Department of Internal Medicine Concepts of Successful Aging & Introduction to the Senior Mentor Program November 4, 2005 Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH Department of Internal Medicine

Why Geriatrics? Fasting growing cohort – over 65 By 2020, 20% of total population Over age 85 group growing very fast

Americans Are Living Longer A Trend that is Expected to Continue Years of Life Expectancy At Birth In the year: Men Women 1900 47.1 50.7 1990 71.8 78.8 2020 75.7 82.3 2050 79.7 85.6 Source: National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 1989-91, vol. 1, no. 3, Some Trends and Comparisons of United States Life Table Data: 1900-91. Hyattsville, MD; 1999, p. 2, Table A.

Growth in Population Age 65+

Care of Older Persons Will Require An increasing proportion of health care resources Clinicians who are alert to the specific needs of the geriatric patient An emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention at all ages

What’s Different About the 65+ Age Group? Wide range of health status Age-related physiologic changes Increased incidence of comorbidity Atypical disease presentations Increased incidence of iatrogenic illness Higher need of social supports Different goals of therapy

Top 5 Causes of Death Among Older Americans in 2001 Rank Cause % 1 Heart Disease 32 2 Cancer 22 3 Stroke/CVA 8 4 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 6 5 Pneumonia & influenza, DM, Alzheimer’s Disease each

Sucessful Aging Rowe and Kahn 1998 Successful Aging Avoiding Disease Maintaining high cognitive & physical functioning Active engagement with life

What Is Successful Aging? Staying involved with life and living Staying active despite chronic conditions Exercising body & mind Interaction with people Meaningful contribution to life

Maintaining Mental Function Young persons outperform elders in ability to: Recall a word or name Speed of processing information Young persons and elders have same ability to: Understand and learn Perform other cognitive functions

Maintaining Mental Function Studies found key factors that predict good mental function in older adults are: Regular physical activity Strong social support systems Belief in one’s ability to handle life events Staying mentally challenged

Maintaining Physical Health Regular health checks Staying physically active Eating a healthy diet Stopping smoking or chewing tobacco Safety habits to prevent falls Managing stress Immunizations

Maintaining Social Support Defined as belief that one is cared for, loved, esteemed, and has a network of social obligations Successful agers from MacArthur study report that they thrive because they have important social bonds with both family & friends Married people live longer than unmarried Members of church or secular organizations live longer than those without affiliations

Marital Status of Adults Age 65 +

Geriatric Medical Education at UNM Increased focus on Older patients Learning roles of multi-disciplinary providers Maintenance of health and functional abilities New initiatives supported through funding from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation

UNM Senior Mentor Program Pairs active seniors with medical students Seniors: - Aged 65 and over - Albuquerque area First & second year UNM medical and physician assistant students

Goals of Senior Mentor Program Longitudinal experience Older adults as “professors” Relationship building Education & training for both

Benefits to Senior Mentors Involvement with young people New friendship Share life history, expertise & perspectives on health and healthcare system Opportunity to contribute & help others

Benefits to Medical Students Develop a positive relationship with an older adult Acknowledge full and rich the lives of seniors Learn about aging process and use of health care system Witness successful aging Enhance listening skills

What’s Involved November 11 meet the mentors 3 meetings of mentor & student pairs 2 student discussion sessions 1-2 group social events with all mentors and students Feedback on how it went Opportunity to continue a second year

Nov 11 Meet Your Senior Mentors Hotel MCM Eleganté on Menual, 3:30 – 5:30 pm Continuing second year medical students and their mentors also attending Brief introduction for benefit of new mentors Listen to continuing pairs’ experiences You and your mentor will introduce each other to the group Food and beverages Questions?

Your Senior Mentors Ages 65 – 94, active despite chronic conditions, mix of professional backgrounds and interests Matching with your preferences & interests as best we can A few mentor couples, most singles If with a couple: two students per couple, can go together or separately to see your mentor, suggest portion one-on-one time

Student/Mentor Meetings You and your mentor schedule these on your own Meet at least 3 times by late April, can meet more Meet at mentor’s home or other mutually agreed place About 2 hours Social conversation or activity And discussion topics (see folder): Mentor’s Life History Mentor’s Healthcare Views How Mentor Stays Active Brief email afterwards to staff

First Student/Mentor Meeting Meet by December 9 -- Topic: Mentor’s Life History Getting to know your Senior Mentor A conversation, not a medical history interview Focus on cohort your mentor grew up with and world events that affected cohort Prompts you can use if you want Your mentor will want to know about you also Reflect afterwards on what you learned

First Student/Mentor Meeting Brief email afterwards to Lloryn Swan When and where meeting took place 1-2 sentences something you admire in your mentor 1-2 sentences richest part of your meeting Purpose: get a sense of how meetings are going, track progress of program, help us prepare for student discussion sessions December 9 Student Discussion & Lunch Share mentor meeting experiences Continuing students invited also Facilitated by Sandra Qaseem, MD

Spring Semester January Early February Early March By late April May 2nd mentor meeting on your own Student discussion Student & Mentor Social Event (1st & 2nd years) 3rd mentor meeting on your own Celebration with mentors

Senior Mentor Experiences

Senior Mentor Experiences

Senior Mentor Experiences

Senior Mentor Experiences

Contact Us UNM Center on Aging 1720 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite 300 Campus mail: MSC10-5550 (505) 272-6082 Faculty liaison: Sandra Qaseem, MD sqaseem@salud.unm.edu Staff liaison: Lloryn Swan, 272-4837 lswan@salud.unm.edu

Compassionate Physicians Providing Better Care with Older Adults Thanks to the wonderful Senior Mentors and Medical Students!