Here - American Geriatrics Society

P OSTER
A BSTRACTS
project, we attempt to understand some of the barriers against the efficacy
of skin cancer prevention strategies.
METHODS
A 26 question survey-based descriptive and prospective study
was performed on 140 Mohs surgery-treated patients at UCSD. Data
was analyzed using percentages and estimated confidence intervals
for population proportions.
RESULTS
51% of participants mentioned their doctor as a source of skin
cancer prevention information. 73% of the 140 study participants
were aware of sunblock as a protective strategy, and 76% of people in
this group report current usage of sunblock. Participants who were
able to name ≥2 preventative strategies had higher self-ratings of utilization
of those strategies than people who could only name 1 preventative
strategy. 43% of the people not using sunblock were unsure
that sunblock actually works, and 52% of them thought it was too
messy and oily. 65% of all participants improved in their self-rating of
utilization of preventative strategies post skin cancer diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of our survey study show that the majority of people
who know of successful protective strategies are actually using them,
and an awareness of a larger number of preventative strategies is related
to a higher chance of utilization. However, most of the behavior
improvement occurred after diagnosis of skin cancer, which suggests
that people are not considering their risk of skin cancer as an imminent
threat during early life. Therefore, in order to set up a future
framework to decrease the incidence of skin cancer in the aging population,
we recommend increasing the number of sun safety educational
campaigns as well as encouraging physicians to be more active
at educating patients on skin cancer risk.
C155
Maintaining and Respecting an Older Adults’ Life While It Is
Ending: Challenges Faced by Family Members.
C. R. Van Son, S. Izumi. College of Nursing, Washington State
University, Spokane, WA.
Supported By: American Nurses Foundation
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Background: Efforts towards the improvement of end of life
care must be accelerated to meet the needs of our rapidly aging society.
Older adults with chronic conditions experience a longer trajectory
with acute exacerbations and recovery, with progressive functional
declines occurring over months and years. Palliative care
adaptations are still needed to meet the needs of older adults going
through prolonged and uncertain trajectory at the end of life. A gap
exists between the focus on palliative care by healthcare
providers/systems and the need for maintaining and optimizing daily
life for older adults. The objective of this presentation is to describe
the gap from the family member’s perspective.
Methods: Qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews
with 23 family members of deceased older adults with various
chronic conditions. Secondary analysis of the interview data was
conducted using qualitative thematic analysis approach.
Results: Family members shared the challenges they faced while
they were facilitating the care of older family members who were
dying. Although families were aware of the downward decline, they
still recognized the importance of keeping daily routines to maintain
the quality and function of the older adult’s life. However, once an acknowledgement
of dying was made by the healthcare provider/system,
the palliative care approach was instituted and not always
adapted to optimize function and daily routines of older adults. Families
reported that healthcare providers often: 1) relegated the older
adult to a bedbound status while they were still able to be actively
mobile; 2) failed to inquire about or respond to daily routines that
would enhance daily life; 3) dismissed older adults as being cognitively
impaired when they were not; and 4) neglected to prevent or
address treatable geriatric conditions such as delirium.
Conclusions: End of life for older adults occurs over weeks,
months, and even years. Therefore, palliative care approaches must
consider this longer trajectory and adapt to meet the older adults’
and their family members’ needs.
C156
Impact of financial exploitation on the health of older women.
C. P. Mouton. Dean’s Office, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN.
Supported By: National Institutes of Health
Background: Financial abuse (FA) and exploitation is a growing
problem. Nationally, an estimated 12.3 % of elder abuse victims are
victims of FA. However, little is known about the effects of FA on independently
functioning older women.
Objectives: To determine the effect of FA on health status and
quality of life in a cohort of functionally independent older women.
Design: Cross-sectional survey
Setting: The local Observational Study Cohort of the Women’s
Health Initiative in San Antonio, Texas
Participants: Using this cohort, we surveyed over 1200 women,
aged 50-79 years old.
Measurements: We asked these women about their exposure of
FA prior to the survey and currently. Women were also asked about
their health status using the SF-36.
Results: Of the 1271 women surveyed, 2.9% being forced to sign
documents they did not understand, 3.6% were forced to give up
property, 32% had money borrowed, and 2% had finances controlled
against their wishes. Being forced to sign documents was associated
with lower role-physical, pain, general health and physical component
summary scores. Giving up property was associated with lower
role-physical, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health, and
mental component summary scores. Having money borrowed was associated
with lower role-physical, role-emotional, and mental component
summary scores. Having finances controlled was associated with
lower social functioning, role-emotional, and mental component summary
scores.
Conclusion: Experiencing financial abuse is associated with
lower sexual health status and poor quality of life in older women.
C157
Micronutrient Deficiencies in Palliative Care Patients.
C. Petit, A. F. Leone. Palmetto Health - USC School of Medicine,
Columbia, SC.
Background: As health providers attempt to mitigate and ease
discomfort, suffering and pain in the palliative care patient, it becomes
imperative to investigate and treat all factors that might be
contributing to distress. Unconsciously, we tend to assume that nutritional
deficiencies are isolated to populations from third world countries,
those who underwent bariatric weight loss procedures or those
with know malabsorption syndromes. Current studies are proving this
idea to be a myth.
Methods: In an effort to provide comprehensive care, patients
with symptoms suggestive of deficiency states, who were expected to
live for at least one month, underwent a nutritional assessment to
screen for micronutrient deficiencies seen by a single provider of a
Palliative Care Consultant Service. It was the intent to replace any
nutritional paucity. Those who underwent screening, directed by
symptom constellation, underwent analysis of various micronutrients
including Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, Vitamin D, ascorbic acid,
CoQ10, Zinc, pre-albumin and albumin.
Results: 58 sequential referrals in May and June of this year underwent
chart reviewed. 13 were suspected to have a life expectancy
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AGS 2012 ANNUAL MEETING