{"title":"PLANNING AHEAD FOR POSTHOSPITALIZATION DISCHARGE NEEDS AMONG OLDER ADULTS","authors":"Jie Chen, Zequan Wang, Angela Starkweather, Ming-Hui Chen, Hongyu Miao, Hyochol Ahn, Xiaomei Cong","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.2584","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2584","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Frequently hospitalized older adults require assistance at discharge – either with transfer to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or additional support at home. Our research has demonstrated that older adults can effectively plan ahead for their discharge needs (e.g., selecting SNFs) prior to hospitalization but some chose not to. Very little is known about what motivates older adults to plan. We sought to identify what variables impact older adults’ post-hospitalization planning. We surveyed a cohort of non-hospitalized adults age 65+ who received PlanYourLifespan.org (PYL), a tool to help older adults plan for their post-hospitalization needs, and then completed follow-up surveys at one month and every 6 months thereafter. Surveys inquire about their post-discharge plans if they were to be hospitalized, specifically rehabilitation/caregiver preferences. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for baseline hospitalization decision-making, sex, race, self-efficacy, living status, cognitive impairment, and PYL use. 293 subjects were enrolled (mean 73.5 yrs,40.4% non-White;12 mo. retention rate 94.5%). Subjects were more likely to have plans if they had increased chronic conditions (OR 1.23;p>0.05,1.02-1.47), increased medications (OR 1.15;p< 0.01,1.07-1.25), power of attorney (OR 1.84;p< 0.05,1.01-3.38), and used PYL (OR 2.61;p< 0.01,1.45-4.72). Subjects were more likely to have plans if they had higher medical complexity (OR 1.13 [p< 0.05, 1.03-1.24]), limited health literacy (OR 3.13 [p< 0.05, 1.25-7.81]), and used the PYL website (OR 1.72 [P< 0.05,1.00-2.93]) when asked about planning for future post-hospitalization requiring help in the home. Higher medical complexity, limited health literacy, and use of the planning website were associated with increased hospitalization discharge planning.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"24 1","pages":"800 - 801"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138988272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"LONGITUDINAL REPORTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT ON COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AMONG BLACK ADULTS","authors":"Yeonsoo Shin, Giyeon Kim","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.2678","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2678","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Limited research has explored the association between neighborhood environments and cognitive functioning using longitudinal reports of neighborhood quality. The current study examined the longitudinal association between perceived neighborhood characteristics and computerized cognitive performance among Black adults. This study included 584 community-dwelling socioeconomically diverse Black adults (Mage = 56.27, SDage = 8.94; 58% female) from waves 3 & 4 of the Healthy Aging in Neighborhood of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study. Neighborhood quality was assessed using three scales about built environment disorder (e.g., litter), social cohesion (e.g., close-knit neighborhood), and social control (e.g., neighbors act if fight in front of house). Cognitive functioning was assessed using the computerized Joggle battery. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted with each cognitive measure as the outcome measure. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, reading literacy, poverty status, and depressive symptoms. In the adjusted models, living in a neighborhood with increasing built environment disorder was associated with slower performance (p <.05) on an attention measure. Increasing social cohesion was associated with faster performance (p <.05) on memory, attention, and visual orientation measures. Similarly, increasing social control was associated with faster performance (p <.05) on attention, executive function/reasoning, visual orientation, and speed measures. Additionally, increasing social control was associated with greater number of correct responses (p <.05) on an attention and executive function/reasoning measure. Significant interactions were observed between changes in neighborhood quality and covariates. These findings amplify the importance of understanding how changes in neighborhood quality impact cognitive performance among Black adults.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"19 12","pages":"830 - 831"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138988320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jennifer DeGennaro, L. Bodenheimer, E. Perweiler, Margaret Avallone, Marilyn Mock, Sreelekha Prakash
{"title":"FOSTERING PRACTICE CHANGE BY INTEGRATING INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN A COMMUNITY HEALTH COLLABORATION","authors":"Jennifer DeGennaro, L. Bodenheimer, E. Perweiler, Margaret Avallone, Marilyn Mock, Sreelekha Prakash","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.2393","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2393","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract NJGWEP undertook an interprofessional community/public health initiative collaborating with Rutgers University School of Nursing-Camden, Stockton University, NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, and four affordable housing sites located in underserved communities, with a potential to reach approximately 600 older residents. An IPE curriculum delivered to faculty, students, and staff from multiple health professions disciplines prepares them for assessing residents with chronic health problems using the 4Ms framework (What Matters, Mind, Medications, Mobility), adding the Geriatric 5th M for multi-complexity. Using a Resident Health Risk Assessment (RHRA) to assess residents’ health/biopsychosocial needs by capturing critical information needed to support “aging in place,” students and staff develop person-centered plans of care that address maintenance of independence, health, and referral to needed services/supports to delay or prevent institutional placement. From 2019-2022, 84 students from multiple disciplines (i.e., nursing, social work, counseling, OT) participated in community-based rotations, completed 279 RHRAs, and developed 101 IPE case reviews and person-centered plans of care. Evaluating residents’ co-morbid conditions (Hypertension 46%, Diabetes Mellitus 42%, Mental Health 40%; 8.6 medications per/resident, 44% Mini-Cog < 3; 19% PHQ+, 51% + Falls Screen; 48% TUG>12; 58% ADL/IADL deficits) highlighted the 5th M, Multi-Complexity. IPE is a sustainable venue for training a health care workforce that acknowledges/values the person-centered approach and encourages learning the roles and responsibilities of other disciplines. Implementation of a customized database in 2022 facilitates longitudinal tracking of outcomes related to resident needs, referrals, interventions, access to services to support aging in place, and informs policy and practice change.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"14 2","pages":"739 - 739"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138988601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF AGING AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCE FOR ENRICHMENT SEEKING","authors":"Grace Caskie, Benjamin Johnson, Eve Root","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.2710","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2710","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In older adulthood, positive perceptions of one’s own aging can facilitate enrichment seeking–the underlying motivation to seek out new experiences and perform intellectually challenging activities–by diminishing and buffering reactions to perceived threats to one’s sense of self and perceived capabilities. In this study, we examined the extent to which self-perceptions of aging were associated with cognitive performance and affective experience while completing a series of challenging foraging tasks in the form of word puzzle games within the presence and absence of resources in the environment, such as a fireplace or an observing neurologist. The study employed a 2x2 within-person design (fireplace on vs. not; neurologist present vs. not) and took place within the home office of a home simulation environment. In each of the four conditions, 61 participants (age 50-82, 57% female) played the foraging task and then endorsed adjectives representing their feelings while playing that game. Multilevel models, which nested study stages within participants, showed individuals with higher self-perceptions of aging benefited significantly from both environmental manipulations, with the fireplace acting as environmental support and the observing neurologist raising the stakes of the task. However, despite providing additional motivation and being associated with stronger cognitive performance, the neurologist’s presence also provoked a higher negative affect response. The relationship between self-perceptions of aging and receptiveness to environmental resources merits further investigation to assess how certain environmental resources might act as a moderator of both cognition and affect.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"67 21","pages":"840 - 841"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138988708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Severance, Linda Edelman, Barbara Gordon, S. Luk-Jones, Jacqueline Telonidis, Jennifer Morgan
{"title":"GERIATRIC WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS AS AAA AGE-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES PARTNER","authors":"J. Severance, Linda Edelman, Barbara Gordon, S. Luk-Jones, Jacqueline Telonidis, Jennifer Morgan","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.2067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2067","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Health Resources and Services Administration funded 48 Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs (GWEPs) to partner with community-based organizations in addressing gaps in health care for older adults, promoting Age-Friendly ecosystems, and addressing social determinants of health. This paper discusses three GWEPs collaborative projects with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) that deliver community-based programs . The University of Utah’s GWEP, a rural AAA, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs provided a hybrid Dementia Caregiver Conference to six counties, reaching 65 in-person attendees and 10 senior centers online. Attendees agreed the content met their educational needs, would positively influence care, and was motivation to form a caregiver coalition. The University of Louisville Trager Institute (Trager), AAA, and Kentucky Coalition for Healthy Communities provided focused regional training and sharing of community resources utilizing the Project ECHO training model for 11 AAA regions, reaching 412 home and community-based services professionals. The University of North Texas Health Science Center, AAA, and emergency management services expanded evidence-based programs in falls prevention, medication safety, and dementia caregiving, serving an additional 23 urban postal codes, rural counties, and over 1,900 individuals. These examples utilize unique community relationships and partnership strategies to identify local needs, maximize older adult and family caregiver engagement, measure outcomes, and achieve GWEP goals to educate diverse, underserved and rural communities.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"39 ","pages":"634 - 634"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138988798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE: PERSPECTIVES FROM OLDER WORKERS AND RETIREES","authors":"Allyson Graf, Katherina A. Nikzad-Terhune","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.0471","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.0471","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Workforce diversity can be a major asset for personal, interpersonal, and economic development. Age diversity is prevalent with five generations currently represented in the workforce. Intergenerational tension is common, however, largely fueled by stereotypes centered on age and generation that can infiltrate all workplace processes. Working from the Age-Friendly University framework, our aim was to gather qualitative data to inform the development of a training program for college students, pairing information on age-related bias with opportunities for meaningful intergenerational exchange to mimic workplace interactions. We hosted three community-based focus groups with adults ranging from 60-69 years of age who were either currently employed or recently retired (N = 10) to discuss their intergenerational interactions in the workplace. Participants had an average of 41.06 years of work experience and worked across multiple industries, most commonly administrative work, food services, government, and healthcare. The most common theme reported was the dismissal of participants’ work experience by their younger colleagues, which some equated to a lack of respect due to their age, and others painted as a breakdown in communication. Technology was highlighted as exasperating intergenerational tensions. Participants also reported that younger colleagues often approached them for general life advice, which helped to reduce tensions. The willingness to see the value of older adults’ wisdom in general, but not specific to the work at hand, has implications for the content and structure of future career-readiness training programs. Recommendations for enhancing positive intergenerational exchanges and reducing generational tensions within the workplace will be discussed.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"43 8","pages":"144 - 144"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138988806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Taani, Yura Lee, Julie Ellis, Chi Cho, Ammar Hammouri
{"title":"SOCIAL PARTICIPATION, LONELINESS, AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS OF MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS IN TAIWAN","authors":"M. Taani, Yura Lee, Julie Ellis, Chi Cho, Ammar Hammouri","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.2735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2735","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Loneliness among middle-aged and older adults is a growing public health concern in the aging society. While social participation is known as a protective factor against loneliness, not all older adults enjoy social participation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the social participation and loneliness characteristics in communities and their association with the demographic data, health-related variables, objective sleep parameters and rest-activity circadian rhythms with a sample of 242 Taiwan community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults aged 45 to 89 years. Loneliness and social participation levels were grouped in different clusters via Two-Step Cluster Analysis. Subsequently, Chi-square test and ANOVA were performed to identify the differences between clusters with relevant variables. Results showed that five social participation-loneliness clusters were grouped: Average(40.1%), Active-Lonely(3.8%), Not Active-Lonely(13.1%),Active -Not Lonely(5.9%),Not Active -Not Lonely(37.1%). Age, employment status, property management, self-perceived health, depression, life satisfaction and relative amplitude were related to clusters. The Active-Not Lonely cluster was older, had a higher retirement percentage, and higher life satisfaction. Compared with the Not Active-Lonely cluster, the Not Active -Not Lonely cluster had more power to manage their property, felt healthier and less depressive. The Active-Lonely cluster had a high percentage of unemployment and felt unhealthier. The Not Active-Lonely cluster had the lowest relative amplitude, which meant they had weaker rest-activity circadian rhythms. Objective sleep parameters were no difference between each cluster. These findings provide the potential benefits of developing appropriate social care programs to reduce loneliness for middle-aged and older adults via objective data.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"105 ","pages":"848 - 849"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138989010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL AND VIRTUAL REALITY TREATMENTS FOR INSOMNIA (CBTI AND IVR): OFF-LABEL IMPACT ON COGNITION","authors":"Christina McCrae, Melanie Stearns, Ashley Curtis","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.1205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.1205","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Chronic insomnia (CI) is common in mid-to-late life and associated with hyperarousal and impaired cognition and mood. CBTi improves sleep and may also improve cognition, arousal and mood but evidence for these latter outcomes is limited. We examined these outcomes across 3 studies with different delivery platforms (telehealth, digital, VR), dosages (2 sessions, 4 sessions), and (primarily) mid-to-older CI populations (fibromyalgia, dementia caregivers). Study 1 compared 8-week CBTi vs sleep hygiene in women with fibromyalgia (n=43, Mage=44.45). Study 2 piloted 4-session web-based CBTi in caregivers (n=5, Mage=62.40). Study 3 piloted 4-session iVR (n=18, Mage=36.45). Participants completed 2-week daily diaries pre/post treatment (sleep onset latency-SOL; wake after sleep onset-WASO; total sleep time-TST) and Insomnia Severity Index-ISI. Other measures included: study 1(arousal/heart rate variability-RMSDNN), studies 1 and 3(Wisconsin Card Sort Test-WCST, Stroop), study 2(Cognitive Failures Questionnaire-CFQ, Beck Depression Inventory-BDI-II, Perceived Stress Scale). Group x time interactions (study 1) and within-group pre/post differences were examined. CBTi improved sleep across studies (ps<.05). Study 1 found and study 3 trended toward improved cognitive flexibility (WCST %perseverative errors-t(14)=2.65, p=.019 and t(10)=1.76, p=.055, respectively). Study 1 found improved attention and processing speed [Stroop reaction time(RT)-congruent trials-t(14)=2.59, p=.023], inhibition (Stroop RT-incongruent trials-t(14)=2.43, p=.031), and arousal [increased RMSDNN; F(1,41)=4.87, p=.03]. Study 2 found improved subjective cognition-CFQ (t(4)=2.44, p=.04), arousal-RMSDNN (t(4)=2.09, p=.05), and depression-BDI-II (t(4)=2.89, p=.02). CBTi improved sleep, cognition, arousal and mood in mid-to-older CI populations. Research using randomization, active controls, and follow-ups is needed to delineate temporality and explore sleep’s mechanistic contribution to cognition and other “off-label” outcomes.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"54 25","pages":"363 - 363"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138989076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John Cagle, David Roth, Cynthia Boyd, Naaz A. Hussain, Ambrym Smith, Jenni Reiff, Daniel Scerpella
{"title":"ADVANCE CARE PLANNING FIDELITY TOOL IN THE CONTEXT OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: THE SHARE TRIAL","authors":"John Cagle, David Roth, Cynthia Boyd, Naaz A. Hussain, Ambrym Smith, Jenni Reiff, Daniel Scerpella","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.0041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.0041","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract 2. Conducting high-quality advance care planning (ACP) conversations with persons living with ADRD and their family members is inherently challenging. Differing levels of cognitive function, judgment, ability to engage, and care partner involvement adds to the complexity of such ACP conversations, necessitating flexible fidelity monitoring to accommodate contextual factors. This presentation will focus on the process of measuring ACP fidelity. The SHARE ACP fidelity checklist was developed to measure the protocol adherence during ACP meetings, monitor for areas in which ACP facilitators may require re-training or additional support, and to inform analyses of the impact of the overall exposure to the study intervention. The fidelity checklist items are organized into three overarching domains: Meeting Set-Up, ACP Meeting Topics, and Facilitator Communication Skills. For the present study, a fidelity adjudication team from a pool of 7 raters, listened to and independently rated recorded conversations for protocol adherence. Each checklist item is scored ranging from 0 to 2 (0=not done; 1=needs improvement; or 2=effective) with higher scores indicating greater adherence. Fidelity ratings tended to improve over time, suggesting a facilitator experience effect. The goal to achieve an overall fidelity rating of ≥80% was met in 63% of dyad conversations. Based on subscale scores, project targets were most frequently met on the Communication Skills subscale and less frequently accomplished on the Meeting Set Up subscale. Despite some challenges, preliminary assessments of SHARE intervention fidelity appear promising, and evidence suggests the fidelity checklist is both valid and reliable.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"33 1","pages":"13 - 13"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138989093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"MEDICAL STUDENT MOTIVATIONS TO STUDY GERIATRICS AS MEDICAL SPECIALTY IN ECUADOR: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH","authors":"Daniela Belen Sosa Cifuentes, Jonathan Guillemot","doi":"10.1093/geroni/igad104.2118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.2118","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Due to a lack of interest in becoming geriatricians in the medical student community and despite studies showing geriatrics as one of the most fulfilling medical specialties, Ecuador, like many countries globally, lacks geriatricians. Although there are insufficient well-established institutions training geriatricians, the issue essentially lies in the lack of student vocations. We conducted a qualitative and participatory study to identify and describe the motivations and barriers associated with medical students’ interests in becoming geriatricians in Quito, Ecuador. Qualitative interviews between medical students after interviewing technique training were conducted. Audio recordings were transcribed and coded, and then analyzed for patterns. Thirty-two students were interviewed, none of which considered geriatrics as their first medical specialty option, and two of which considered the possibility of such a choice, but not as a first option. Among the most significant patterns associated with disinterest in geriatrics was the lack of exposure as well as a general ignorance of the lives of older adults beyond direct relatives. While most participants recognized the fundamental importance of the specialty, barriers appearing unsurmountable emerged: patterns of gerontophobia as well as thanatophobia were strong hurdles, combined with the perception of an emotional toll associated with the care of older adults. This joined with the view that physicians could not be fulfilling their purpose of “saving lives” in the context of geriatrics. As the Global South ages, universities must improve student exposure to older adults and the professions associated with their care as a first step towards promoting new vocations.","PeriodicalId":13596,"journal":{"name":"Innovation in Aging","volume":"23 5","pages":"651 - 651"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138989146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}