scholarly journals Impact of comorbid mental health needs on racial/ethnic disparities in general medical care utilization among older adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 909-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Jimenez ◽  
Andrew C. Schmidt ◽  
Giyeon Kim ◽  
Benjamin Le Cook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
General Medical Care ◽  
Medical Care Utilization ◽  
Racial Ethnic

SWiFT: A Rapid Triage Tool for Vulnerable Older Adults in Disaster Situations

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (S1) ◽  
pp. S45-S50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmel B. Dyer ◽  
Mor Regev ◽  
Jason Burnett ◽  
Nicolo Festa ◽  
Beth Cloyd
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Rapid Determination ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs

ABSTRACTBackground: In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to parts of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama, causing many people, including vulnerable older adults, to evacuate to safe surroundings. Approximately 23,000 evacuees—many of them 65 years old or older, frail, and lacking family to advocate for their care—arrived at the Reliant Astrodome Complex in Houston, Texas. There was no method for assessing the immediate and long-term needs of this vulnerable population.Methods: A 13-item rapid needs assessment tool was piloted on 228 evacuees 65 years old and older by the Seniors Without Families Team (SWiFT), to test the feasibility of triaging vulnerable older adults with medical and mental health needs, financial needs, and/or social needs.Results: The average age of the individuals triaged was 66.1 ± 12.72 (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) years. Of these, 68% were triaged for medical and or mental health needs, 18% were triaged for financial assistance, and 4% were triaged for social assistance. More than half of the SWiFT-triaged older adults reported having hypertension.Conclusions: The SWiFT tool is a feasible approach for triaging vulnerable older adults and provides a rapid determination of the level of need or assistance necessary for vulnerable older people during disasters. The tool was only piloted, thus further testing to determine reliability and validity is necessary. Potentially important implications for using such a tool and suggestions for preparing for and responding to disaster situations in which vulnerable older adults are involved are provided. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2008;2(Suppl 1):S45–S50)

Body Awareness and Medical Care Utilization Among Older Adults in An HMO

1991 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. S151-S159 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hansell ◽  
G. Sherman ◽  
D. Mechanic
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Body Awareness ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Medical Care Utilization
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