Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults


Book Description

Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.




Retooling for an Aging America


Book Description

As the first of the nation's 78 million baby boomers begin reaching age 65 in 2011, they will face a health care workforce that is too small and woefully unprepared to meet their specific health needs. Retooling for an Aging America calls for bold initiatives starting immediately to train all health care providers in the basics of geriatric care and to prepare family members and other informal caregivers, who currently receive little or no training in how to tend to their aging loved ones. The book also recommends that Medicare, Medicaid, and other health plans pay higher rates to boost recruitment and retention of geriatric specialists and care aides. Educators and health professional groups can use Retooling for an Aging America to institute or increase formal education and training in geriatrics. Consumer groups can use the book to advocate for improving the care for older adults. Health care professional and occupational groups can use it to improve the quality of health care jobs.




Families Caring for an Aging America


Book Description

Family caregiving affects millions of Americans every day, in all walks of life. At least 17.7 million individuals in the United States are caregivers of an older adult with a health or functional limitation. The nation's family caregivers provide the lion's share of long-term care for our older adult population. They are also central to older adults' access to and receipt of health care and community-based social services. Yet the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the least appreciated challenges facing the aging U.S. population. Families Caring for an Aging America examines the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults and the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs, supports, and other interventions designed to support family caregivers. This report also assesses and recommends policies to address the needs of family caregivers and to minimize the barriers that they encounter in trying to meet the needs of older adults.










Providing Healthy and Safe Foods As We Age


Book Description

Does a longer life mean a healthier life? The number of adults over 65 in the United States is growing, but many may not be aware that they are at greater risk from foodborne diseases and their nutritional needs change as they age. The IOM's Food Forum held a workshop October 29-30, 2009, to discuss food safety and nutrition concerns for older adults.




Strengthening the Workforce to Support Community Living and Participation for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities


Book Description

As the demographics of the United States shift toward a population that is made up of an increasing percentage of older adults and people with disabilities, the workforce that supports and enables these individuals is also shifting to meet the demands of this population. For many older adults and people with disabilities, their priorities include maximizing their independence, living in their own homes, and participating in their communities. In order to meet this population's demands, the workforce is adapting by modifying its training, by determining how to coordinate among the range of different professionals who might play a role in supporting any one older adult or individual with disabilities, and by identifying the ways in which technology might be helpful. To better understand how the increasing demand for supports and services will affect the nation's workforce, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a public workshop in June 2016, in Washington, DC. Participants aimed to identify how the health care workforce can be strengthened to support both community living and community participation for adults with disabilities and older adults. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.




Aging


Book Description




Evidence-based Interventions for Community Dwelling Older Adults


Book Description

A critical milestone in the evolution of evidence-based medicine Evidence-Based Interventions for Community Dwelling Older Adults presents an overview of significant evidence-based programs that can improve the health of seniors living in community-based settings. The book examines research conducted on a variety of health-related issues, including depression, care management, falls prevention, physical activity, and medications management. It also looks at research models that were translated into real-life practice settings, explores the benefits of implementing evidence-based models into care settings, and provides examples of how to adapt tested programs to meet local agency and population needs. The health care delivery system in the United States has embraced evidence-based medicine, largely based on its potential to reduce unwanted variations and keep a lid on escalating health care costs. But there are few resources available on how to gather information about model programs and even fewer on how to adapt them for practice. Evidence-Based Interventions for Community Dwelling Older Adults discusses how to effectively manage care beyond the hospital or clinic, as researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and academics provide an overview of evidence-based practice that works toward the best possible care for patients. The book also highlights the efforts of social workers, pharmacists, and case managers, and illustrates the importance of the leadership efforts of the Administration on Aging, National Council on Aging, and the Centers for Disease Control. Evidence-Based Interventions for Community Dwelling Older Adults examines: the effectiveness of geriatric care management medication management screening and intervention multifaceted intervention strategies to prevent and/or reduce falls among older adults physical fitness activities for the frail elderly population at home barriers to depression care and how to reduce them using Problem-Solving Therapy (PST) to address depression and other psychosocial issues using Diffusion of Innovation Theory to duplicate an end-of-life, in-home palliative care model and much more Evidence-Based Interventions for Community Dwelling Older Adults is an essential resource for anyone who works with seniors in medical and community-based settings, including case managers, geriatricians, social workers, pharmacists, and physical therapists. It's equally valuable as a professional aid for program directors, CEOs, and administrators of medical and community-based programs that target older adults.