I've enjoyed science fiction since I was a boy. I liked both the science (small doses of biology, physics, psychology--I learned the naturally occurring radioactive elements from the Space Patrol) and the fiction. One interesting subform in the genre is the "future history," where an author imagines what the…
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The training that geriatric social workers receive makes them uniquely qualified to play dynamic roles in improving the health and well-being of older adults and their families. Through focused courses and relevant field experience, they excel at care coordination, emotional support, advocacy, and helping older adults modify their behavior to…
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At the Foundation, we often feel that information we have about improving the care of older adults is simply not getting the attention it deserves. People see a neighbor hospitalized repeatedly for the same chronic condition (say heart failure, the number one cause of hospital admission for Medicare beneficiaries), and…
Read full postRecently I spent four days with my frail, 90-year-old parents, and I've concluded that for many, if not most frail older adults, remaining at home is overrated and may even be dangerous to their health. My view goes against not only the strong preferences of my parents, but the majority…
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At a meeting called by the Institute of Medicine to discuss its recent report, Retooling the Healthcare Workforce for an Aging America, we focused on the particular issue of using team care to meet those needs. Reflecting on the IOM process, I observed that in addition to considering workforce issues…
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Recently, while I was working on some personal health promotion (i.e., running on the treadmill in the gym), I was listening to a series of podcasts on quality improvement in the US healthcare system from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Don Berwick, MD, the leader of IHI, was describing…
Read full postSometimes an action that is intended to have a positive effect, when put into practice, can have the opposite outcome. An article in the March 25, 2009, New York Times talks about a good example of this—the two-tiered federal excise tax for private foundations. While intended to spur foundations to…
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It's a doggone shame to single out man's best friend when we need to address medication management. A recent posting on the WSJ HealthBlog titled "CDC to Americans: Don't Trip Over Your Dog" noted that 1 percent of emergency room visits for falls are pet-related. That's "ruff"-ly 86,000 Americans injured…
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One of the highlights of GIH's recent annual meeting was a session headlined by Steve McConnell of The Atlantic Philanthropies, Bruce Chernoff of The SCAN Foundation, and David Gould of The United Hospital Fund. GIH's CEO, Lauren LeRoy, moderated. We were all in agreement that activated and mobilized caregivers…
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Last month I was in Orlando at the American College of Cardiology's big annual meeting--10,000 cardiologists from around the world. I was there with some of the Foundation's current grantees, who were rolling out a new geriatrics curriculum for cardiology Fellows. In the main exhibit hall, row after row of…
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