GSA on Aging

GSA Policy Profile: The State of Medical Use of Cannabidiol in Older Adults in 2023

The use of cannabis among older adults is increasing in the United States. While cannabis use has been suggested to help alleviate chronic symptoms experienced by older adults, its potential adverse effects may lead to unintended consequences, including increased acute healthcare utilization related to its use. This GSA Policy Profile delves into what has happened in the environment since 2021 when GSA published Medical Use of Cannabidiol in Older Adults, which was based on a convening of experts in pharmacy, clinical medicine, research, law, and policy.Additional resources:Common Terminology & Glossary (April 2023 Version)Cannabis InfographicFDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD)Download the TranscriptGuests:Libby Baney, J.D., Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLPCarmen Witsken, PharmD, Executive Fellow in Association Leadership and Management at American Society of Consultant PharmacistsHost: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 Jazz Pharmaceuticals

GSA Section Podcast: Who’s (Not) in the House?

A staffing crisis in long-term care has created challenges for residents, caregivers, and direct care workers. Despite the decreasing number of cases of COVID-19, interest in long-term care employment continues to dwindle. This staffing crisis, which resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a chronic problem. This podcast episode will feature the work and insights of GSA members Katherine McGilton, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, and Barbara Bowers, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA. Dr. McGilton’s research focus is on the care of persons with cognitive impairment, particularly in identifying interventions and models of care delivery that lead to effective patient outcomes. She also has experience in outcome measure development and has published on various aspects of intervention and outcomes in dementia care, rehabilitation care, and long-term care. Dr. Bowers has conducted research with frail, older adults to examine how nursing staff and long-term care systems impact quality of life and quality of care. She has worked with state and federal government bodies to develop, implement, and evaluate public policies affecting older adults. 
Guests: Barbara Bowers PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, Professor Emerita, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin–Madison; and Katherine McGilton, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, Senior Scientist, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute–University Health Network, Scientist, KITE Research Institute at University Health Network, and Professor, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
Host: Kirsten N. Corazzini, PhD, FGSA, Dean and Professor, University of New Hampshire College of Health and Human Services. 
This podcast episode is supported by the GSA Innovation Fund.

The Gerontologist Podcast: TikTok and Ageism with Dr. Reuben Ng

Dr. Degenholtz interviewed Dr. Reuben Ng at the Le Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore about two papers on ageism on TikTok published in The Gerontologist.  In "Not Too Old for TikTok: How Older Adults Are Reframing Aging", he and his co-author examine how older adults use TikTok, and in "Hostility Toward Baby Boomers on TikTok", they examine the reaction of younger adults to the ways that older adults use TikTok.  Taken together, these two papers shed light on fascinating sub-cultures of the virtual world. 
Both articles are published in the October 2022 issue of The Gerontologist.

The Gerontologist Podcast: Assessing Age-Friendly Communities with Dr. Kathy Black

Dr. Degenholtz interviewed Dr. Kathy Black at the University of South Florida about her article, "Assessing Age-Friendly Community Progress: What Have We Learned?", which appeared in the special issue of The Gerontologist, Age-Friendly Environments.  Dr. Black's article led off the special issue and summarized the overall performance of age-friendly communities.
For an overview of the special issue, check out the editorial by Dr. Meeks:Age-Friendly Communities: Introduction to the Special Issue

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 episode 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 episode 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. Spetz2. 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?