3. Presentations from Geriatrics Academic Career Award Participants

Improving Mental Health in Older Adults with Chronic Wounds

Speaker: Dr. Emily Samuels

Chronic wounds often cause pain, sleep disturbance, and reduced mobility, leading to functional declines and social isolation, particularly in older adults. Depression, which is common among chronic wound patients, can worsen healing and treatment adherence, creating a vicious cycle. This approach integrates physical and psychological care, including screening for depression and social isolation, and is crucial for improving both mental and physical outcomes in geriatric patients.

Learning Objectives
Older adults with chronic wounds are susceptible to depression and anxiety. To support this population, the learner will to:

1. Identify risk factors
2. Understand the reasons for screening
3. Create a care plan to screen and address depression/anxiety

Enhancing Mental Health Care for Older Adults: A Collaborative Practice Model for Chronic Care Management

Speaker: Dr. Mary Bonnet

The University of Rochester Medical Geriatrics Group has developed a practice model to improve the management of mental health conditions among older adults, with an emphasis on chronic care. The model involves a comprehensive 90-minute initial visit and regular follow-up visits, ensuring continuous, coordinated care through a collaborative approach between attending physicians and advanced practice providers. This model aims to optimize medical and mental health outcomes and promote individualized, patient-centered care for older adults.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the key components of the University of Rochester's practice model for managing mental health in older adults, including the roles of attending physicians and advanced practice providers.
2. Discuss the benefits of a collaborative care approach in managing chronic mental health conditions and ensuring continuity of care for older adults.
3. Identify strategies for improving mental health outcomes in older adults, including comprehensive medication reviews, including psychotropic medication management

Using the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) to Screen Older Adults for Mental Health Disorders

Speaker: Dr. Lauren Okamoto 

The presentation highlights the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) as a valuable tool for improving the quality of life in older adults by promoting preventive mental health screenings. It discusses the development and implementation of an interprofessional AWV teaching clinic, demonstrating increased depression screening rates and patient satisfaction through a collaborative interprofessional approach. The findings emphasize the importance of the Medicare AWV for enhancing mental health wellness older adults.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe how the annual wellness visit (AWV) serves as a tool for preventive mental health screening in older adults
2. Encourage use of the AWV to increase screening for mental health issues among older adults
3. Use AWV screening to improve patient-centered care and patient satisfaction

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation