scholarly journals Strategies for Developing an Inclusive Geriatric Physician Workforce for Older Adults in the U.S

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 767-768
Author(s):  
Brandy Wallace ◽  
Leanne Clark-Shirley ◽  
Pallavi Podapati

Abstract The “geriatric imperative” has been part of the aging discourse for more than 30 years but neither geriatric practice nor older adults are homogenous. As the U.S. population ages, elders will become more racially and ethnically diverse; and, their health outcomes will be shaped by lifetime experiences with systemic discrimination and racism. Already, COVID-19 has made clear that older adults and non-Whites, particularly African Americans and Hispanics, disproportionately bear the burden of disease and illness. Research suggests health disparities will continue unless there is change within the health care system. The Institute of Medicine (2001) reported on the problematic nature of the stark contrast between the diversity of patients and the physicians caring for them, including issues with patient trust and communication, yet no significant movement has been made to diversify the physician workforce. Despite being 13% and 16% of the U.S. population, respectively, African Americans and Hispanics make up just 5% and 6% of the practicing physician workforce. Further, practicing geriatricians represent less than 1% of physicians with very few physicians of color. There is a need for more African American and Hispanic geriatricians. In this systematic review, we examine recruitment and retention efforts targeting students of color, and curricula of geriatric medical programs in the U.S. We offer recommendations toward incentivizing physicians of color to enter geriatrics, strategies to support decolonization of geriatric medical curricula in undergraduate medical education programs, and the development of mentorship and pipeline programs to increase diversity in the geriatric physician workforce.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S274-S275
Author(s):  
Kyeongmo Kim ◽  
Michin Hong ◽  
Giyeon Kim

Abstract Advance care planning (ACP) has positive effects on the quality of end-of-life of older adults. Given the influence of environmental factors on health and behavioral health behaviors among older adults, geographic variations may exist in engagement in ACP. This study examined whether 1) there was a regional variation in engagement in ACP and 2) there was a racial/ethnic difference in ACP across regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). Drawn from the 2012 National Health and Aging Trends Study, 2,015 Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S. were included in analyses. Results from logistic regression analysis showed that older adults living in the West (OR=1.66, p=0.003) and the Midwest (OR=1.39, p=0.032) were more likely to be engaged in ACP compared to those living in the South. African Americans (OR=0.31, p<0.001), Hispanics (OR=0.30, p<0.001), and other races (OR=0.49, p=0.04) were less likely than their white counterparts to be engaged in ACP. We also conducted four separate logistic regression analyses by regions. In the Northeast, Midwest, and South, African Americans were less likely to be engaged in ACP compared to whites. In the West, Hispanics were less likely to be engaged in ACP compared to whites. Findings from this study provide a clear picture of racial/ethnic disparities in ACP across different regions in the U.S., suggesting where to target for future interventions to improve engagement in ACP among racial/ethnic minorities. Future research should be conducted at lower levels of geographic areas to find modifiable geographic factors to improve engagement in ACP among older adults.


Author(s):  
James L. Gibson ◽  
Michael J. Nelson

We have investigated the differences in support for the U.S. Supreme Court among black, Hispanic, and white Americans, catalogued the variation in African Americans’ group attachments and experiences with legal authorities, and examined how those latter two factors shape individuals’ support for the U.S. Supreme Court, that Court’s decisions, and for their local legal system. We take this opportunity to weave our findings together, taking stock of what we have learned from our analyses and what seem like fruitful paths for future research. In the process, we revisit Positivity Theory. We present a modified version of the theory that we hope will guide future inquiry on public support for courts, both in the United States and abroad.


Author(s):  
Amanda Porterfield

Proponents of social evolution blurred boundaries between commerce and Christianity after the Civil War, championing Christian work as a means to economic growth, republican liberty, and national prosperity. Meanwhile, workers invoked Christ to condemn patronizing attitudes toward labor, and by organizing labor unions to hold capitalists accountable to Pauline ideals of social membership. Influenced by organic theories of social organization that traced modern corporations to medieval institutions, U.S. courts began recognizing corporations as natural persons protected by rights guaranteed in the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which had originally be crafted to protect the rights of African Americans.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 506-506
Author(s):  
Rodlescia Sneed

Abstract African-Americans are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Longer prison stays and release programs for older prisoners may result in an increased number of community-dwelling older adults with a history of incarceration. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in research on health-related outcomes for currently incarcerated older adults; however, there has been little inquiry into outcomes for formerly incarcerated African-American older adults following community re-entry. In this study, we used secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study to describe employment, economic, and health-related outcomes in this population. Twelve percent of the 2238 African-Americans in our sample had been previously incarcerated. Those who had been previously incarcerated had higher rates of lung disease, arthritis, back problems, mobility problems, and mental health issues than their counterparts. They also had higher rates of hospitalization and lower use of dental health services. Further, while they did not experience lower employment rates than those with no criminal history, those who had been incarcerated had more physically demanding jobs and reported greater economic strain. Given the disproportionate incarceration rates among African-Americans, the aging of the prison population, and the increase in community re-entry for older prisoners, research that explores factors that impact the health and well-being of formerly incarcerated individuals has broad impact. Future work should focus on addressing the needs of this vulnerable population of African-American older adults.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 930-930
Author(s):  
Tara Rose ◽  
Elyse Manzo ◽  
Katherine Erickson ◽  
Joshua Valenzuela

Abstract Music interventions and music therapy have become more common globally as nonpharmacological treatment options for memory loss, pain management, reduction of behavioral and psychological symptoms, and increased quality of life. Knowledge of multiethnic interventions is important when creating evidence-based programs within culturally diverse countries, such as the U.S. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze music interventions for older adults across the globe to better understand emerging best practices. A review of all trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov and registries in the WHO Registry Network containing the key words “music therapy” were included, regardless of intervention type. Of the 627 studies generated, 449 met the eligibility criteria, with 11% enrolling only older adults and 89% enrolling older adults along with other age groups. Studies were conducted in 6 continents, 48 countries (23% in the U.S.), and in 23 languages. Music interventions for specific medical conditions (64%) or medical procedures (24%) were the primary foci in studies. While studies crossed multiple continents, less than 2% referenced ethnicity or culture in the study details. Detailed data on intervention types, demographics, measures, settings, and methodology will be presented. Results suggest that best practices in music therapy are being developed world-wide for the multitude of health challenges faced by older adults and demonstrate the diversity of music interventions in both medical and community settings. Information from this review can be used to improve the implementation of music intervention programs and may be particularly beneficial in countries with diverse multicultural populations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 799-800
Author(s):  
Bei Wu ◽  
Stephen Shuman ◽  
Elisa Ghezzi

Abstract Oral health status and dental care utilization is strongly associated with social and behavioral factors and health outcomes. The five papers in this symposium address how several of these factors affect oral health and dental care among diverse groups of older adults. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, the first paper examined the impact of early childhood disadvantages on oral health in later life among adults age 51 and above in the U.S. The second paper used large-scale epidemiological data that addressed the relationship between acculturation and subsequent oral health problems. It also tested the moderating role of neighborhood disorder in such a relationship among older Chinese Americans. The third paper demonstrated the importance of examining different pathways among foreign-born and native-born Chinese older adults with regard to offspring’s support on their oral health outcomes. While increasing evidence shows that cognitive function is associated with oral health, limited studies have been conducted to examine the impact of cognitive impairment, e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and related dementias (RD), on dental care utilization and costs in older adults. The fourth paper aimed to address this knowledge gap. Results showed that AD and RD had different impacts on different types of dental care utilization and costs. The fifth paper further displayed that individuals with cognitive impairment face a significant challenge in handling dental-related medications. This symposium provides policy and clinical implications on improving oral health and dental care utilization among older adults in the U.S. Oral Health Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 681-681
Author(s):  
Rita Choula

Abstract Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 oversampled African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and people over the age of 75. Six in ten caregivers report being non-Hispanic white, 17% are Hispanic, 14% non-Hispanic African-American or black, 5% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 3% some other race or ethnicity, including multiracial. The session will emphasize the unique context of diverse caregivers, including African American, Hispanic, Asian, and LGBT+ caregivers. The session will begin by discussing the portrait of the typical caregiver of each of these groups. It will follow with a discussion of the challenges facing diverse caregivers in the aggregate and the opportunities to recognize and support them across settings.


Author(s):  
Shytierra Gaston

African Americans are disproportionately victimized by various forms of racialized violence. This long-standing reality is rooted in America’s history of racist violence, one manifestation being racial lynchings. This article investigates the long-term, intergenerational consequences of racial lynchings by centering the voices and experiences of victims’ families. The data comprise in-depth interviews with twenty-two descendants of twenty-two victims lynched between 1883 and 1972 in the U.S. South. I employed a multistage qualitative analysis, revealing three main domains of harmful impacts: psychological, familial, and economic. The findings underscore that racist violence has imposed harm beyond victims and for many decades and generations after the violent event. These long-term, intergenerational harms, especially if multiplied across countless incidents, can fundamentally impact the well-being of individuals, families, and communities as well as contribute to structural and macrolevel forces. Findings from this study have implications for research, policy, and practice, including efforts toward redress and reparations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 849-849
Author(s):  
Fang Yu ◽  
Dereck Salisbury ◽  
Tom Plocher

Abstract Delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease by five years could save the U.S. ~$89 billion by 2030. Aerobic exercise and cognitive training are two promising interventions for AD prevention and the two together may have a synergistic cognitive effect than either alone. The purposes of this study were to develop an integrated virtual-reality cognitive training (VRCT) and cycling intervention known as exergame and test its feasibility in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The VRCT included grocery shopping from a list, flower shopping from a list, dinnerware sorting, book sorting, and postage estimation. Twelve participants enrolled in the 1-month program (12 sessions) achieved 81.2% session adherence and 81.4% adherence to the exercise prescription. The exergame was well accepted by 75% of the participants and 100% were satisfied with the exergame quality and delivery. To conclude, exergame is a flexible intervention that is feasible for older adults with SCD.


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