1. Aging Sensitivity and Communication
Nancy Weintraub, MD
Professor, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics
Director, GLA VA/UCLA
Geriatric Medicine Fellowship

2. DISCLOSURES None of the faculty, planners, speakers, providers nor CME committee has any relevant financial relationships with commercial interest There is no commercial support for this CME activity

3. How well do you know your seniors?
Ice Breaker
How well do you know your seniors?

4. What We Know About Aging
Is not a disease
Occurs at different rates
Increases susceptibility to many conditions

6. Age Bands
37.16 %
43.99%
18.85% 85+

7. Why we do what we do By 2030, 20% of US population > age 65
Group of people over age 85 is the fastest growing segment of the population
By 2030, for the first time the population of people over age 65 will be > than those under age 5 for the first time

8. Implications
Fact: 1/2 of all Americans 65+ have some type disability; 1/3 of those 65+ have severe disabilities
Fact: Disease of the oldest old 85+ incidence increasing; 63% unable to manage basic ADLs; 47% have dementia
Fact: Depression recurrence rates are as high as 40%
Fact: Falls affect 1/3 of Americans 60+

9. Implications
Fact: Hospital admits due to adverse drug reactions is six times greater than the general population
Fact: 70% of people over 85 have low health literacy; 43% of 65 and older have high school or less education
Fact: Medical schools of 126 don’t require a single course in geriatrics

10. Disability Experience

11. Vision Experience

12. Medical Conditions of the Eye
Cataracts - Clouding of the lens
Glaucoma - Loss of peripheral or “side” vision

13. Medical Conditions of the Eye
Macular Degeneration - Loss of central or “straight ahead” vision
Diabetic Retinopathy - Blurring of central vision to blindness

14. Common Changes in Vision
Decrease in sharpness of vision (acuity)
Decrease in ability to judge distances
Decrease in ability to discriminate between certain colors
Decrease in ability to function in low light levels and adapt to dark
Decrease in ability to adapt to glare

15. Hearing Experience

16. Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive – Sound waves are not transmitted to inner ear
Presbycusis – Loss of high frequency sounds (most common)

17. Lip Reading Exercise

18. The “Unfair” Hearing Test

19. Helpful Tips Vision Use color contrast in print materials
Control glare; have adequate lighting
Keep statements / questions simple (no multiple choice)
Provide written materials at appropriate literacy to reinforce verbal information; use audio/visual support when available
Use large print – minimum 12 point font

20. Helpful Tips Hearing Slow down, lower pitch, enunciate
Reduce background noise
Get person’s attention before speaking
Memory impairment / literacy
Speak slowly and clearly
Involve friends / family

21. Senior Sensitivity Means …
Looking for clues to an elder’s cognitive and physical limitations
Remembering that seniors cannot change their impairment – we must adapt our processes to them
Respecting members’ limitations and abilities
Being patient, probing, listening carefully and using empathy statements
Promoting independence
Asking yourself if your work processes pass the senior sensitivity test