GSA on Aging

GSA Section Podcast: How Differential State and Federal Policies in Long-Term Care Influence the Staffing Crisis

State and federal policies influence care delivery in long-term care facilities in a variety of ways. Following the President’s 2022 State of the Union Address, the White House Fact Sheet: Protecting Seniors by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes highlighted four new initiatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help ensure adequate staffing, dignity, and safety in their accommodations and quality of care. Each state is also guided by distinct and different regulations. This podcast will feature the work and insights of GSA members Tara McMullan, PhD, MPH, and Anna Beeber, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN. Dr. McMullen’s work focuses on quality in post-acute and long-term care settings, policy and aging, and the direct care workforce, including scope of practice. Dr. McMullen is a technical advisor for the CMS Division of Chronic and Post-Acute Care. Dr. Beeber’s research focuses on improving the quality of care for older adults living in long-term care settings, in particular examining staffing, service delivery, and resident outcomes to guide future efforts at matching services with needs. 

Guests: Tara McMullen, PhD, MPH, Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Aging and Health Program, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Georgetown University; and Anna Beeber, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.

Host: Sarah Dys, PhD, MPA, Research Associate, Institute on Aging, Portland State University.

 This podcast episode is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund. 

GSA Section Podcast: Moral Distress in Long-Term Care Employees

Amid persistently inadequate numbers of direct care workers for resident care, long-term care administrators and staff members continue in their attempts to provide care for residents. The staffing crisis has led to regulatory issues, new sanctions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and benchmarks for quality of care while facilities care for frail and dependent residents in the best ways possible given the circumstances. Moreover, the staffing crisis has resulted in the experience of moral distress for many direct health care workers. Moral distress occurs when health care professionals cannot act on their own moral judgment or what they believe to be right in a particular situation because of institutional or internal constraints. This podcast will feature the work and insights of GSA members Ozcan Tunalilar, PhD, and Beth Galik, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP. Dr. Tunalilar’s research examines the role of organizational, contextual, and socioeconomic factors that contribute to the reproduction of inequalities in access to high-quality long-term care and in residents’ experiences in the long-term care system. Dr. Galik’s research has focused on care for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, functional and cognitive assessment, and enhancement of the geriatric workforce. 

Guests:  Ozcan Tunalilar, PhD, Assistant Professor, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, Institute on Aging, Portland State University; and Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, Professor and Chair, Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing.

Host: Debra Dobbs, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, School of Aging Studies, and Academic Director, Center for Hospice, Palliative Care, and End-of-Life Studies, University of South Florida.

This podcast episode is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund. 

GSA Policy Profile: The State of Obesity Care: Better Policies for Older Adults

A chronic and often untreated disease, obesity has emerged over the past half century as a major source of morbidity and mortality in the United States and many other countries worldwide. Despite the recognition of obesity as a chronic disease, public policies limit access to a full range of obesity care services for many individuals who would benefit from comprehensive, interdisciplinary care for their disease—including older adults. In fact, within the Medicare population, reimbursements are available for intensive behavioral therapy and nutritional counseling provided by primary care physicians and for bariatric surgery. This GSA Policy Profile episode provides listeners with major policy initiatives currently being sought for comprehensive obesity care, addresses barriers to implementation of these initiatives, and provides valuable insights into how we care encourage policymakers to make addressing obesity a priority. 

Additional resources: 
H.R. 1577 – Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2021
S. 596 – Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2021

Download the Trascript

Guest: Joe Nadglowski—President/CEO, Obesity Action Coalition.

Host: Patricia M. "Trish" D'Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP—Vice President, Policy and Professional Affairs, The Gerontological Society of America.

This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk and was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

GSA Policy Profile: Impact of the New FDA Regulation on Hearing Aids for Older Adults

Research shows the impact of poor hearing and hearing loss on older adults – such as poor daily communication, cognitive decline, depression, and social isolation. We know that all too often the high cost of hearing aids, which have not been covered by Medicare, discouraged millions of Americans from buying the devices.  In fact, it is estimated that only about one-fifth of Americans with hearing loss get help. New FDA regulation that takes effect in October 2022 provides for hearing aids to be sold over the counter without a prescription.   This episode provides an overview of this new regulation and its potential for positive impact on the lives of older adults.

Guest: Frank Lin, MD, PhD—Director, Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Host: Patricia M. "Trish" D'Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP—Vice President, Policy and Professional Affairs, The Gerontological Society of America.

This podcast episode is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund.

The Gerontologist Podcast: ”American Dementia” with Drs. Daniel George and Peter Whitehouse

Dr. Degenholtz interviewed Drs. Daniel George at Penn State College of Medicine and Peter Whitehouse at Case Western Reserve University about their co-authored book, “American Dementia: Brain Health in an Unhealthy Society,” published last year by Johns Hopkins University Press.  Information about the book can be found at http://www.AmericanDementia.com. The Gerontologist published a review of the book by Drs. Cameron J. Camp and Evan Shelton, “Zooming Out on Dementia: The Effects of American Society on Brain Health.”

The Gerontologist Podcast: Workforce Issues in Long-Term Care with Dr. Laura Wagner

Dr. Degenholtz interviewed Dr. Laura Wagner, a nurse and researcher from University of California, San Francisco, about two papers from the special issue of The Gerontologist, Workforce Special Issue on the Workforce, which was published in June 2021:
1. Medical Staffing Organization and Quality of Care Outcomes in Post-acute Care Settings by L. M. Wagner, P. Katz, J. Karuza, C. Kwong, L. Sharp, and J. Spetz
2. It Is Time to Resolve the Direct Care Workforce Crisis in Long-Term Care by K. Scales

For an overview of the special issue, check out the editorial by Drs. Degenholtz and Meeks:
Workforce Issues in Long-Term Care: Is There Hope for a Better Way Forward?

Science and Storytelling: Older Adults and Housing: Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future

In this episode, Len Fishman, JD, the newly retired Director of the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, visits with hosts Danielle A. Waldron, PhD, and Jo-Ana D. Chase, PhD, to reflect on pivotal moments he watched unfold in field of aging during his fruitful career. Fishman shares his thoughts on the introduction of assisted living in the United States and what these new living options meant for older adults, the nursing home industry, and other relevant stakeholders. He identifies activists behind this effort as well as the meaning behind this cultural shift toward less restrictive, more independent housing options for older adults. After reviewing the past, he envisions how future directions in housing and health care may enhance the lives of older adults.  

Guest:  Len Fishman, JD (Bio)

Hosts:  Jo-Ana D. Chase, PhD, APRN-BC (Bio)—Associate Professor, University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing; and Danielle A. Waldron, PhD (Bio)—Assistant Professor, Healthcare Administration Department at Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts.

This podcast episode is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund: 75th Anniversary. 

Science and Storytelling: Rural Aging

In the United States, 10 million older adults live in rural communities. Rural older adults often face unique health disparities related to limited finances, public transportation, and access to health and support services. However, describing challenges alone does not address health disparities. Improving the health of rural people requires community input and innovation to tackle the social determinants of health. In this episode, podcast co-hosts Dr. Juanita-Dawne Bacsu along with doctoral candidate Rita Xiaochen Hu and doctoral student Kaleigh Ligus sit down with Dr. Carrie Henning-Smith for a conversation about rural aging and some key challenges and actions for moving forward. 

Guest:  Carrie Henning-Smith, PhD, MPH, MSW (Bio)—Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Hosts:  Juanita-Dawne Bacsu, PhD (Bio)—Postdoctoral Fellow, Rural Dementia Action Research Team, University of Saskatchewan, and Research Associate, Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit, University of Regina, Canada; Rita Xiaochen Hu, MSW (Bio)—Doctoral Candidate in Social Work and Psychology, University of Michigan; Kaleigh Ligus, MA (Bio)—Doctoral Student, University of Connecticut.

This podcast episode is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund: 75th Anniversary. 

Science and Storytelling: Mentorship in the Field of Aging

Mentorship plays an important role in our professional and personal development. Mentors guide us, connect us, and advise us as we navigate the path towards our goals. In this episode, Dr. Keith E. Whitfield shares his mentorship experiences, both as a mentor and mentee, in the field of aging. Listen in to hear more about how mentorship has shaped one of the most distinguished careers in aging.

Guest:  Keith E. Whitfield, PhD, FGSA (Bio)—President, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Hosts:  Jo-Ana D. Chase, PhD, APRN-BC (Bio)—Associate Professor, University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing; and Danielle A. Waldron, PhD (Bio)—Assistant Professor, Healthcare Administration Department at Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts.

This podcast episode is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund: 75th Anniversary.

Science and Storytelling: Stigma of Dementia

Stigma of dementia is one of the greatest barriers for people living with dementia and their care partners. It can lead to low self-esteem, poor mental health, and a decreased quality of life. Research shows that older adults fear dementia more than cancer, stroke, and heart disease combined. Despite this knowledge, few studies focus on actions to improve understanding and reduce stigma of dementia. In this episode, Dr. Marc Viger sits down with podcast host Dr. Juanita-Dawne Bacsu to chat about stigma of dementia and discuss some key actions for challenging this issue and improving the quality of life for people living with dementia and their care partners. 

Guest:  Marc Viger, MD (Bio)—Family Physician and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. 

Host:  Juanita-Dawne Bacsu, PhD (Bio)—Postdoctoral Fellow, Rural Dementia Action Research Team, University of Saskatchewan, and Research Associate, Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit, University of Regina, Canada. 

This podcast episode is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund: 75th Anniversary.