HLTH Executive Series: Caring for an Aging Population with Dr. Maria Torroella Carney, Northwell Health
Both hospice and geriatric care are underutilized and misunderstood despite offering critical support for quality of life, especially for older adults.
In this episode, Maria Torroella Carney, Chief of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine for Northwell Health and co-author of "The Aging Revolution," discusses the importance of reframing healthcare systems to better serve the growing aging population. She highlights the need for increased home care, caregiver support, and innovative technologies, emphasizing the role of family caregivers as an "invisible workforce." Maria addresses the rising number of "elder orphans" who lack family support and the need to identify them early and provide necessary resources. She also shares that while palliative care is gaining traction, geriatric medicine faces a decline in interest, underscoring the need for initiatives like the Age-Friendly Health System.
Tune in to discover the specific policy changes that could improve hospice access and what healthcare systems should do to better address the unique needs of older adults!
About Maria Torroella Carney:
Dr. Maria Torroella Carney is a highly respected internist, geriatrician, and palliative care physician with a robust background in public health. She is the Chief of the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine and an Associate Professor of Medicine. She also holds the position of Chief of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine for Northwell Health. As the first geriatrician to serve as a health department commissioner in New York State, Dr. Carney has made significant contributions to the field of longevity promotion and the care of vulnerable populations. Her research focuses on advanced care planning, shared decision-making, elder abuse, and capacity assessment. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding community service and leadership.
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Things You’ll Learn:
Hospice is a model of care focused on quality of life, not just end-of-life, and includes comprehensive support services. It's underutilized due to a lack of understanding and difficult decisions required regarding foregoing certain treatments.
Patients should be able to explore hospice without feeling obligated to stop other care immediately.
Family caregivers are an "invisible workforce" that requires more support, education, and resources. They are integral to the healthcare team yet often overlooked.
Elder orphans, those aging without family support, are a growing concern and need early identification and tailored support.
Geriatric medicine and palliative care are in their infancy and require more attention and specialists to meet their increasing needs. There's an insufficient number of professionals in these fields.
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