Spring 2022 Newsletter

By Robin McAtee, PhD, RN, FACHE, Director, Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC), a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging (DWR IOA)

Thank you to all of our AGEC health professional friends and peers for continuing to support AGEC programs and activities. We started off this year with more depressing COVID-19 Omicron news and a huge uptick in positive cases. However, we marched on and now as spring is emerging, we are once again having face-to-face programs and attending in-person events. Hooray! Our community participants have been very excited about getting back together face-to-face for evidence-based programs and activities and attendance has been great. The social isolation over the past two years has certainly taken its toll, but we are doing what we can to limit or even reverse its effect. 

Over the past 3 months we have worked diligently to maintain programming and activities and our outcomes are great. For the clinical activities in March, we were excited to partner with Opioid Prevention for Aging and Longevity (OPAL) and UAMS’s Academic Detailing program at the Psychiatric Research Institute to provide 2 hours of continuing education on Naloxone to AGEC’s clinical partners at ARcare in England, Augusta, Cabot West, Bald Knob, Wynne and Benton. OPAL is also securing Naloxone kits which will be distributed to these clinics when available. 

We continued to also provide many programs virtually. Highlights included several events via Zoom such as: Eat Well Live Well at the Benton Senior Center; Mental Health, Food, & Exercise with partners AARP & AR-Connect; Internet Safety via Zoom in partnership with the Central Arkansas Library System; Caregiver Resources with partner AARP; Kidney Health at the Bryant Senior Center; and Preventing Isolation in partnership with UCA students. The AGEC Age Wise podcast continues to be popular along with AGEC’s Facebook page where we now have over 2,400 followers. The program “Understanding Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease” was presented for 28 UCA Consumer Science students in February, and a video caregiver story entitled “Dealing with Hardships While Caring for Parents” was released online for National Caregivers Day on 2/18/22, with over 2,800 views.

Health Professional trainings have also been active with over 200 attendees this past quarter. Webinars included: Immunization 2022: Communication & Science Update (1/12/22); and The Importance of Hearing in Healthy Cognitive Aging (2/16/22). On 2/8/22, The Challenges and Opportunities: Working with Rural CBOs, was presented to a national audience during a GWEP-CC Peer Sharing Webinar, and the AGEC webinar for March was in partnership with OPAL with Kirk Lane, AR Drug Director, titled Arkansas Naloxone Project. 

AGEC has also been excited to get back out in the community presenting evidence-based programs and activities face-to-face at local communities of faith and senior centers. Older adults are attending these programs and enjoying meeting again with their peers! We at the AGEC thank all of you for your loyalty and partnerships; we could not reach all the healthcare professionals, students, or older adults without all of you! Thank you!!!

Spring 2022 Newsletter

By Sarah Emison, Pharm.D. and Lisa C. Hutchison, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, BCGP
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy

Many older adults have difficulty taking their medications every day at home.  With chronic health conditions, daily medications are an important part of staying healthy just like eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.  Forgetting to take medications that are needed increases the risk of disease flare-up, hospitalization, and nursing home admission.  Clinicians need to stay current on the options to help older adults stay independent in their homes or reduce the burden on caregivers.

A key factor in managing medications at home is to maintain a current list.  This list should include all prescription medications as well as any medications a patient is taking without a prescription including over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbal remedies.  The medication name, dose, and directions should be included. The patient or caregiver should be educated on what each medication is for as well as how to take it and what should be expected, both therapeutic and adverse effects. It may be helpful to write this information on the medication list as a reminder or a reference.  The patient/caregiver should keep this list in a convenient location such as a wallet or purse for when they have a doctor’s visit or an emergency. (Zonsius 2022)

The second factor in managing medications at home is to have a way to keep track of administration.  Simple options include a calendar to mark off when medications are taken, or a daily administration record. They are available from some pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and the Internet, or a person can create their own. These charts can be posted on the refrigerator or other convenient location. Another option is a talking alarm which can be set to provide a reminder of when it is time to take your medication. See Figure 1 for examples of charts and alarms. People with smart phones can download an app which will provide reminders and allow tracking of when medications are taken.  Some examples include MediSafe and DoseCast.  (Treichler 2022)

Pill containers are another option that help a patient that just needs to see if they have taken their medications (or not) each day to help keep track. Also, they can be filled ahead of time by caregivers so a person can maintain independence with taking medications each day. These containers come in a wide variety.  Most recognized are weekly containers with openings for 7, 14, or 30 days.  These can be filled with medications that are needed for each day.  Other pill containers are arranged with 4 administration times for each day of the week.  (Figure 2) 

Some high-tech products provide automatic dispensing of the medications when it is administration time.  Alarms sound when it is time to take the medication so the patient can press a button for the tablet(s) to be dispensed.  In this way, they prevent a person from opening up the containers when it isn’t time to take their medication.  In addition, some can be connected to the Internet to allow monitoring of medication dispensed remotely by caregivers who can’t be present for each administration time.   (Figure 3)

Individuals with low vision may benefit from larger print prescription labels. These can be request from most pharmacies.  Pill containers as discussed above are often labeled in Braille for the days of the week or administration times.  Other options are gadgets have been developed which are attached to prescription bottles or use a reading device programmed to provide talking prescription instructions.

Many pharmacies provide services that can be helpful in managing medications at home.  Pill packing services involve preparing a blister pack for each administration time for medications.  Often these are provided without additional charge.  Pill packing services can be arranged by some local community pharmacies, particularly stores that are independently owned.  Some mail order pharmacies also provide this service.

Another important service that community pharmacies provide is medication reconciliation and comprehensive medication review.  As the number of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications a patient takes increases, it becomes more likely that a medication is continued that is no longer needed, a drug-drug interaction is occurring, or administration instructions get confused between different medications.  Pharmacists are trained to review each medication to determine if any of these concerns are occurring and can work with providers to assure a patient is on an optimal medication regimen. Having fewer medications to take is another way to help with managing medications at home.  A medication reconciliation and review is recommended for all older adults each time a medication is prescribed.  (LeBlanc 2015)

In conclusion, health care professionals need to be aware of the many options for helping patients manage medications at home.  Medication education and reconciliation go hand-in-hand with tools and devices designed to keep medication administration safe and convenient for our older patients.

Figure 1: Examples of Alarms and Charts

Figure 2:  Pill Container Examples

Figure 2: Automatic Pill Dispenser Examples

References:

LeBlanc RG, Choi J.  Optimizing medication safety in the home.  Home Healthcare Now, 2015; 33:313-9

Treichler C.  The 10 best medication reminder apps for 2022. Onlinedoctor January 16. 2022.  https://www.onlinedoctor.com/best-medicine-reminder-apps/ .  Accessed April 12, 2022.

Zonsius MC, Myftari K, Newman M, Emery-Tiburcio EE.  Optimizing older adults’ medication use.  AJN, 2022; 122:38-43.

Spring 2022 Newsletter

By Whitney Thomasson, MAP, CRS
Research Assistant
UAMS Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC)

The Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC) has worked in partnership with the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation (IDHI) via PatientsLearn to provide free, on-demand, virtual educational programs for older adults on a variety of topics such as disaster preparedness and social isolation. UAMS PatientsLearn is an online medical education hub, with a patient-centered approach for health and wellness resources. In total, 7 AGEC programs are available, ranging from about 25 minutes to 1 hour in length. These programs can be valuable educational tools for older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals for referral resources. Registration is free, simple, and available nationwide. Click here for our available programs via UAMS PatientsLearn.

• Recognizing & Preventing Social Isolation: This program educates participants on both the warning signs and the effects of isolation and loneliness. Tips for prevention are shared, along with resources for both older adults and caregivers facing these issues.
• Heart Health & Brain Health: This program helps viewers better understand the connection between heart and brain health. Risk factors and prevention measures for stroke, dementia, and heart disease are also discussed.
• Eat Well Live Well: Through utilization of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, this program defines terms about diet and nutrition, and highlights reliable dietary resources. Eat Well Live Well aims to guide older adults in developing healthy dietary patterns.
• Understanding Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease: This program was created for family caregivers and community members alike to gain awareness and knowledge about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Normal aging vs dementia is discussed, along with risk factors, the stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia-friendly communication skills.
• Understanding Opioids: The definition and examples of opioids are covered in this program, along with a background of the opioid epidemic and its effect on prescriptions. Best practices after receiving a prescription opioid are addressed, along with a variety of non-opioid pain management alternatives. Free chronic pain booklets are available for viewers.
• Fall Prevention & Home Safety: In this program, viewers learn about how to identify and prevent the risk of falls, the physical and mental consequences of falling, resources for safety checks, and exercises for fall prevention. Tips for improving an older adult’s balance, as well as for improving home safety, are discussed.
• Disaster Preparedness for Seniors: In collaboration with the American Red Cross, preparedness tips for many types of disasters (weather, climate, home fire/flood, etc.) are covered. Emergency kits, evacuation plans, as well as best practices for caring for a loved one with dementia in a disaster are covered in this program.

All of the above programs are available 24/7, at no cost, via UAMS PatientsLearn. Be sure to check back later in 2022 for additional programming. Please share these programs with older adults and caregivers in your circles who may benefit from this education!

Winter 2022 Newsletter

By Robin McAtee, PhD, RN, FACHE, Director, Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC), a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging (DWR IOA)

Happy New Year to all of you from the Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative staff! As we have attempted to settle back into routines after the holidays, I suspect many of you may be struggling a bit, just as we are here at the AGEC. We had just begun to get back out into the communities with robust programming when Omicron decided to visit. Here we go again! 

On the positive side, after almost two years, we have all learned new skill sets! We can effectively work remotely: we can teach and learn, we can conduct community education and exercise activities, we can “meet”, we can still deliver great outcomes, and most of all – we have learned that no one cares what we look like on Zoom!

Fall of 2021 was very busy for AGEC. We met with our HRSA project officer in October and reviewed our quarterly report where we were congratulated on all of our accomplishments, including our MIPS and age-friendly training with our clinical partner, ARcare. A special thanks and shout out to our lead partner at ARcare, John Beard, and Dr. Leah Tobey, here at the AGEC, for their tireless training and reporting which is required to meet objectives of this grant!

AGEC also continued with webinars with Dr. Lee Isaac in October where he presented Diversity in Dementia, and Dr. Jonathan Laryea who spoke in December regarding Older Adults and Constipation. Dr. Tobey and Ms. Spradley from the AGEC also spoke at the Reynolds Institute on Aging 5^th Annual Dementia Update to caregivers, and I presented at the Dementia Update to the healthcare professionals regarding: What Matters Most: A critical part of the dementia care equation.

We had a plethora of special events during November that aligned with National Family Caregiver Month, and they were all very well received. AGEC Podcasts are doing well and  Vanessa Lee & Laura Spradley spent time being guests on The Vine, a KTHV Channel 11 morning program, where they spoke about AGEC caregiver-related programs in November and appeared again in December. 

As we buckle down for what are usually the worst winter months in Arkansas, January and February, let’s keep working and helping our older adults. Let’s keep learning and improving our knowledge and skills for them!

Stay warm and safe!

Winter 2022 Newsletter

By Jasmine (Sea) An, PharmD, PGY2 Geriatric Pharmacy Resident, and Lisa C Hutchison, PharmD, MPH
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy

In June 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-of-its-kind monoclonal antibody indicated for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild stage of disease. Despite this groundbreaking approval, controversy surrounds the drug.

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) is an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody directed against aggregated amyloid beta (AAB) plaques, which is a defining pathophysiological feature of Alzheimer’s disease.¹ Administration requires infusion over a 1-hour period every 4 weeks. The dose is slowly titrated to meet the goal dose (10 mg/kg) by the seventh infusion. According to the FDA label, no diagnostic tests are required to confirm the presence of AAB plaques prior to initiating this therapy. However, patients are required to obtain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and prior to their seventh and twelfth dose to screen for potential adverse events. The FDA label does not specify any contraindications.

Part of the controversy with aducanumab is the limited data available to evaluate the efficacy of aducanumab. Approval was based on two phase-3 trials. Phase-3 trials help confirm effectiveness and safety of investigational drugs. Both trials were terminated early due to clinical futility. However, Biogen, the manufacturer of aducanumab, subsequently conducted post hoc analysis of the data from the terminated trials to present to the FDA.

The two trials are called ENGAGE² and EMERGE³. Both trials were 18-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group studies. Patients received placebo, low-dose aducanumab (3 or 6 mg/kg), or high dose aducanumab (6 or 10 mg/kg). Some of the major exclusion criteria were:

• age over 85,
• transient ischemic attack or stroke within one year prior to screening,
• contraindications to having a brain MRI or PET scan, and
• use of medications with platelet antiaggregant or anticoagulant properties.^2,3

The primary endpoint was changes from baseline in Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), and secondary endpoints were changes from baseline in Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog), and Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living MCI (ADCS-ADL-MCI). Both trials showed statistical reduction in AAB plaque compared to baseline. However, neither trial showed statistically significant difference in clinically useful endpoints for low-dose aducanumab.⁴ As for high-dose aducanumab, there were mixed results with the EMERGE trial showing statistical significance in the primary endpoint while the ENGAGE trial not showing any statistically significant difference.⁴

In addition to the question of efficacy, safety is another concern. Specifically, amyloid-related imaging abnormalities edema (ARIA-E) occurred in 35% of patients who received aducanumab compared to 3% from the placebo group.⁴ Even though ARIA-E was found to be reversible and non-significant, symptoms such as changes in mental state, confusion, and gait disturbances may be present. Other serious adverse reactions shown on imaging were microhemorrhage and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities-hemosiderin deposition (ARIA-H) which both had ≥10% higher risk compared to placebo. Other safety concerns were headaches, falls, and diarrhea.⁴

Aducanumab was FDA approved through accelerated approval and Biogen must conduct a fourth randomized clinical trial to prove that aducanumab actually slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease measured in clinical results, not just in changes in AAB plaque. Other barriers to utilizing this medication include cost. Initially Biogen indicated the estimated cost was $56,000 per year (excluding cost of administration and imaging), but that figure was lowered to $28,200 per year as of January 2022.⁵ Because of the lack of clear clinical improvement and safety concerns, the Department of Veterans Affairs did not include aducanumab on its national formulary⁶, and other major health systems such as the Cleveland Clinic and Mount Sinai have affirmed their opposition to the drug as well.⁷ As of January 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made a draft decision to cover aducanumab only in studies approved by CMS or supported by the National Institutes of Health. This proposal is open to public comment for 30 days and final decision will be made by April 11.⁸ 

Despite finally having the first agent for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, we cannot celebrate just yet. There is ambiguity in data, major safety concerns, and high potential to increase disparity in care. These issues must be considered prior to initiating aducanumab therapy.

References

1. ADUHELM (aducanumab-avwa) . Biogen. Cambridge, MA. 2021.
2. 221AD301 Phase 3 Study of Aducanumab (BIIB037) in Early Alzheimer’s Disease (ENGAGE). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02477800. Updated September 2, 2021. Accessed September 17, 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02477800
3. 221AD302 Phase 3 Study of Aducanumab (BIIB037) in Early Alzheimer’s Disease (EMERGE). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02484547. Updated September 2, 2021. Accessed September 17, 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02484547
4. Haeberlein SB, Hehn C, Tian Y et al. EMERGE and ENGAGE Topline Results: Two Phase 3 Studies to Evaluate Aducanumab in Patients With Early Alzheimer’s Disease: Biogen Presentation. 2020.
5. Terry M. Biogen Cuts Price of Much-Debated Alzheimer’s Drug in Half. BioSpace. December 20, 2021. Accessed January 3, 2022. https://www.biospace.com/article/biogen-cuts-price-of-alzheimer-s-drug-aduhelm-in-half/
6. Kansteiner F. Biogen’s controversial Alzheimer’s med Aduhelm turned away by VA on efficacy and safety worries. FIERCE Pharma. August 11, 2021. Accessed September 3, 2021. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/biogen-s-alzheimer-s-med-aduhelm-absent-from-veterans-association-formulary-efficacy-and
7. Belluck P. Cleveland Clinic and Mount Sinai Won’t Administer Aduhelm to Patients. The New York Times. July 14, 2021. Accessed September 3, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/14/health/cleveland-clinic-aduhelm.html
8. Mcginley L, Goldstein A. Medicare proposes covering expensive drug for early-stage Alzheimer’s, but with restrictions that will sharply limit use. The Washington Post. January 11, 2022. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/01/11/alzheimers-drug-aduhelm-medicare-coverage/

Winter 2022 Newsletter

By Robin McAtee, PhD, RN, FACHE
Director, Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC)
UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging (DWR IOA)

The number of older adults in the United States is rapidly growing. There were 29 million adults age 65 and older in 2016. By the year 2030, adults aged 65 or greater are expected to exceed 71 million ¹. Older adults utilize the US health care system more than any other age group, and our current healthcare systems have difficulty providing evidenced-based practice care in a consistent manner to older adults².

One of the ways this issue is being addressed in the United States is through the implementation of Age-Friendly Health Systems.  This is an initiative of the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Catholic Health Association of the United States CHA). ^.  This initiative is guided by a set of evidence-based practices (the 4Ms) while aligning care with what matters to older adults and their family. It is also a framework that encourages patients and their families to be full participants in their healthcare decisions. This new framework is based on the 4Ms Framework. “What Matters,” Medication, Mentation and Mobility².

Understanding What Matters to older adults promotes meaningful healthcare goals and outcomes. It also honors a patient’s care preferences. Although what matters conversations should not be limited to discussing end-of-life care, these conversations are a good place to start asking these types of care preference questions. What Matters conversations are also a starting point for discussing advanced care planning and discerning what type of treatments and care an older adult would want if there were a sudden change in health status².

 Medications should be age friendly. This means avoiding unnecessary medications and deprescribing where appropriate. There are increased chances of side effects with age so polypharmacy should be carefully examined. Raising awareness of potential side effects to providers and patients supports increased medication safety².

Age-friendly Health Systems strive to support care of the mind so that older adults can stay mentally sharp and do more of what matters to them. Focusing on Mentation means managing conditions like dementia, delirium, and depression. These conditions affect older adult’s ability to think clearly and make decisions.  Therefore, they need to be assessed and treated and early detection and diagnosis is extremely important for effective treatment.

Supporting safe Mobility is the last 4M. Maintaining mobility greatly improves quality of life while impacting activities and helping older adults to safely live independently for as long as possible. Ensuring older adults are knowledgeable about their fall risks and taking appropriate measures to maintain and/or even improve their mobility is crucial.

Utilizing the 4Ms framework of What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility provides an effective evidenced-based care model for all older adults. This framework promotes improved health outcomes, patient safety and can be applied throughout the healthcare continuum to meet the needs of older adults².  For more information on this framework please refer to the IHI reference listed below.

References

1.Providing Health for Older Adults; CDC. Centers for disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.) https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/promoting-health-for-older-adults.htm Retrieved June 14, 2021

2. What Is an Age-Friendly Health System?: IHI. Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (n.d.). http://www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/Age-Friendly-Health-Systems/Pages/default.aspx. Retrieved June 14, 2021

Winter 2022 Newsletter

By Laura Stilwell, MEd
Education Coordinator
UAMS Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC)

Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative, (AGEC) provides a variety of educational programs for the older adult population of Arkansas.  Exercise, along with nutrition education provides the cornerstone of creating and sustaining enhanced quality of life for the older adult. (Minett, M. et al., 2020) The program called From Our Kitchen to Yours is the live cooking show developed by AGEC to provide healthy nutrition information in an entertaining format. The program features healthy recipes prepared in real time and presented on the AGEC Facebook page. The concept for the live cooking show was developed around the recently published Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 (the Guidelines) and the corresponding healthy dietary recommendations at Myplate.gov. The older adult life stage is the focus of chapter six of the Dietary Guidelines, making it the primary reference chapter for development of this program. (USDA, 2020)

  The research groups that focus on specific conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease are now publishing nutritional recommendations for the remediation and prevention of these conditions. Research by the National Heart, Lung and Blood institute shows high blood pressure can be prevented and lowered by following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. (Nhlbi, 2018 p1) The Alzheimer’s Association recommends the Mediterranean-Dash Interventions for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet to slow cognitive decline, improve verbal memory and reduce the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease by up to fifty-three percent. (Murad, A. 2019) Using one guide to address the dietary needs of the older adult population is the goal of the AGEC healthy cooking program. The Guidelines are heavily influenced by the Mediterranean diet, provide options for vegetarian and vegan dietary patterns and provide the foundation of the DASH and MIND dietary plans. (USDA, 2020 p19)(Murad, A. 2019) The Dietary Guidelines are grounded in robust scientific review of the current body of evidence on key nutrition and health topics for each life stage. (USDA, 2020. P v.)    

  The purpose of preparing food in real time is to show that food preparation can be efficient, healthy and cost effective. Many of the recipes used for the cooking segments are chosen from the MyPlate Kitchen on the Myplate.gov website. These recipes provide the portion size and the nutritional content for each recipe. In addition to nutritional information, Myplate.gov provides information to make home prepared meals cost effective. Preparing food at home allows for control over added sugar, sodium and saturated fats. Reduction of added sugar, sodium and saturated fat is the primary recommendation for a healthy dietary pattern for the older adult. (USDA, 2020).

   AGEC will continue to prepare a variety of recipes each month on Facebook during new episodes of From Our Kitchen to Yours. The recipes will reflect the recommendations for low sodium, low added sugar, low saturated fats, adequate protein and adequate fiber. A variety of dietary patterns will also be addressed. The show will feature vegan and vegetarian options as well as other regional flavors. Not only are the recipes healthy, they are delicious. By using the Dietary Guidelines, AGEC hopes to show that small changes in dietary patterns can create big results in health status for the older adult population in Arkansas. From Our Kitchen to Yours provides an entertaining and useful program to share nutritional information in a format for daily living.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2018) Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
https://www.arqh.gov/evidencenow/heart-health/blood-pressure/dash-brief.html

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. (2020) Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary guidelines Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Health and Human Services. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Washington, D.C. P 16-22, p. 122-130
https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov

Mayo Clinic Staff, (2021) Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983?p=1

McDermott, Jamie L., Baum, Jamie I., the Truth About Fad Diets. (2021) University of Arkansas System Family and Consumer Sciences.
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSFCS99pdf

Minett, M. M., Binkley, T. L., Holm, R. P., Runge, M., & Specker, B. L. (2020). Feasibility and Effects on Muscle Function of an Exercise Program for Older Adults. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 52(2), 441–448.
https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002152

Murad, A., (2019) 15 Simple Diet Tweaks that could Cut Your Alzheimer’s Risk
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/15-simple-diet-tweaks-that-could-cut-your-alzheimers-risk/art-20342112

Fall 2021 Newsletter

By Robin McAtee, PhD, RN, FACHE, Director, Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC), a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging (DWR IOA)

Hello from the Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative. As summer of 2021 ends and we begin to enjoy the cooler nights and days, we are beginning one of the busiest times of the year here at the AGEC. I know by this time we had all hoped that we would be on the “other side” of the pandemic, but we still seem to be simmering in the middle and we are all getting weary! However, despite the weariness, we have adapted and thrived in many areas. Our summer was full of exciting programs and we are still developing new partnerships, programs, and activities as we explore new methods and platforms for reaching older adults and healthcare professionals with geriatric content. Our healthcare professional webinars continue to be huge successes. In September, we had Dr. Anand Venkata who talked about COVID-19 Long Haulers: Pulmonary Complications – What to Expect, and we had 161 attendees. On October 7, Dr. Lee Isaac with UAMS PRI presented Diversity in Dementia: Incidence, Related Factors, and Considerations for Diagnosis and Treatment with 131 attendees. Our social media presences (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) are still growing with a lot of views and activities, so be sure to check those out. We are also having a few, socially distant, face to face, evidence-based programs and older adults seem to enjoy getting out again! In addition, many of our community-based partners are once again providing both in-person and virtual programs and activities. Many of the senior centers are open again and providing programs and UAMS Centers on Aging also reported that they are once again out in the communities they serve, providing caregiver workshops and training first responders. 

Our academic partners were busy during the summer. Our team had an intern from Hendrix who worked with AGEC outreach and social media activities. UCA opened a new interprofessional clinic where education and resources are provided for caregivers. ASU graduate nursing students began working on quality improvement projects at local long-term care facilities. Each college reported that activities are picking up more this fall with students being on-campus more and are actively engaging in geriatric clinical activities.

We continue to seek new ways to reach and teach all audiences and if you have any suggestions, please let us know. Happy Fall!!!

Robin E. McAtee, PhD, RN, FACHE