Geriatrics Research Round Up
August, 2021
Dear Readers,
In this issue of the NCEAS Research and Resources Roundup, we explore critical health issues related to Geriatrics, a branch of medicine and social science related to health of older adults. The population clock on August 1, 2021 records the total population of United States of America at 332,580,620. According to demographic data, approximately 16% of the population comprises persons 65 years and older. The population estimates show 30.2% increase in the 65-and-older age group since 2010. By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans, or 72.7 million, will be aged 65 years or older, and by 2050, the number of adults aged 65 years or older in the United States is projected to reach 83.7 million. Population estimates continue to affirm that aging across race groups differs, and social determinants of health, including income, differ by gender and race.
The growing number of older adults in the United States population has placed unprecedented demands on aging services and public health and health care systems. The rapid growth in the number of older adults is significant because aging is associated with the onset of many chronic conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Additionally, the number of geriatrics-trained health professionals has not kept pace with the growing number of older adults and this gap is expected to widen. The lack of an appropriately trained primary care health workforce creates a serious quality gap in health care access and delivery for older adults. Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic has augmented historic health disparities and added to the vulnerability of older adults.
Providing patient- and family-centered care to address physical and mental health needs of the growing number of older adults in the United States is a national public health priority. We share recent evidence to shape and guide health care practice, education and public health policy efforts to support the health and well-being of older adults.
Memoona Hasnain, MD, MHPE, PhD
Editor, NCEAS Research and Resources Roundup
References:
- Administration for Community Living. (2021). 2020 Profile of Older Americans. Retrieved August 1, 2021. https://acl.gov/aging-and-disability-in-america/data-and-research/profile-older-americans
Below you will find the list of journal publications. Click here to view each resource in detail.
Journal Publications
- Hwang J, Catalina T, Chen J, Shah D, Gustafson D, Mares M. Effects of Web-Based Social Connectedness on Older Adults’ Depressive Symptoms: A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Panel Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2021; ;23(1):e21275
- Kim H, Tamare A, Cray H, Trueba A, Forester B, Vahia I. A Pilot Program for Training Older Adults to use Telemedicine for Outpatient Geriatric Psychiatry. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2021-04-01, Volume 29, Issue 4, Pages S104-S104.
- Powell T, Bellin E, Ehrlich AR. Older Adults and Covid-19: The Most Vulnerable, the Hardest Hit. Hastings Cent Rep. 2020 May;50(3):61-63. doi: 10.1002/hast.1136. PMID: 32596888.
- Quigley DD, Dick A, Agarwal M, Jones KM, Mody L, Stone PW. COVID-19 Preparedness in Nursing Homes in the Midst of the Pandemic. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020 Jun;68(6):1164-1166. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16520. Epub 2020 May 12. PMID: 32343362; PMCID: PMC7267170.
- Simpson CL, Kovarik CL. Effectively engaging geriatric patients via teledermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Dec;83(6):e417-e418. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.05.118. Epub 2020 Jun 1. PMID: 32497703.
- Sloane PD, Yearby R, Konetzka RT, Li Y, Espinoza R, Zimmerman S. Addressing Systemic Racism in Nursing Homes: A Time for Action. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2021 Apr;22(4):886-892. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.02.023. Epub 2021 Mar 26. PMID: 33775548.
- Nearing KA, Lum HD, Dang S, Powers B, McLaren J, Gately M, Hung W, Moo L. National Geriatric Network Rapidly Addresses Trainee Telehealth Needs in Response to COVID-19. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020 Sep;68(9):1907-1912. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16704. Epub 2020 Aug 3. PMID: 32639578; PMCID: PMC7361851.
- Behrens LL, Naylor MD. “We are Alone in This Battle”: A Framework for a Coordinated Response to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes. J Aging Soc Policy. 2020 Jul-Oct;32(4-5):316-322. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2020.1773190. Epub 2020 Jun 4. PMID: 32497467; PMCID: PMC7495491.
- Truong, K.; Ishibashi, O.; Schickedanz, H. Patient and provider voices in the geriatrics navigator program. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ; 69(SUPPL 1):S245-S246, 2021.
- Young H, Quinn W, Brassard A, Gualtieri C, Reinhard S. COVID-19 Pandemic Spurs Policy Changes Benefiting Older Adults. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 2020. Vol. 46, No. 6
- Lewis EG, Breckons M, Lee RP, Dotchin C, Walker R. Rationing care by frailty during the COVID-19 pandemic, Age and Ageing, Volume 50, Issue 1, January 2021, Pages 7–10, https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaa171
- Iyer S, Mehta P, Weith J, Hoang-Gia D, Moore J, Carlson C, Choe P, Sakai E, Gould C. Converting a Geriatrics Clinic to Virtual Visits during COVID-19: A Case Study. J Prim Care Community Health. 2021 Jan-Dec;12:21501327211000235. doi: 10.1177/21501327211000235. PMID: 33729044; PMCID: PMC7975524.
- Hubbard RE, Maier AB, Hilmer SN, Naganathan V, Etherton-Beer C, Rockwood K. Frailty in the face of COVID-19. Age Ageing. 2020 Jul 1;49(4):499-500. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaa095. PMID: 32374368; PMCID: PMC7239250.
- Battisti NML, Mislang AR, Cooper L, O’Donovan A, Audisio RA, Cheung KL, Sarrió RG, Stauder R, Soto-Perez-de-Celis E, Jaklitsch M, Williams GR, O’Hanlon S, Alam M, Cairo C, Colloca G, Gil LA Jr, Sattar S, Kantilal K, Russo C, Lichtman SM, Brain E, Kanesvaran R, Wildiers H. Adapting care for older cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) COVID-19 Working Group. J Geriatr Oncol. 2020 Nov;11(8):1190-1198. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.07.008. Epub 2020 Jul 16. PMID: 32709495; PMCID: PMC7365054.
- Oh-Park M, Lew HL, Raghavan P. Telerehabilitation for Geriatrics. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2021 May;32(2):291-305.
- Lam K, Lu AD, Shi Y, Covinsky KE. Assessing Telemedicine Unreadiness Among Older Adults in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(10):1389–1391. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2671
- Farrell TW, Francis L, Brown T, Ferrante LE, Widera E, Rhodes R, Rosen T, Hwang U, Witt LJ, Thothala N, Liu SW, Vitale CA, Braun UK, Stephens C, Saliba D. Rationing Limited Healthcare Resources in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond: Ethical Considerations Regarding Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020 Jun;68(6):1143-1149. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16539. PMID: 32374466; PMCID: PMC7267288.