scholarly journals MEDICAL CANNABIS USE: EXPLORING THE PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF OLDER ADULTS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S258-S258
Author(s):  
Lydia K Manning ◽  
Lauren M Bouchard
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Older Adult Population

Abstract The past decade has witnessed an increased interest in the therapeutic properties of cannabis, and a growing body of research illustrates the varied uses of cannabis-based medicines for diverse symptoms, syndromes, disorder and both acute and chronic conditions, many of which are associated with advanced age (Lucas et. al, 2016). While the use of medical cannabis is on the rise in the older adult population (Kaskie et. al, 2017), more research is needed to advance the discourse on medical cannabis. With this study, we investigate older adult’s perceptions and experiences of medical cannabis use to treat and/or manage chronic conditions, specifically as a substitute for prescription drugs. Our findings suggest that older adults are open to medical cannabis as an alternative to pharmaceutical. Additionally, narratives revealed that users are hopeful that medical cannabis will provide relief with regard to the management of symptoms and relief of pain. Participants discussed their awareness and ability to manage issues related to stigma both from their primary care providers as well as family and friends. Furthermore, older adults described the frustrations with a lack of education, awareness, and support with dosing. Findings are presented as an interpretation of the participants’ perceptions of their medical cannabis use. Implications for putting medical cannabis use into everyday practice as well as policy implications are considered.

scholarly journals Implementation of an Opioid and Benzodiazepine Deprescribing Program for Older Adults in an Outpatient Setting

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 906-906
Author(s):  
Lori Armistead ◽  
Jan Busby-Whitehead ◽  
Stefanie Ferreri ◽  
Cristine Henage ◽  
Tamera Hughes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Outpatient Setting ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Risk Of Falls

Abstract The United States spends $50 billion each year on 2.8 million injuries and 800,000 hospitalizations older adults (age 65 years and older) incur as the result of falls. Chronic use of central nervous system (CNS)-active medications, such as opioid and/or benzodiazepine (BZD) medications, increases the risk of falls and falls-related injuries in this older adult population. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded randomized control trial uses electronic health record (EHR) data from primary care outpatient clinics to identify older adult patients at risk for falls due to chronic opioid or BZD use. The primary program aim is to test the efficacy of a targeted consultant pharmacist service to reduce the dose burden of these medications in the targeted population. Impact of this intervention on the risk of falls in this population will also be assessed. Licensed clinical pharmacists will review at-risk patients’ medical records weekly and make recommendations through the EHR to primary care providers for opioid or BZD dose adjustments, alternate medications, and/or adjunctive therapies to support deprescribing for approximately 1265 patients in the first two cohorts of intervention clinics. One thousand three hundred eighty four patients in the control clinics will receive usual care. Outcome measures will include reduction or discontinuation of opioids and BZDs and falls risk reduction as measured by the Stop Elderly Accidents, Death and Injuries (STEADI) Questionnaire. Primary care provider adoption of pharmacists’ recommendations and satisfaction with the consult service will also be reported.

scholarly journals Innovations in Gerontology Education: A Multifaceted Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 545-546
Author(s):  
Melissa O’Connor ◽  
Melissa O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Multifaceted Approach ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Older Adult Population

Abstract By 2030, older adults are projected to outnumber children. This growth among older adults presents both opportunities and challenges on how to care for this unprecedented older adult population. In 2010, there were 7.2 family caregivers for every person 80 and older; this is expected to fall to 3 by 2050. Many older adults are at risk of becoming an elder orphan - someone aging alone with no family available to address their caregiving needs. This underscores the urgent need for the education of nurses who are prepared to care for older adults with complex social and health needs, many of whom are suffering from three to five chronic conditions. This symposium highlights cutting-edge research designed to transform nursing education to better prepare students to advance the health of older adults. Our first presentation describes ageism among undergraduate students and innovative curricula to positively influence their preference for working with older adults. Next, the groundbreaking tool-kit that encourages self-reflection on beliefs about aging and reframes how students view older adults. Third, the qualitative results of a collaborative learning experience designed to introduce students earlier and more often to older adults. Finally, findings from a student-led study investigating the unique needs of caregivers of older adults with diabetes highlights the importance of funding students to conduct research related to older adults. Our symposium ends with a discussion of how these approaches are transforming nursing education to adequately prepare nurses to improve the health and health care of older adults.

scholarly journals Multimorbidity patterns and their relationship to mortality in the US older adult population

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245053
Author(s):  
D. Diane Zheng ◽  
David A. Loewenstein ◽  
Sharon L. Christ ◽  
Daniel J. Feaster ◽  
Byron L. Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Cognitively Impaired ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Respiratory Condition ◽  
The Us ◽  
Older Adult Population

Background Understanding patterns of multimorbidity in the US older adult population and their relationship with mortality is important for reducing healthcare utilization and improving health. Previous investigations measured multimorbidity as counts of conditions rather than specific combination of conditions. Methods This cross-sectional study with longitudinal mortality follow-up employed latent class analysis (LCA) to develop clinically meaningful subgroups of participants aged 50 and older with different combinations of 13 chronic conditions from the National Health Interview Survey 2002–2014. Mortality linkage with National Death Index was performed through December 2015 for 166,126 participants. Survival analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between LCA classes and all-cause mortality and cause specific mortalities. Results LCA identified five multimorbidity groups with primary characteristics: “healthy” (51.5%), “age-associated chronic conditions” (33.6%), “respiratory conditions” (7.3%), “cognitively impaired” (4.3%) and “complex cardiometabolic” (3.2%). Covariate-adjusted survival analysis indicated “complex cardiometabolic” class had the highest mortality with a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 5.30, 99.5% CI [4.52, 6.22]; followed by “cognitively impaired” class (3.34 [2.93, 3.81]); “respiratory condition” class (2.14 [1.87, 2.46]); and “age-associated chronic conditions” class (1.81 [1.66, 1.98]). Patterns of multimorbidity classes were strongly associated with the primary underlying cause of death. The “cognitively impaired” class reported similar number of conditions compared to the “respiratory condition” class but had significantly higher mortality (3.8 vs 3.7 conditions, HR = 1.56 [1.32, 1.85]). Conclusion We demonstrated that LCA method is effective in classifying clinically meaningful multimorbidity subgroup. Specific combinations of conditions including cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms have a substantial detrimental impact on the mortality of older adults. The numbers of chronic conditions experienced by older adults is not always proportional to mortality risk. Our findings provide valuable information for identifying high risk older adults with multimorbidity to facilitate early intervention to treat chronic conditions and reduce mortality.

scholarly journals Communication between healthcare providers and medical cannabis patients regarding referral and medication substitution

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin F. Boehnke ◽  
Evangelos Litinas ◽  
Brianna Worthing ◽  
Lisa Conine ◽  
Daniel J. Kruger
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Physician Education ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Medical Cannabis ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background People report using cannabis as a substitute for prescription medications but may be doing so without the knowledge of their primary health care providers (PCPs). This lack of integration creates serious concerns, e.g., using cannabis to treat medical conditions that have established treatment options. Methods We conducted an anonymous, cross-sectional online survey among patrons of a medical cannabis dispensary in Michigan (n = 275) to examine aspects of their relationship with their PCP and their perceptions of PCP knowledge related to cannabis. Results Overall, 64% of participants initiated medical cannabis use based on their own experiences vs. 24% citing advice from their PCP. Although 80% reported that their PCP knew they currently used medical cannabis, 41% reported that their PCP had not always known. Only 14% obtained their medical cannabis authorization from their PCP. Only 18% of participants rated their PCP’s knowledge about medical cannabis as very good or excellent and only 21% were very or completely confident in their PCP’s ability to integrate medical cannabis into their treatment. Although 86% had substituted cannabis for pharmaceutical medications, 69% (n = 134) of those who substituted reported some gap in their PCP’s knowledge of their substitution, and 44% (n = 86) reported that their PCP was currently unaware of their substitution. Conclusions Patients frequently substitute cannabis for prescription drugs, often without PCP knowledge. Although most participants disclosed cannabis use to their PCP, their perceptions of PCP knowledge ranged widely and many obtained medical cannabis licensure from an outside physician. Our results highlight the need for standardized physician education around appropriate medical cannabis use.

scholarly journals The Implications of an Aging Undocumented Population in Illinois

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 85-86
Author(s):  
Padraic Stanley ◽  
Brittney Lange-Maia ◽  
Raj Shah
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Public Benefits ◽  
Immigrant Services ◽  
Older Adult Population ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Both academic and public access literature regarding undocumented immigrant older adults is incredibly sparse, and there is no known literature forecasting its growth or the impact of that growth. Therefore, this two-part project commissioned a demographic report to analyze the current undocumented population in Illinois and its projected growth by 2030. We then convened a cross-sector collaborative of leaders in aging, healthcare, immigrant services, and their intersections to discuss the direct practice and structural policy implications of an aging undocumented community. According to this report, the number of undocumented immigrants who are over the age of 55 in Illinois will grow drastically by the year 2030. In fact, the population aged 65 to 74 will increase from 3,392 to 47,271 (more than a twelve-fold increase), and those aged 75-84 will increase from 594 to 7,621 (an eleven-fold increase). Under the current immigration and healthcare systems, without access to Medicaid, Medicare, or any public benefits, these individuals have extremely limited access to services necessary for older adults to age successfully in place—rehab, nursing homes, home health, homemaker services, long-term care, etc. The study also analyzed demographics from the current undocumented older adult population. This poster will summarize the findings of the demographic portion of the report, the themes and findings of the structural and practice implications of an aging undocumented community in Illinois, and provide policy recommendations to prepare for the wave of undocumented older adults by 2030.

scholarly journals HOW TO PREPARE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS FOR THE CARE OF OLDER ADULTS? PARTNER WITH GERONTOLOGY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S298-S298
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Eaton ◽  
Trenton Honda
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
University Of Utah ◽  
Program Of Study ◽  
The University

Abstract Approximately 80% of older adults have chronic illness which requires complex care. Primary care providers require special training to improve the care they provide older adults. As primary care shortages increase, and the older adult population swells, physician assistants (PA) will increasingly be relied upon to provide care and advocacy for older adults. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the development of a dual degree program that facilitates enhanced gerontological training for students pursuing a Masters of PA Studies degree. The Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program and the PA Program at the University of Utah collaborated to assess program objectives, competencies, and coursework, while identifying student interest in this dual MS venture. Students were interested in increasing their skills to meet the growing need for geriatric care while also saving time and money. In addition, it was important that the combined program of study did not overburden students and accommodated participants off-site. Faculty and administrative buy-in was sought from within departments and colleges. Revisions to the proposed program of study included altering course offerings, changing program start dates, and removing course overlap. A 30-month dual MS was developed that incorporates 87 PA Program credits, 25 Gerontology Credits, and 6 credits shared through practicum, geriatric content, and evidence based practice. Students who graduate will complete a Gerontology focused Masters Project that combines their work from the two programs. This dual MS program prepares students to be competitive in the job market, while also targeting an area of need in primary care.

scholarly journals Older Adults’ Perceptions of Supporting Factors of Trust in a Robot Care Provider

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel E. Stuck ◽  
Wendy A. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Care Provider ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Personal Traits ◽  
Household Tasks ◽  
Older Adult Population

The older adult population is increasing worldwide, leading to an increased need for care providers. An insufficient number of professional caregivers will lead to a demand for robot care providers to mitigate this need. Trust is an essential element for older adults and robot care providers to work effectively. Trust is context dependent. Therefore, we need to understand what older adults would need to trust robot care providers, in this specific home-care context. This mixed methods study explored what older adults, who currently receive assistance from caregivers, perceive as supporting trust in robot care providers within four common home-care tasks: bathing, transferring, medication assistance, and household tasks. Older adults reported three main dimensions that support trust: professional skills, personal traits, and communication. Each of these had subthemes including those identified in prior human-robot trust literature such as ability, reliability, and safety. In addition, new dimensions perceived to impact trust emerged such as the robot’s benevolence, the material of the robot, and the companionability of the robot. The results from this study demonstrate that the older adult-robot care provider context has unique dimensions related to trust that should be considered when designing robots for home-care tasks.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs); a leaflet for older adults, and carers: the development of a UTI leaflet for older adults and their carers

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X696833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Ffion Jones ◽  
Emily Cooper ◽  
Cliodna McNulty
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria ◽  
Theoretical Domains Framework ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Tract Infections

BackgroundEscherichia coli bacteraemia rates are rising with highest rates in older adults. Mandatory surveillance identifies previous Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and catheterisation as risk factors.AimTo help control bacteraemias in older frail patients by developing a patient leaflet around the prevention and self-care of UTIs informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework.MethodFocus groups or interviews were held with care home staff, residents and relatives, GP staff and an out of hours service, public panels and stakeholders. Questions explored diagnosis, management, prevention of UTIs and antibiotic use in older adults. The leaflet was modified iteratively. Discussions were transcribed and analysed using Nvivo.ResultsCarers of older adults reported their important role in identifying when older adults might have a UTI, as they usually flag symptoms to nurses or primary care providers. Information on UTIs needs to be presented so residents can follow; larger text and coloured sections were suggested. Carers were optimistic that the leaflet could impact on the way UTIs are managed. Older adults and relatives liked that it provided new information to them. Staff welcomed that diagnostic guidance for UTIs was being developed in parallel; promoting consistent messages. Participants welcomed and helped to word sections on describing asymptomatic bacteriuria simply, preventing UTIs, causes of confusion and when to contact a doctor or nurseConclusionA final UTI leaflet for older adults has been developed informed by the TDF. See the TARGET website www.RCGP.org.uk/targetantibiotics/

scholarly journals Teaching Family Nurse Practitioner Students to Provide Mental Health Care to Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 10-11
Author(s):  
Victoria Grando ◽  
Roy Grando
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorders ◽  
Mental Condition ◽  
Care Providers

Abstract In recent years, FNPs have been challenged to deliver mental health services in the primary care setting. Over half of mental health services are provided in primary care, and one-quarter of all primary care patients have a mental disorder. Moreover, 20% of older adults have a mental or neurological disorder often not diagnosed. Nationally, it is estimated that 17% of older adults commit suicide, 15% have a mental condition, 11% have dementia, and 5% have a serious mental condition. There is a paucity of adequately prepared primary care providers trained in geropsychiatric treatment. A didactic course was developed to instruct FNP students in the skills needed to provide mental health treatment in primary care. We discuss mental illness in the context of culture to ensure that treatment is congruent with a patient’s unique cultural background and experiences. This shapes the patients’ beliefs and behaviors that influence the way they view their condition and what they perceive as acceptable solutions. We then go into detail about the common mental conditions that older adults exhibit. Through the case study method, students learn to identify the presenting problem, protocols for analyzing the case, which includes making differential diagnoses and a treatment plan including initial medications, non-medical treatments, and referral. Students are introduced to the DMS-5 to learn the criteria for mental health diagnosis with an emphasis on suicide, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, substance use disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. We have found that students most often misdiagnose neurocognitive disorders.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document