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Symposium

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Preparing to Meet the Needs of Older Adults: Workforce, Training, and Education Issues

Friday, November 10, 2023
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
Location: Room 303

Due to projected growth in the older adult population in the United States, those working in healthcare and education will encounter increasing numbers of older adults. This population shift presents challenges and opportunities for individuals working in these settings to be ready to meet the needs of older adults. In this symposium, we highlight research on several issues critical to preparing the workforce in healthcare and education for older adults’ specific needs. Poon’s paper addresses geriatric behavioral health workforce needs identified by a survey of licensed behavioral health providers. Several barriers to providing care to older adults are identified by these providers. Rodriguez et al. investigated the clinical practice experiences and challenges from ten years’ worth of alumni of the VA Geriatric Scholars program. This training program provides a model for improving clinical practice with older adults. Hollis-Sawyer examines older students’ first experiences taking a course in an online teaching setting and provides specific suggestions to maximize their learning environment. Patterson et al. present an extensive scoping review of end-of-life training for medical students that identified several themes that can direct efforts to improve end-of-life care for older adults. Finally, Caskie et al. address health biases and age biases in doctoral psychology trainees’ anticipated clinical work with depressed older adult clients of varying health statuses and provide guidance to psychology programs for improving training. This symposium aims to provide those working in healthcare and educational settings with ways to address workforce preparedness to meet the needs of older adults.

Learning Objectives:

  • After attending this session, participants will be able to describe challenges and opportunities for meeting older adults’ needs in healthcare and educational settings.
  • After attending this session, participants will be able to list strategies for preparing the healthcare and educational workforce for the growing number of older adults in the United States.

Presentations:

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    Effect of Older Adult Health Status and Age on Trainees' Perceptions of Clinical Work With Older Adult Clients

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Grace I.L Caskie, PhD, FGSA (she/her/hers) – Lehigh University

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    Overview of the Nebraska Geriatric Behavioral Health Workforce Survey

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Cecilia Poon, PhD, ABPP (she/her/hers) – Nebraska Medicine/ UNMC

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    The Four C's of Teaching Older Learners: Implications for the Workplace and Career Work–Life Extension Efforts

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Lisa Hollis-Sawyer, PhD (she/her/hers) – Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago)

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    Examining the Geriatric Scholars Program: Impact on Clinical Practice Among VA Psychologists

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Rachel L. Rodriguez, PhD, MPH, ABPP (she/her/hers) – Durham VA Health Care System

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    Death and Dying Education in US Medical Schools: A Scoping Review

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Logan Patterson, B.S. – Washington State University