1. Healthcare Disparities Between Older and Younger Adults
Megan Coral

2. The Research Study Find gaps in treatment Identify obstacles
Understand how professionals become interested in older adults (OA)
Secret to increasing student interest

3. Rationale May 2007 Increase in the number of OA
Unique perspective in medical care

4. Methods
Survey
11 Professional Key Informants
Synthesized data

5. Key Informants Physical Therapy Professors (3)
Kinesiology Professors (2)
Pharmacy Professors (2)
Communicative Disorders Professor (1)
Community Geriatrician [MD] (1)
Human Development [Gerontologist] (1)
Geriatric Nursing Professor (1)

6. Research Objectives
To better understand the dimensions of healthcare disparities between younger and older adults, as identified by a sample of health professionals.
To develop an understanding of how the healthcare system can be improved to better meet the needs of older adults.

7. Survey Instrument Domains of Inquiry:
Attitudes about OA and professionals
Service and training models
Gaps in healthcare
Favorite part of OA
Students
Obstacles

8. Results Interest in OA comes from Family School Job setting
Volunteering

9. Quotes from the Interview
“I was exposed to the subject (of older adults) as an undergraduate at the University of Colorado by a very dynamic teacher and have been interested ever since.” Communicative Disorders Professor
“As a child I spent most of my time with older relatives and I always enjoyed hearing their stories”- Geriatric Nursing Professor

10. Quotes from the Interview
“As a pharmacist I have had the greatest impact helping older adults manage their medicine than with any other patient group and I think that is a very fulfilling feeling when you have prevented a potentially fatal problem that maybe a younger adult would have survived.” - Pharmacy Professor

11. Results Experience improves service Misconceptions Half: No
Half: Minor
Able to resolve through experience

12. Quotes from the Interview
“I learn new things all the time from my older patients. Not only do I teach them, but they teach me something new everyday.” - Physical Therapy Professor
“I had some minor misconceptions as an undergrad until I started working with older adults and realized that personality remains the same throughout life.” - Physical Therapy Professor

13. Results Training models based on YA Nonspecific attitudes
Most agreed there is a gap
Range of personal examples

14. Quotes from the Interview
“There was no attitude about older adults, it just was not a topic.” - Pharmacy Professor
“[The school I attended] did not have geriatrics courses. It was not much of a field back then.”- Community Geriatrician

15. Quotes from the Interview
“Yes, physicians spend less time with older adults than [with] younger adults during office time and nurses spend less time [with older adults] in the hospital than [with] younger adults on an individual basis.” -Geriatric Nursing Professor
“Younger adults get more aggressive treatment than older adults.” - Community Geriatrician

16. Supporting Research Banjeri, etal. (2006). -Bronchodilator study.
Wittink, etal. (2006). -Exercise for YA & OA.
Resnick. (2000). -Testing OA

17. Results Favorite part of OA Stories Wisdom Personalities
Motivation to be healthy
Diversity
All they have to offer

18. Quotes from the Interview
“When an older person dies it is like a library burning down.”- Human Development Professor
“Everyone is unique- an individual puzzle of communication deficits to solve with the person. There is also a rich history of experiences.” - Communicative Disorders Professor

19. Quotes from the Interview
“Older adults are enthusiastic and wonderful research participants.” - Kinesiology Professor
“Older adults are interested in the health aspect, listen more, and try more [than younger adults].” - Kinesiology Professor

20. Results Students not interested in OA Ways to increase interest
Experience with OA
Service learning
Positive interactions

21. Information from the Interview
Geriatric Nursing Professor’s study.
Pharmacy Professor has students confront stereotypes of OA.

22. Supporting Research
Angiullo, etal. (1996). Student experience with OA.

23. Results Major obstacles in healthcare system Complexity Doctors
Insurance
Paperwork
Doctors
Lack of training
Questions

24. Quotes from the Interview
“The government makes it so difficult to apply for Medicare for older adults.” - Physical Therapy Professor
“As the demand goes up I’m not sure what will happen to quality. Standards need to be set.” - Communicative Disorders Professor

25. Supporting Research
Warshaw, etal. (2003). Geriatric education for med students
American Geriatrics Society. (2008). ~7,600

26. Results Transfer of care Lack of awareness about availability
Loss of information
Lack of awareness about availability
University
Preventative care
Reluctance

27. Quotes from the Interview
“The most amount of money is spent on older adults in the last six months of life.” Pharmacy Professor
“Older adults need to be advocates for themselves, talk more openly, and question physicians.” - Geriatric Nursing Professor

28. Results Projected increase Gap widen Economy
Presidential administration
Increased demand
Decrease in service
Healthier lives

29. Quotes from the Interview
“With the economy the way it is the gap is widening. The money won’t be there. Hopefully the president changes healthcare.”- Kinesiology Professor

30. Closing the gap Education Advocacy Awareness Funding Research
Multidisciplinary teams

31. Benefits from the research experience
Demand for service
How to conduct an interview
How to direct conversation
Improving the healthcare system
Increasing interest
Increasing awareness

32. Value of Qualitative Interview
Flexibility
Change structure if necessary
Personal interaction
Deeper information

33. Future Directions Gap in healthcare Train upcoming professionals
Encourage interest OA
Find ways to advocate for OA

34. Dedication:
To RR, JM, BM, EW, MC, LC, JM, and JM: all the older adults in my life and everywhere who deserve the best healthcare treatment available.
Thank you Key Informants
Thank you Dr. Fey-Yensan