Mark Stoutenberg, Michael Rogers, Paige Denison, Jeff Schlicht, Kelsey Weitzel, Marcia Ory, Garrett Kellar, Louisa Summers, Mariana Wingood
{"title":"Assessing older adult physical activity levels in clinical settings: The modified PAVS for older adults.","authors":"Mark Stoutenberg, Michael Rogers, Paige Denison, Jeff Schlicht, Kelsey Weitzel, Marcia Ory, Garrett Kellar, Louisa Summers, Mariana Wingood","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19202","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Participating in recommended levels of physical activity (PA) is critical for preventing functional decline, falls, and frailty, making it essential to identify older adults not meeting national PA guidelines. However, guidance on assessing older adult PA levels, particularly in clinical settings, is lacking. This article presents an overview of clinically feasible PA assessment tools for older adults, identifies gaps in current tools, and provides recommendations on addressing these gaps.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a literature review on clinically feasible PA assessment tools, suggested modifications to an existing PA assessment for older adult patients, and highlighted opportunities for integrating the modified PA assessment tool in clinical settings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 16 PA assessment tools used in clinical settings. The most widely used tool is the Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS), which has been successfully integrated into several electronic health records (EHR) and clinical practices. Most tools, including the PAVS, primarily focus on aerobic activities, with limited consideration for strength and balance. We recommend the use of a Modified PAVS for Older Adults that includes items on muscle-strengthening and balance activities to better align with national PA guidelines. We then identified several existing opportunities for broad implementation of the Modified PAVS for Older Adults within clinical settings.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Widespread integration of the Modified PAVS for Older Adults will better support healthcare providers in identifying individuals not meeting national PA recommendations, assisting them in prescribing tailored PA prescriptions and better connecting their patients to appropriate resources and professionals for further support.</p>","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142373891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Linda M Sawyer, Hallie E Keller, Maria D Cervantes, Teresa F Howell, Robynn J Scott, Janette Dunlap, Christine T Cigolle, Bonnie D Dawson, Dennis H Sullivan
{"title":"Veteran comfort and satisfaction with comprehensive geriatric assessment via video telehealth to home.","authors":"Linda M Sawyer, Hallie E Keller, Maria D Cervantes, Teresa F Howell, Robynn J Scott, Janette Dunlap, Christine T Cigolle, Bonnie D Dawson, Dennis H Sullivan","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The purpose of this project was to measure satisfaction with virtual comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGA) among older Veterans (OVs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The CGA involved five different healthcare providers and four one-hour VA Video Connect (VVC) calls. Using specific enrollment criteria, OVs were recruited in four cohorts separated by time. After completing the CGA, participants were asked to complete a 10-statement telephone questionnaire. Before analyses, responses to each statement were dichotomized as Agree (Agree/Strongly agree) or Do not Agree (Neutral/Disagree/Strongly Disagree). Descriptive statistics and Binomial generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to analyze the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 269 enrolled OVs completed all components of the CGA. This included 79, 57, 61, and 72 Veterans in cohorts 1 to 4, respectively. Their average age was 76.0 ± 5.9 years, and they were predominately white (82%), male (94%), and residents of rural settings (64%). Of the 236 (88%) OVs who completed the telephone survey, 57% indicated they were comfortable using VVC and 57% expressed willingness to use VVC again; 44% felt that VVC was easier than going to in-person visits. The OVs in Cohort 1 were more likely to agree with these statements than those in the remaining cohorts, especially Cohorts 2 and 4. Differences in demographics partially explained some of these findings. The majority (89% or higher) of survey participants agreed with the remaining seven survey statements indicating they were satisfied with the CGA program.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>OVs were very satisfied with their participation in a program of CGA, although not necessarily the mode of delivery. The percentage of participants who indicated discomfort using VVC for the CGA visits appeared to increase with time. Further work is needed to determine which OVs would be the best candidates to use VVC to complete all or part of a CGA.</p>","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142368077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kelly Singleton, Aprile I Doubt, Sara A Restuccio, Alyson N Honko, Ilana S Stol, Lauren F Visserman, Athena Beldecos, Robert S Lake, Anna K Mirk
{"title":"Seeing clearly: A novel model for low vision screening and evaluation in hospitalized older adults.","authors":"Kelly Singleton, Aprile I Doubt, Sara A Restuccio, Alyson N Honko, Ilana S Stol, Lauren F Visserman, Athena Beldecos, Robert S Lake, Anna K Mirk","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19208","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142373892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Malcolm Williams, Marc N Elliott, Katrin Hambarsoomian, Steven C Martino, Amelia Haviland, Robert Weech-Maldonado, Aditi Mallick, Sarah Gaillot, Sarah Johaningsmeir, Nate Orr, Debra Saliba
{"title":"Personal physician access by preferred language among Medicare Advantage and Medicare Fee-for-Service older adults.","authors":"Malcolm Williams, Marc N Elliott, Katrin Hambarsoomian, Steven C Martino, Amelia Haviland, Robert Weech-Maldonado, Aditi Mallick, Sarah Gaillot, Sarah Johaningsmeir, Nate Orr, Debra Saliba","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19206","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142368075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jamie M Smith, Julia G Burgdorf, Tiffany J Riser, Miriam Ryvicker
{"title":"Skilled home healthcare utilization and outcomes for older adults with dementia: A scoping review.","authors":"Jamie M Smith, Julia G Burgdorf, Tiffany J Riser, Miriam Ryvicker","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19203","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jgs.19203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to summarize the existing research literature examining Medicare-skilled home health (HH) utilization and clinical outcomes for persons with dementia (PwD). We sought to answer the following questions: (1) How is dementia defined and classified in the HH literature? (2) What associations have been observed between dementia status and patterns of HH utilization? (3) What associations have been observed between dementia status and HH outcomes?</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using Arksey and O'Malley's framework for scoping reviews, we searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and select relevant journals for quantitative studies conducted in the United States between 2000 and 2023 examining Medicare HH use and outcomes for PwD. We describe and compare approaches to classify dementia, identify findings related to HH utilization and outcomes supported by the preponderance of evidence, and comment on existing gaps and areas of ambiguity in the literature.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. Most used claims-based data to classify dementia, leveraged national data, and were limited to traditional Medicare beneficiaries. Studies found meaningful differences in HH utilization by dementia status; most notably, PwD were more likely to access HH without a preceding hospitalization, had longer lengths of stay, and incurred higher HH costs. Literature relating to clinical outcomes was more difficult to interpret, due to significant variation in study objectives, samples, and outcome measures which prompted more nuanced and even contradictory conclusions. There is a dearth of research identifying how specific HH care pathways (e.g., service types, visit frequency) impact outcomes for this patient population.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This review supports the understanding that PwD are a unique subpopulation of HH patients who require special attention in policy development and evaluation. Critical research is needed to examine clinical outcomes in PwD further to inform practice and improve care quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142362619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"It is time to eliminate unnecessary iatrogenic hypoglycemia in older adults.","authors":"Joseph G Ouslander","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19201","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142335362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Midlife is good for more than a crisis: Exercise for dementia prevention.","authors":"Laura Fenton, Judy Pa","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19207","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142335363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kate A Duchowny, Alexander K Smith, Irena Cenzer, Chelsea Brown, Grace Noppert, Kristine Yaffe, Amy L Byers, Carla Perissinotto, Ashwin A Kotwal
{"title":"The prevalence of lifetime trauma and association with physical and psychosocial health among adults at the end of life.","authors":"Kate A Duchowny, Alexander K Smith, Irena Cenzer, Chelsea Brown, Grace Noppert, Kristine Yaffe, Amy L Byers, Carla Perissinotto, Ashwin A Kotwal","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19209","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jgs.19209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>National guidelines recognize lifetime trauma as relevant to clinical care for adults nearing the end of life. We determined the prevalence of early life and cumulative trauma among persons at the end of life by gender and birth cohort, and the association of lifetime trauma with end-of-life physical, mental, and social well-being.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used nationally representative Health and Retirement Study data (2006-2020), including adults age > 50 who died while enrolled (N = 6495). Early life and cumulative traumatic events were measured using an 11-item traumatic events scale (cumulative trauma: 0-5+ events over the lifespan). We included six birth cohorts (born <1924; children of depression [1924-1930]; HRS cohort [1931-1941]; war babies [1942-1947]; early baby-boomers [1948-1953]; mid-baby boomers [1954-1959]). End-of-life outcomes included validated measures of physical (pain, fatigue, dyspnea), mental (depression, life satisfaction), and social (loneliness, social isolation) needs. We report the prevalence of lifetime trauma by gender and birth cohort and the adjusted probability of each end-of-life outcome by trauma using multivariable logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age at death was 78 years (SD = 11.1) and 52% were female. Lifetime trauma was common (0 events: 19%; 1-2: 47%; 3-4: 25%; 5+: 9%), with variation in individual events (e.g., death of a child, weapons in combat) by gender and birth cohort. After adjustment, increasing cumulative trauma was significantly associated (p-value<0.001) with higher reports of end-of-life moderate-to-severe pain (0 events: 46%; 1-2 events: 50%; 3-4 events: 57%; 5+ events: 60%), fatigue (58%; 60%; 66%; 69%), dyspnea (46%; 51%; 56%; 58%), depression (24%; 33%; 37%; 40%), loneliness (12%; 17%; 19%; 22%), and lower life satisfaction (73%; 63%; 58%; 54%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Older adults in the last years of life report a high prevalence of lifetime traumatic events which are associated with worse end-of-life physical and psychosocial health. A trauma-informed approach to end-of-life care and management of physical and psychosocial needs may improve a patient's quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142368076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michelle Cohen, Kristen de Grandpre, William M Herlihy, Lise Cooper
{"title":"Initiating an Insulin Safety Campaign to reduce the incidence of glycemic harm events for hospitalized adults 65 and older.","authors":"Michelle Cohen, Kristen de Grandpre, William M Herlihy, Lise Cooper","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19193","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19193","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>During calendar years 2021 through 2023, our health system admitted 200,837 persons 18 years and older with diabetes, of which 61% (n = 123,393) were 65 years and older with orders for insulin administration. The incidence of diabetes among hospitalized persons 65 and older continues to increase in the United States, with 24 million adults 65 and older with diabetes reported in 2020. Insulin, a high-risk medication, has the potential for adverse drug events, which can cause significant harm to patients, potentially resulting in death. With the 2023 initiation of voluntary electronic clinical quality measures reporting for severe glycemic harm events from the Centers for Medicare Services, the study team saw an opportunity to evaluate and standardize insulin-related practices across the system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We implemented an Insulin Safety Campaign (ISC), to review, evaluate, and standardize insulin-related processes across our health system. The primary goal was to reduce severe glycemic harm events system-wide. Insulin-related practices were reviewed for best practice alignment and standardized. Outcomes were measured according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' electronic clinical quality measures reporting guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Comparing pre-and post-implementation results, all five medical centers achieved statistically significant reductions in sever hyper- and hypoglycemic harm events.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Through a collaborative effort, we were able to identify, address, and reduce insulin-related process variabilities through standardization, reducing the percentage of severe glycemic harm events and improving blood glucose management in our hospitalized persons 65 and older.</p>","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142335361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Should doctors prescribe death? Resisting the expansion of assisted suicide.","authors":"Peter Jaggard, Richard Sams","doi":"10.1111/jgs.19195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19195","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94112,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Geriatrics Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142335364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}