Presidential Symposium: Reimagining Aging and Long-Term Care for Health Equity During and Post-COVID-19: A Health Sciences Focus

Friday, November 4, 2022

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Location: Sagamore 6-7 CC

CE: 1.5

Chair(s)

Kirsten Corazzini, PhD, FGSA

Dean and Professor
College of Health and Human Services
University of New Hampshire
Durham, New Hampshire, United States

Discussant(s)

Christine Mueller, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN

Professor
School of Nursing
University of Minnesota
Roseville, Minnesota, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

Anna Beeber, PhD, RN, FAAN (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
School of Nursing
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Kathleen Unroe, MD, MHA

Associate Professor
School of Medicine
Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
JT

Jasmine Travers, PhD, MHS, RN

Assistant Professor
NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing
NYU
New York City, New York, United States
Katherine McGilton, PhD

Senior Scientist
Research
KITE Research Institute: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-UHN
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Amy Vogelsmeier, PhD, RN, FAAN

Associate Professor
Sinclair School of Nursing
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri, United States

In line with the theme of the conference, this symposium highlights exemplars of health sciences scholars who are identifying key issues and opportunities to re-imagine aging and long-term care, through a health equity lens, as highlighted by COVID-19. This lens is inclusive of the wide range of long-term care stakeholders whose well-being and health outcomes have been affected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including older adults, family caregivers, and the healthcare workforce. We focus in particular on vulnerable aging populations, such as older adults who are living with neurocognitive disorders, racial/ethnic minority older adults, and older adults receiving palliative care. Finally, we consider these issues at both individual and systems-levels. Our first presenter examines person and family engagement in assisted living for older adults living with ADRD and the impact of COVID-19. The second presenter provides insights into palliative care needs in nursing homes, and the implications for transition to an endemic. The third presenter examines long-term care needs in the community, with a focus on the consequences of unmet needs for racial/ethnic minority older adults. The fourth presenter highlights the role and capacity of the nurse practitioner in nursing homes during COVID. Our final presenters provide a systems-level look at the COVID-19 response, focusing on self-organizing community coalitions to support nursing homes. Presentations reveal how re-imagining aging and long-term care in health sciences, requires consideration of health inequities experienced throughout COVID-19, whether newly emerging inequities, or long-standing challenges and inequities that have been exacerbated by COVID-19.

Learning Objectives:

Highlight issues of health equity that have emerged and must be addressed in a pandemic to endemic transition in long-term care for older adults, including health systems and the healthcare workforce, older persons, their families and care partners.
Identify key research questions related to COVID-19 health sciences research that are focused on ‘re-imagining aging’ for diverse populations of older adults, their families, and the healthcare workforce across settings of long-term care.

Presentations:

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Impact of COVID on Person and Family Engagement in Assisted Living
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Anna Beeber, PhD, RN, FAAN (she/her/hers) – Johns Hopkins University
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Palliative Care for Nursing Home Residents: Applying Lessons Learned From COVID-19
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kathleen T. Unroe, MD, MHA – Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc.
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Addressing Unmet Long-Term Services and Supports Needs for Racial/Ethnic Minority Older Adults
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jasmine Travers, PhD, MHS, RN – NYU
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

The Long-Term Care Staffing Crisis and COVID-19: Role of the Nurse Practitioner
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Katherine McGilton, PhD – KITE Research Institute: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-UHN
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

A Look Inside the Missouri Nursing Home COVID-19 Experience
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Amy Vogelsmeier, PhD, RN, FAAN – University of Missouri