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By 2030 more people in the United States will be older than age sixty-five than younger than age five. Our health care system is unprepared for the complexity of caring for a heterogenous population of older adults-a problem that has been magnified by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here, as part of the National Academy of Medicine's Vital Directions for Health and Health Care: Priorities for 2021 initiative, we identify six vital directions to improve the care and quality of life for all older Americans. The next administration must create an adequately prepared workforce; strengthen the role of public health; remediate disparities and inequities; develop, evaluate, and implement new approaches to care delivery; allocate resources to achieve patient-centered care and outcomes, including palliative and end-of-life care; and redesign the structure and financing of long-term services and supports. If these priorities are addressed proactively, an infrastructure can be created that promotes better health and equitable, goal-directed care that recognizes the preferences and needs of older adults.

To address the self-care needs of African American family caregivers, a community-engaged approach was used to develop and implement a half-day virtual self-care program. This study evaluates experiences of program attendees. All attendees were emailed an electronic survey containing Likert-type and open-ended questions. Responses were examined for patterns and key content-related categories using inductive content analysis. Eleven attendees responded to the survey. All 11 strongly agreed (64%) or agreed (36%) that the event met their expectations and/or needs. In addition to providing opportunity to take time to engage in self-care, the event created a virtual space for women to focus on themselves. Women spoke about three distinct ways the event met their needs: (1) learning and trying new things, (2) access to resources, and (3) having a shared experience. These findings suggest that virtual programs may be used as an additional resource to support the health of African American women caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the pilot delivery of an evaluation method to gauge student learning of gerontological competencies. Using a pretest and posttest design, data were collected on 46 students over 3 classes. Results indicated significant improvement in how students rated or perceived their competencies skill level between pretest and posttest scores (p < 0.01).

Aims: To develop an innovative community‐academic partnership to advance, test and promote intimate partner violence screening and referral protocols by comparing the effect of integrating intimate partner violence advocates versus enhancing medical training in medical clinic settings serving women from vulnerable populations. Detecting intimate partner violence in healthcare settings allows for survivors to connect to safety and referral resources prior to violence escalating. Screening for intimate partner violence and connecting patients to referral resources requires creating a safe and trusting relationship between healthcare providers and patients. Developing screening and referral protocols responsive to survivors' needs requires involvement of clinic staff, survivors and community agencies that support survivors. Design: Three phases of the project include Discovery, Implementation and Dissemination. Mixed‐methodology will help in understanding current practices and effects of interventions. Methods: Actions included in each phase: Discovery: 1) nurse‐led focus groups of clinic staff, providers and survivors to understand current clinic practices; 2) retrospective chart review of the number of screens performed, positive screens detected and interventions performed. Implementation: 1) randomization of patients to be interviewed by a trained advocate or by healthcare provider with enhanced training; and 2) assess the number of screenings and referrals performed in each arm and 3) evaluate outcomes of intervention. Dissemination through: presentations, manuscripts and policy recommendations at the institutional and regional level. This IRB‐approved proposal was funded in July 2021 by an Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin grant. Discussion The partnership has improved channels of communication and understanding between diverse clinical care providers, survivors and community agency staff as they navigate the complex challenges to the development and integration of screening and referral protocols. Impact This project will provide evidence of the most effective intimate partner violence screening and referral methodology that can be utilized in a wide variety of medical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveys completed by 78 master of social work graduates 1 month before and 6 months after graduation indicated that 20% found aging-related employment; most had contact with elders and used gerontology knowledge at work. Frequent and rewarding interactions with older clients before graduation were significant predictors of aging-related work; aging anxiety, gender, race, and concentration were not. (Contains 39 references.) (SK)

Examined the effects of socialization and participation in community activism on female social work students' development of skills in leadership, influence, power use, and collaboration. Surveys and focus groups indicated that women had few opportunities to develop leadership skills until college and were uncomfortable with their power and influence. The required community activism provided opportunities to succeed through collaborative leadership. (SM)