealthMaría P. Aranda, Laura A. Ray, Soham Al Snih, Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, Kyriakos S. Markides
2011 Respondents at risk of increasing frailty live in a less ethnically dense Mexican-American neighborhood, are older, do not have private insurance or Medicare, have higher levels of medical conditions, have lower levels of cognitive functioning, and report less positive affect.
Can the Family Still Cope? Social Support and Health As Determinants of Nursing Home Use in the Older Mexican-Origin Population
Journal of Aging and HealthJacqueline L. Angel, Ronald J. Angel, Maria P. Aranda, Toni P. Miles
2004 The findings reveal that advanced age, being a man, activities of daily living disability, and cognitive impairment are strong predictors of institutionalization and death. Living with family, arriving in the United States in late life, and access to social support independently decreased the probability of dying in a nursing home.
El Portal Latino Alzheimer's Project: model program for Latino caregivers of Alzheimer's disease-affected people
Social WorkMaría P. Aranda, Valentine M. Villa, Laura Trejo, Rosa Ramírez, Martha Ranney
2003 The article describes the El Portal Latino Alzheimer's Project--a dementia-specific outreach and services program targeting Latino caregivers in the Los Angeles County area. The project is an example of an interorganizational community-based collaborative developed to provide an array of coordinated, ethnic-sensitive services to Latino dementia-affected adults and their family caregivers, using culturally specific outreach and services delivery strategies.
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