|
Program
for Research and Education on Aging (PREA)
| Directors |
Patrick
K. Murray, M.D., M.S.
Julia H. Rose, Ph.D., M.A. |
Mission
To improve the quality of life for older and disabled Ohioans
through research and education programming in the areas of acute, post
acute, long term, and palliative care that informs clinicians and policymakers
about cost effective innovations that are ripe for implementation.
Research Themes
| Long
Term Care LTC has been transformed in the past 20 years from a residential service for the frail and cognitively impaired to a spectrum of services serving residential, restorative, and palliative roles for many older adults. Quality care remains a critical issue in many residential care settings. Issues of quality of life, autonomy, and functional restoration and maintenance however are increasingly important concerns in LTC. How our society will support this rapidly growing segment of health care is a challenge for providers and state and federal governments alike. Our ongoing LTC research projects include: 1) analysis of longitudinal data for a recently completed randomized clinical trial testing a care coordination model of "all-inclusive long term care programs for frail elderly veterans (New Milennium Bill funded research " 2) an analysis of the clinical outcomes resulting from the 1997 Balanced Budget Amendment. All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Project Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Project Recent Publications on Long Term Care
|
||||||||||
| Cancer
in the Elderly There is growing recognition of the need to examine age and cohort differences in cancer care practices and patient outcomes from diagnosis and treatment to long-term survivorship or end-of-life. Age is a key consideration in testing interventions to improve care practices and quality of life outcomes for patients over time. The incidence of cancer is rising and occurs with greater frequency throughout the middle years. It is already the leading cause of death among women in their forties and fifties and is the second leading cause of death for men in this age group. The prevalence of cancer is highest among adults over age 60 and is now the leading cause of death among older adults in their sixties and seventies, replacing heart disease. The number of long term survivors of cancer is also on the increase, including older long term survivors who may require assistance in follow up over time. Studies to date suggest that patients' age is an important factor in communication and medical decision making in both hospital and community-based settings. Educational and training programs for health professionals in cancer care must be expanded to include curricula that enhance knowledge, attitudes and skills in evidence-based clinical care of older cancer patients. Our ongoing aging and cancer research projects include 1) a randomized clinical trial to test a coping and communication support intervention for middle-aged and older advanced cancer patients (NCI R01 and VA HSR&D funded research) and 2) collaboration on a longitudinal study of older long-term cancer survivors and their family members (NCI R01 and R03 funded research). In addition, we are developing a program for psychosocial and health services research on aging and cancer, in collaboration with the Aging and Cancer Research Initiative (NCI-NIA P-20) at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC). Education and training initiatives also are planned in collaboration with the CCCC Aging and Cancer Research Initiative and include developing, implementing and evaluating a curriculum in geriatric oncology for geriatric fellows and oncology fellows trained together, building on our conceptual framework for shared care of older patients. The Western Reserve Geriatric Education Center is taking a lead in developing and disseminating continuing education programs for the health professions on topics related to geriatric oncology and shared care. Recent Publications on Cancer in the Elderly:
|
||||||||||
| Enhancing
Abilities The paradigm through which policymakers, clinicians, researchers consider disability has undergone a major revision in recent years. Using technological, policy, and educational tools to enable abilities has supplanted a focus on lessening impairment as a major direction. Our currently funded development and research project designs and evaluates a shared decision making program that meshes with this new paradigm shift. Shared Decision Making Project Recent Pulications on Enhancing Abilities:
|
||||||||||
| Geriatric
Palliative and End of Life Care There is a clearly demonstrated need for research and education to improve care for older adults during chronic illness and at end of life. This is evidenced by such recent publications as: The American Geriatrics Society Position Statement on the Care of Dying Patients (2002), Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care (2004), Recommended Competencies and Curricular Guidelines for End of Life Nursing Care (2004), National Association of Social Workers Standards for Palliative and End of Life Care (2004), and the NIH Consensus on the State of the Science on Improving End-of-Life Care (2004). America's elders often confront the challenges of living and dying with acute and chronic illness, impairments and suffering. Improved education and training that merges state of the art knowledge and skills in palliative care and geriatrics to better serve the geriatric palliative care needs of this population will be a focus of our efforts. Our ongoing geriatric palliative and end of life care research includes 1) collaboration on a new intervention study to examine intensive communication in the chronically critically ill (NINR R01 funded project). In addition, we are developing White Paper recommendations for education and training in the new field of geriatric palliative care (HRSA BHPr funded project). Mentorship for junior faculty and students in medicine, nursing and social work is recognized as a high priority in advancing this new field. The new Institute for Palliative and End-of-Life Care will collaborate with the Western Reserve Geriatric Education Center to develop, implement and evaluate a new interdisciplinary faculty development curriculum on Geriatric Palliative Care at Case. Research and Education programs are closely tied to the development, implementation and evaluation of our clinical programs, e.g., Residency Training and the Palliative Care program (including consultation and direct care) across the MetroHealth System. Recent Publications on End of Life Care:
|
Educational Programs
Associated Faculty
| Elizabeth O'Toole, MD |
| Mary Jo Roach, PhD |
Aging Links
| Geriatric Research Education & Clinical Care (GRECC) |
| Case Western Reserve University Center on Aging |
Positions Available
| Geriatrics/Palliative Care Health Services Researcher |
This site copyright © 2014 - All Rights Reserved.
Questions and inquiries concerning content should be sent to: