GSA Momentum Discussions

This episode explores Alzheimer's-related psychosis through both personal and clinical perspectives, highlighting how delusions and hallucinations can affect people living with Alzheimer's disease and those who care for them. Listeners will learn person-centered strategies for responding with empathy, supporting well-being, and navigating challenging situations while honoring the individual's experience. The discussion also highlights the importance of caregiver support, interdisciplinary care, and practical resources that can help families throughout their dementia care journey. Support provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Transcript Guests Kalisha Bonds Johnson, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, Assistant Professor, Tenure Track, Emory University Maureen Morrison, CPA, Wife of Angus, who lives with Alzheimer's disease Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America  

In this episode of the GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast, Paige Denison and Dr. Liz Joy share insights into the global Exercise is Medicine initiative and explore how clinicians can integrate physical activity as a vital sign in clinical care. From formal exercise prescriptions to community resources and the “Rx for Health” series, this episode provides practical guidance for healthcare providers and individuals looking to harness the power of movement to prevent and manage chronic conditions. This podcast episode is supported by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and highlights innovative approaches to bridging clinical care and lifestyle medicine. Support provided by Haleon and Lilly. Transcript Guests Elizabeth Joy, MD, MPH, DIpABLM, FACSM, Chairperson, Exercise is Medicine, Host, She Leads Science Paige Denison, BS, PAPHS, Director – Health, Wellness, and Project Enhance, Sound Generations Host Elana Kieffer Blass, MBA, Director of Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America

In this episode of the GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast, Cristine Gallagher, MPAff, Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN) Coordinator, shares insights into the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge and BALANCE models and explains how these models expand access to anti-obesity medications for older adults. She offers practice advice for navigating the Bridge model for prescribers and older adults living with obesity.  Support provided by Lilly and Novo Nordisk.   Transcript   Speaker Cristy Gallagher, Associate Director of Research and Policy, STOP Obesity Alliance Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America  

This GSA Momentum Discussions podcast episode explores why nutrition is essential to healthy aging. The conversation examines age-related changes in appetite and nutrient needs, the risks of nutritional deficiencies as we age, and the role of diet and physical activity in preventing sarcopenia. It also highlights emerging research and practical strategies to help older adults maintain strength, function, and independence. Support provided by Haleon. Transcript Guest Roger A. Fielding, PhD Associate Director, Jean Mayer, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging   Lead Scientist and Senior Scientist, Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Team   Professor of Nutrition, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University   Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America  

During this Momentum Discussions podcast episode,  Dr. Bethea (Annie) Kleykamp of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Maryland Addiction Consultation Service  talks to us about opioid use among older adults. She explores the many reasons people use opioids, common misconceptions around opioid use and older adults, her very personal reason for researching this topic, and how each of us can play a role in preventing an opioid overdose. And to learn more about this important topic, check out GSA’s recently-published report, Staying Safe with Opioids at Home.  This podcast episode is supported by Emergent BioSolutions. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  Transcript Guest: Bethea (Annie) Kleykamp, PhD, MA, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry Department, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Director, Research and Evaluation Maryland Addiction Consultation Service (MACS) Host: Elana Kieffer Blass, MBA, Director of Strategic Alliances, GSA

Amyloid-lowering monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, including mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia, have generated new excitement about the future of treatment for this progressive condition. These treatments aim to slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease by tackling an underlying cause of the disease – not just managing its symptoms. The evidence shows that individuals receiving these therapies can experience slower disease progression and the potential to extend their independence in everyday life.  This GSA Momentum Discussion webinar, recorded at the GSA 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting, highlights the clinical outcomes associated with mAb therapies through the reflections of patients receiving the treatments and those who support them.  Support provided by Eisai.  Transcript Speakers Tracy Collins, Person living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease Scott Hardy, Care partner to Tracy Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America

In this episode of the GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast, titled "Trends in Comprehensive Obesity Care for Women as They Age," a family medicine doctor and geriatrician with deep expertise in care of older adults with obesity reflects on the unique needs of older and aging women with obesity. She discusses key assessment principles that clinicians should consider when caring for women with obesity as they age, and she highlights the importance of comprehensive, individualized care by an interprofessional team for older and aging women with obesity.  This podcast episode is supported by Haleon and Novo Nordisk, with content developed by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Transcript Speaker Anna Pendrey, MD, Dipl. ABOM, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine and Geriatrics Physician, Indiana University School of Medicine Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America

In this episode of GSA’s Momentum Discussions, sociologist Dr. Mindy Fried shares how caring for her father inspired her memoir Caring for Red and launched her into podcasting about aging and caregiving. She reflects on the emotional realities of caregiving, the complexities of assisted living, and the power of storytelling to build community and drive change. Transcript Speaker Mindy Fried, MSW, PhD Principal, Arbor Consulting Partners Producer, Open Your Heart Creator/Host, The Shape of Care podcast Author, Caring for Red: A Daughter’s Memoir Host Elana Kieffer Blass, MBA, Director of Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America

In this episode of the GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast, titled "Living Well with Dementia," three individuals living with dementia share personal insights into how they continue to lead meaningful, engaged lives after diagnosis. Through heartfelt reflections, they explore what “living well” truly means—from maintaining daily routines and adapting beloved hobbies to the critical role of peer support and the importance of compassionate care partners. Their stories offer valuable guidance for healthcare professionals, families, and communities on how to better support those navigating life with dementia. This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka, with content developed by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) in collaboration with the National Council of Dementia Minds. Transcript Speakers Scott Guernsey Human Resources Consultant, HR Components, LLC Krissan Moss, RN, BSN, Retired Clinical Education Manager, Genentech Jay Reinstein, Former Assistant City Manager of Fayetteville, NC | Board member, Alliance for Aging Research Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America

In this GSA Momentum Discussions Podcast episode, members of the National Council of Dementia Minds reflect on their first year living with a dementia diagnosis. They speak candidly about the moment they received the diagnosis, the support they did—or didn’t—receive from their medical providers, and what has helped them adjust to this new chapter of life. Their lived experiences offer clear, actionable insights for primary care teams on how to better support people living with dementia in the months that follow a dementia diagnosis.  This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka, with content developed by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) in collaboration with the National Council of Dementia Minds. Transcript Speakers Phyllis Cole Member, National Council of Dementia Minds, Dementia Friendly Services Miriam Owens, Christian Author and Special Education Advocate, Rhema Publishing and Consulting, LLC Seth Stern, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYC Health and Hospitals - Jacobi Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America

This GSA Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, the first of three episodes developed in collaboration with the National Council of Dementia Minds, highlights how receiving a timely diagnosis of dementia can positively impact overall well-being, relationships, and more. Our three guests who live with dementia offer honest reflections and practical advice for healthcare professionals and the public, emphasizing how early recognition opens the door to self-advocacy, planning, and purpose.  This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka, with content developed by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) in collaboration with the National Council of Dementia Minds. Transcript Speaker Steven Barbieri, President of the National Council of Dementia Minds David Compton, MD, Doctors with Dementia Group, National Council of Dementia Minds Joanna Fix, PhD, Former College Professor and Psychologist Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America

During this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Jim Mangi reflects on being the loving and selfless caregiver for his wife, Kathleen, whose 17-year journey with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease ended in December 2024. Jim is a Vietnam veteran, author, retired business owner, and an environmental scientist with a PhD in Ecology – none of which prepared him to be a caregiver. Inspired by his wife’s grace during her journey with Alzheimer’s disease, Jim has dedicated himself to dementia activism efforts, including his tireless work in Saline, Michigan, aimed at making it easier for folks living with dementia to enjoy the community with less difficulty and more dignity. This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Otsuka, Lilly, and Eisai. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Transcript Speaker Jim Mangi, PhD, Dementia Friendly Services Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America

In this Momentum Discussions Podcast episode, Joseph Sapone reflects on his weight journey. He provides us with unique perspectives of an older adult who has lived in a larger body size for most of his adult life. He shares how stigma and bias have affected him in his personal and professional life as well as in healthcare and other settings. Joe discusses how a comprehensive approach to obesity management has helped him to achieve his health and wellness goals, and he offers insights into why it is so important that older adults have access to the full continuum of obesity care.  Transcript Guest Joseph Sapone, MBA Founder and President, P4+ Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

In this Momentum Discussions Podcast episode, obesity advocate Ted Kyle shares a bit about his personal history with obesity and how this influenced his vital work as an advocate. He discusses his perspectives on how false beliefs and outdated paradigms, along with stigma and bias, negatively affect individuals living with obesity. Finally, he explains that good obesity care requires access to the full range of obesity care tools, and he offers a message to policymakers about the need to offer older adults access to the full range of obesity care options.  Transcript Guest Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA Founder, ConscienHealth Chair, Obesity Society’s Advocacy Committee  Steering Committee, STOP Obesity Alliance Board of Directors, Obesity Action Coalition Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, GSA VP Lisa McGuire and TIAA Institute Head Surya Kolluri discuss how rapid transformations in our society are impacting trends in higher education. With life expectancy rising by 17 years since the Social Security program debuted in the United States nearly 90 years ago, tremendous opportunities have arisen on many fronts, including in higher education. The podcast also addresses some of the headwinds that come from these changes as they relate to institutions of higher education. Lisa and Surya discuss how, by broadening the scope of educational and recruitment efforts to include learners of all ages, institutions can be transformed and experience an economic lift. Resources Download the Transcript Age Inclusivity in Higher Education Newsletter Learners for Life, Issue 21, Winter 2025 Learners for Life, Issue 20, Fall 2024 Speaker Surya Kolluri, MBA, Head of TIAA Institute Host Lisa C. McGuire, PhD, FGSA, Vice President of Strategic Alliances & Practice Innovation, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast received funding support from TIAA Institute. Content was developed by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  

In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Armen J. Moughamian, a neurologist who cares for people with neurodegenerative brain illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, explains anti-amyloid therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. He describes who may benefit from these therapies, discusses their efficacy and safety, and explains the importance of early detection of cognitive impairment. Dr. Moughamian also provides important insights into how primary care teams can help ensure that individuals who might be candidates for anti-amyloid therapies are well prepared for timely referrals to a neurologist. Download the Transcript Speaker Armen J. Moughamian, MD, PhD, Medical Director at the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center, Division Chief of Neurology, Vice Chair of Neuroscience at the California Pacific Medical Center Host Jennifer L. Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast episode is supported by Eisai. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. John A. Batsis, co-convener of the GSA Obesity and Aging Interest Group, describes exciting findings about how obesity management medications positively impact a variety of major medical conditions. He also describes the unique needs of older adults with obesity and highlights the need for evidence-based, team-based care for them.  Download the Transcript Speaker John Batsis, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Host Jennifer L. Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation demonstration model that launched on July 1, 2024. The model focuses on comprehensive, coordinated dementia care and aims to improve the quality of life for people with dementia, reduce strain on their unpaid caregivers, and enable people with dementia to remain in their homes and communities. During this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, leaders from Emory Integrated Memory Care discuss the GUIDE Model and their experiences implementing the model. They also share insights on how other organizations can receive support from any of six evidence-based models through the National Dementia Care Collaborative.  Download the Transcript Speakers: Carolyn Clevenger, DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN, Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University Founder and Director, Emory Integrated Memory Care Laura Medders, LCSW, Administrative Director, Emory Integrated Memory Care Host Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director of Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America (GSA)   This podcast episode is supported by Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Younger-onset dementia is diagnosed when a person under 65 develops dementia; some people are diagnosed even as young as their 30s or 40s. People with younger-onset dementia and their families have unique needs, particularly when the family includes children, teens, or young adults. Lorenzo’s House empowers young people and their families walking with younger-onset dementia through an array of holistic support–shifting the narrative from isolation to connection, stigma to strength, and darkness to light. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Patti LaFleur, the Youth and Lighthouse Outreach Lead for Lorenzo’s House, describes her journey as a care partner to her mom, who she lost to early-onset dementia. She shares how Lorenzo’s House empowers young people and their families walking with younger-onset dementia through an array of holistic support–shifting the narrative from isolation to connection, stigma to strength, and darkness to light.   Download the Transcript Guest: Patti LaFleur, M. ED, CDP, Youth and Lighthouse Outreach Lead, Lorenzo's House Host: Jen Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director of Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America    This podcast episode is supported by Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, GSA CEO James Appleby and VP for Policy and Professional Affairs, Patricia D’Antonio, discuss the importance of older adults having access to and receiving age-appropriate vaccines. They describe the positive economic impact of being immunized, such as avoiding illness and maintaining work schedules and social engagements, avoiding co-morbid long-term illnesses and hospitalizations, and enjoying all aspects of living. They address topics pending at the upcoming Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including a discussion on the age when individuals can receive a vaccine to prevent pneumococcal infections. Appleby and D’Antonio also discuss the significant role of all healthcare professionals in championing age-appropriate vaccines.  Download the Transcript Speaker: Patricia M. “Trish” D’Antonio BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP, Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs, Gerontological Society of America Host: James Appleby, BSPharm, MPH, ScD (Hon), Chief Executive Officer, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast episode is supported by Pfizer. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, our panelists identify strategies to increase the vaccination rates of older adults in 2024. They address the collaborative efforts healthcare teams can implement to champion adult vaccinations, how to ignite urgency and awareness of the importance of getting age appropriate vaccinations among both the public and healthcare providers, how to break through vaccine misinformation and hesitancy, how to bridge the gap between patient beliefs and evidence-based practice, how can we implement some flexibility in our vaccination schedules without compromising patient adherence or overall acceptance of vaccination, and the importance of catalyzing the whole vaccine neighborhood. Download the Transcript Guests: Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, FGSA, Distinguished University Professor, Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, University of Maryland Julian Ritchey, VP, Head of Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy, US Vaccines at Sanofi Host: Karen K. Tracy, Vice President, Strategic Alliances & Integrated Communications, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast episode is supported by Sanofi. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

In April 2024, a team of researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine led by Dr. Joe Verghese published the results of a randomized controlled trial examining the impact of implementing the 5-Cog Paradigm in primary care. The 5-Cog Paradigm includes a non-literacy biased, culturally fair cognitive detection tool combined with clinical decision support embedded in the electronic medical record. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Verghese discusses the unmet needs that led to the development of the 5-Cog, explains the 5-Cog Paradigm, and shares key findings from the team’s research. Download the Transcript Guest: Joe Verghese, MBBS, MS, Professor, Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Murray D. Gross Memorial Faculty Scholar in Gerontology, Chief of the Divisions of Cognitive and Motor Aging, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Attending Physician, Department of Neurology, Chief of the Division of Geriatrics, Montefiore Health System Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast episode is supported by Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka. Content was developed by Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

In this Momentum Discussion podcast, James Appleby, GSA CEO interviews Dr. Debra Whitman, AARP Chief Public Policy Officer about her new book, The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond. Dr. Whitman shares why she authored this book and why the book is organized around seven questions. She provides insights about health and longevity, how we may reduce the risk of developing dementia, and what we should be demanding of our policymakers in this regard. Finally, Deb Whitman provides thoughts on how this country can address the aging population. Download the Transcript Guest: Debra Whitman, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer, AARP Host: James C. Appleby, BSPharm, MPH, ScD (Hon), Chief Executive Officer, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast episode is supported by AARP.

In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, our guest shares key insights into the diversity of the Asian American population and why classifying Asian Americans as a single group is problematic for health data, research, and reporting. She discusses Asian Americans’ risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and identifies barriers to Asian Americans receiving early diagnosis of dementia and appropriate care for their condition. Finally, she offers suggestions as to how primary care teams can implement solutions to those barriers.  Download the Transcript Guest: Diane Ty, Managing Director, Milken Institute Future of Aging  Host: Jennifer L. Pettis, MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka.

In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Frank Lin, co-primary investigator of the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders, or ACHIEVE, study discusses this landmark study examining the effect of hearing intervention on brain health. ACHIEVE is a multicenter randomized trial to determine if treating hearing loss in older adults reduces cognitive decline that can occur with aging. Dr. Lin and his co-primary investigator first reported in July 2023 that the hearing intervention slowed cognitive decline in older adults with mild to moderate hearing loss by 48% in a pre-specified segment of the study population. This exciting discovery has motivated Dr. Lin and others at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to develop a broader national campaign to encourage all adults to learn and monitor their own hearing with a free app, Hearing Number. Additional Resources: The Clinical Practice piece Dr. Lin authored for the NEJM "Age-Related Hearing Loss." Download the transcript Guest: Frank R. Lin, MD, PhD Director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health Professor of Otolaryngology, Medicine, Mental Health, and Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America Support provided by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka

The National Caucus and Center on Black Aging (NCBA) developed the report “Stuck in the Middle” to address all aspects of obesity, including but not limited to causes, effects, statistical profiles, myths and misconceptions, public policy, ways to address obesity, resources for managing obesity, barriers to accessing a full continuum of care, and more. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, the report author and NCBA’s Director of Health Programs discuss key points from the report, whose target audience is the African American community, in which obesity occurs at an inordinately high rate.  They share insights from the report that is written in laymen’s language in order to reach as broad an audience as possible, and they highlight why action is urgently needed to support African Americans to access the full spectrum of quality obesity care. Download the transcript Guests: Angie Boddie, MPS Director of Health Programs National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. Deborah Mathis Consultant/Communications Strategist National Caucus and Center on Black Aging Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America Support provided by Novo Nordisk

The Alter program is a nurse-led, dementia-friendly congregation program aimed at empowering African American churches to serve all members, including those living with dementia and their families. Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, developed the Alter program to increase dementia awareness; develop a supportive, faith-based dementia-friendly infrastructure; and create a community supporting the well-being of African Americans living with dementia and their families. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Epps shares insights into the Alter program and what inspired her to found the program. She also describes key components of the program and discusses the result of 10 years of working in the community and creating a faith network committed to developing dementia-friendly congregations. Download the transcript Guest: Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN Associate Professor, tenured Director of Community & Research Engagement    Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director, Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America  Support provided by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka.

In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, our guest shares challenges and opportunities around brain health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. He provides insights into the Healthy Brain Initiative’s Road Map for Indian Country and discusses success stories with indigenous communities addressing dementia issues. Finally, he outlines research questions that need to be answered to successfully address brain health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Download the transcript   Guest: Michael Splaine Principal, Splaine Consulting Managing Partner, Recruitment Partners LLC   Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America Support provided by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka. Additional Resources: https://www.glitc.org/programs/aging-disability/publications-and-media/ https://iasquared.org/brain-health/ https://www.cdc.gov/aging/healthybrain/pdf/hbi-road-map-for-indian-country-508.pdf

The National Consumers League and National Council on Aging worked with health leaders and obesity specialists to establish a set of rights so people with obesity will be screened, diagnosed, counseled and effectively treated for their overweight and obesity based on medical treatment guidelines. During the Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, leaders from these two organizations discuss the impetus for and development of the Obesity Bill of Rights and discuss each of the eight rights included in it. They share what is next for their organizations around the Bill of Rights and share how others can join the movement to help ensure person-centered quality obesity care for adults living with the chronic disease of obesity. Download the transcript Guests: Dorothea K. Vafiadis, MS Senior Director, Center for Healthy Aging   Nancy Glick Director of Food and Nutrition Policy National Consumers League Host:  Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America

Most individuals with dementia experience behavioral symptoms during their disease trajectory. These symptoms are troubling to the person living with dementia, their care partners, and others such as family members or those living in congregate living settings. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson, a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Emory Integrated Memory Care, shares her insights into the importance of detecting and addressing behavioral symptoms. She offers general strategies that care partners and others can take when interacting with someone with dementia, and she provides important insights into managing specific troubling behaviors. Download the transcript Guest: Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC Assistant Professor, tenure track Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Emory Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka.

This Momentum Discussion podcast episode addresses the importance of physical activity for longevity and independence, challenges older adults may face when exercising and their solutions, and suggestions on how to get started with incorporating routine exercise into one’s life. Download the transcript Guests: Kathryn N. Porter Starr, PhD, MS, RDN Associate Professor, Duke University School of Medicine  Research Health Scientist, Durham VA Medical Center   Eric Levitan  Founder, CEO Vivo   Host:  Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk.

In this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, Dan Stewart, MSG, Long-Term Care Equality Index program co-lead and associate director of the Aging Equality Project at the HRC Foundation, discusses considerations aimed at ensuring equitable and person-centered care for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community and ensuring LGBTQ+ inclusion in the healthcare. He provides insights into unique challenges around brain health, dementia, and aging for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community and shares key insights into the combined challenges of being LGBTQ+ and having dementia. Download the transcript Guest:  Dan Stewart, MSG  Long-Term Care Equality Index Program Co-Lead  Associate Director of the Aging Equality Project  Human Rights Campaign Foundation Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances  The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka.

Certain groups of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) develop dementia at rates similar to older adults in the general population. However, adults with certain conditions, such as Down syndrome, develop Alzheimer's disease at greater rates. During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, our guest discusses this issue and provides an overview of unique challenges in assessing for dementia in individuals with I/DD. She discusses strategies that primary care teams and others can use from the GSA publication, Addressing Brain Health in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities: A Companion to the KAER Toolkit for Primary Care Providers, to improve detection of dementia and care and services for adults with I/DD. Download the transcript Guest: Lisa Comes  Service and Support Advisor  Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE  Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Eisai.

In this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, Dr. Carl V. Hill, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at the Alzheimer's Association provides insights into race, ethnicity, and Alzheimer's in America and shares information about barriers and facilitators to quality dementia care for all populations. He discusses how to successfully engage in dementia risk reduction conversations with people from diverse backgrounds and shares examples of successful collaborations aimed at improving access to information about dementia and brain health. Download the transcript Guest: Carl Hill, PhD, MPH Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Alzheimer’s Association Moderator: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances Gerontological Society of America    This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka.

During this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, interprofessional experts examine obesity as a disease and discuss the need to intently treat individuals with obesity using guideline-based and standard-informed interprofessional and multifaceted plans of care. They share insights into the unique needs of older adults living with obesity, and they reflect on the heterogeneity of the older adult population and the importance of considering this heterogeneity when providing obesity care for older adults. Download the transcript Guests: Kathryn N. Porter Starr, PhD, MS, RDN Associate Professor, Duke University School of Medicine Research Health Scientist, Durham VA Medical Center John A. Batsis, MD, FACP, FTOS, AGSF, FGSA Associate Professor Division of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine Department of Nutrition, The Gillings School of Global Public Health The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Moderator: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk.

In this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, interprofessional experts from Emory Integrated Memory Care discuss the common neuropsychiatric condition of agitation in Alzheimer's disease (AAD) and how it impacts individuals living with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. They discuss challenges to detecting AAD and share how detecting and treating this common symptom can improve quality of life for older adults and their caregivers. Finally, they discuss the Agitation in Alzheimer’s Screener for Caregivers (AASCTM), a new tool released during the 2023 GSA Annual Scientific Meeting, with which clinicians can screen for AAD in just one minute. More information about the AASCTM is available online at theaasc.com. Download the transcript Guests: Carolyn K. Clevenger, DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing Emory University Clinical Director, Emory Integrated Memory Care Laura Medders, LCSW Administrative Director, Emory Integrated Memory Care Moderator: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances The Gerontological Society of America This podcast is supported by Otsuka.

More than 90% of caregivers are also financial caregivers, defined as either contributing direct financial support or coordinating some or all their loved one’s money-related matters. Managing someone’s finances is complex and can extend for months or even years, both during the care recipient’s life and often well beyond the death of a loved one. Longer life spans and lifestyle changes create an urgency to plan for caregiving costs across life stages, not just in middle age. Attention to financial caregiving, when coupled with financial and longevity literacy, can help optimize retirement readiness. This podcast episode provides helpful actions that families, employers, and communities can take to help address this critical need.    Download the transcript   Guest: Surya Kolluri Head of TIAA Institute   Moderator: James Appleby Chief Executive Officer, Gerontological Society of America   This podcast is supported by TIAA Institute.

This Momentum Discussion podcast provides insight into the “Aging and Oral Health Research “Meeting within a Meeting” held during the March 2023 American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research Annual Meeting. Learn about the primary objectives and outcomes of the meeting and the impact of loneliness and isolation in older adults and oral health and nutrition in aging. Download the transcript Moderator:  Karen Tracy The Gerontological Society of America Washington, DC   Panelists: Jane A. Weintraub Department of Pediatric and Public Health Adams School of Dentistry University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC And Immediate Past President of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research   Carla Perissinotto Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA   Riva Touger-Decker Diagnostic Sciences Rutgers School of Dental Medicine School of Health Professions Rutgers State University of New Jersey Newark, NJ This podcast is supported by Haleon.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, over 11 million Americans provide an estimated 18 billion hours of unpaid care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. In 2022, this care was valued at $339 billion. Most of these caregivers are women, and many caregivers are from diverse and underserved communities. In this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, leaders from the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York discuss the unique needs of diverse caregivers and how they are meeting these needs. They offer insights into how healthcare providers and others can best meet the needs of all caregivers while promoting brain health for all individuals. Download the transcript Guests:  Elizabeth Smith-Boivin   Executive Director/CEO, Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York  Debbie Abreu Community Outreach Manager for DEI initiatives, Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York  Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Eisai, and Otsuka. 

Agitation can be described as increased, often undirected, motor activity, restlessness, aggressiveness, and emotional distress. It may include nonaggressive behaviors such as pacing, repetitious movements, and general restlessness, or it may manifest as physically or verbally aggressive behaviors. It is one of the most distressing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and between 30% and 80% of people living with dementia, depending on the setting, experience agitation. Because of the wide-ranging potential negative impacts associated with agitation in Alzheimer’s disease (AAD), a person-centered, individualized approach to address AAD is a must. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, we provide insights into AAD from the perspective of a professional caregiver and a family member whose loved one lives with AAD. They share how the condition impacts the person with Alzheimer’s disease and those around them and offer strategies to prevent and address troubling behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia associated with AAD. Download the Transcript Guests: Laura Medders, LCSW Administrative Director, Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Maureen Morrison Care partner to her husband, Angus, who lives with Alzheimer's disease Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Otsuka. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

According to the McKnight Brain Research Foundation website, “there is growing hope and expectation that it’s possible to maintain cognitive health later in life, allowing people to age independently and enjoy the benefits of a fuller life.” During this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and the University at Buffalo’s Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean of the Jacobs School, and Angelika Schlanger, PhD, executive director of the Foundation, will offer insights into brain health, cognitive health, and cognitive aging. They discuss how normal cognitive aging differs from changes in cognitive function due to dementia. Finally, they offer insights into how individuals can take steps to promote their brain health at any age. Download the Transcript Guests: Allison Brashear, MD, MBA Vice President for Health Sciences Dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University at Buffalo Angelika Schlanger, PHD Executive Director, McKnight Brain Research Foundation Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Otsuka, and Eisai. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Early detection of dementia leads to better outcomes for individuals with dementia and their care partners. It allows them to potentially benefit from a variety of care interventions, make decisions about their care, and tap into community resources to enhance their quality of life and function. Despite this, the Alzheimer’s Association reported that neither older adults nor primary care practitioners routinely raise brain health issues – particularly in the case that an older adult has signs of mild cognitive impairment. In this GSA Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Bonnie Burman, president of the Ohio Council for Cognitive Health, discusses barriers to kickstarting brain health conversations and early diagnosis of dementia, offers strategies to overcome them, and highlights how care providers and other communities of interest can use the KAER Toolkit for Brain Health to improve early detection of dementia. Download the Transcript Guest: Bonnie Burman, ScD President, Ohio Council for Cognitive Health Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka.

In their special report, Alzheimer’s Detection in the Primary Care Setting: Paving a Path Forward, the Alzheimer’s Association reported that despite a strong belief among older adults that brief cognitive assessments are important and that early detection of cognitive problems is beneficial, only half are being assessed for cognitive decline, and much fewer receive routine assessments. The Association’s findings about dementia care practices in primary care along with the ever-growing number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias highlight the need to take a systems approach to improving dementia care. In this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Amy Boehm, senior health systems director for the Alzheimer's Association discusses the urgent need to improve dementia care practices in primary care, how The GSA KAER Toolkit for Primary Care Teams addresses an unmet need for primary care providers, and shares how the Alzheimer’s Association Health System Initiative can support them in implementing practice change to improve dementia care. Amy also offers strategies to get started with changing practice in any care setting. Download the Transcript Guest: Amy Boehm Senior Health Systems Director  Alzheimer's Association Host:   Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka.

People with obesity often experience bias due to their weight which can negatively impact their overall health and well-being. Older adults may have faced weight bias for many years, including from their healthcare providers, their families, and themselves. In addition to the weight bias being prevalent in healthcare, it also permeates places of employment, educational institutions, the media, and society overall. During this Momentum Discussion Podcast episode, Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford discusses weight bias and its negative consequences. She shares examples of how weight bias exists in healthcare and other areas and provides insights into how a person’s cultural identity impacts how they might experience weight bias. Finally, she offers solutions to this significant issue, including steps that healthcare professionals can take to eliminate weight bias and provide a comfortable environment of care for people with the chronic disease of obesity. Download Transcript Guest: Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, MBA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FAMWA, FTOS Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics Harvard Medical School Obesity Medicine Physician-Scientist Massachusetts General Hospital Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  

Kickstarting the obesity conversation with older adults requires an understanding of the pathophysiology of overweight and obesity in conjunction with an appreciation for communication concerns that affect conversations with older adults. In this podcast episode, Dr. Jason Lofton of Lofton Family Clinic and Wellness in De Queen, AR discusses important issues addressed in Step One of The GSA KAER Toolkit for the Management of Obesity in Older Adults: Kickstart the Obesity Conversation. He shares insights into how he and his team set the stage to engage in successful, motivating conversations about body size with their patients. Dr. Lofton discusses overcoming common roadblocks to body size conversations, preparing for shared decision making and goal setting, and how issues such as culture, race/ethnicity, and age influence conversations about body size.   Download Transcript Guest: Jason Lofton, MD Lofton Family Clinic and Wellness Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances The Gerontological Society of America This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Early detection of dementia is vital, and it allows people living with dementia to receive comprehensive care to address symptoms, build a care team, participate in supportive services, access community supports, and potentially access disease-modifying treatments or enroll in clinical trials. With early detection of cognitive impairment and disclosure of the diagnosis to the patient, the individual with the condition and their care partners can set systems in place that allow them to achieve their highest practicable level of function and quality of life. In this episode, Dr. Joshua Chodosh shares strategies to kickstart the brain health conversation, describes how he has engaged the whole healthcare team in the conversation, and highlights approaches aimed at early detection of cognitive impairment in the primary care setting. Dr. Chodosh also underscores how providers can use tools in The GSA KAER Toolkit for Primary Care Teams to enhance their early detection efforts and help to improve outcomes for older adults with cognitive impairment and their care partners.  Download the Transcript Guest:  Joshua Chodosh, MD, MSHS Co-lead, BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Early Detection of Dementia Director, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Professor of Medicine and Population Health, New York University Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Eisai. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

A person living with dementia and their care partner often have needs for a variety of community supports that enables them to achieve their greatest potential function and quality of life. This podcast episode addresses the fourth step of the KAER Framework: Refer for Community Services. Our guests discuss how interdisciplinary care teams in primary care can use risk-based strategies to refer older adults with dementia and their care partners to appropriate community services, and they share strategies for success that they and their interdisciplinary colleagues use in the Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic – a nurse-led primary care practice for people living with dementia.  Download the Transcript Guests:  Carolyn K. Clevenger, DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN Professor, The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University Clinical Director/Practicing Nurse Practitioner, The Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Laura Medders, LCSW  Administrative Director, The Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka. 

GSA developed this podcast and the associated Additional Handout: Podcast Discussion Points in December 2022. It is important to note that payment policies change often and vary by payor, and listeners should seek payor-specific guidance around billing for services.  Appropriate reimbursement for detection, evaluation, and diagnosis of dementia as well as for care planning and ongoing care of individuals with cognitive impairment and dementia is possible. In fact, pathways to appropriate reimbursement well align with evidence-based guidelines for care and expectations around quality. To ensure well-coordinated quality dementia care, the primary provider and other members of the interdisciplinary care team spend a great deal of time outside the standard primary care visit, and reimbursement for this time is available. In this podcast, our guests share their insights into the documentation, infrastructure, and processes necessary to capture appropriate reimbursement for quality dementia care. They also discuss how using reimbursement as a pathway for quality dementia care supports high-functioning teams, incentivizes care teams to provide care that aligns with guidelines, and prevents the vital work of the entire interdisciplinary team from being invisible.   Handout: Podcast Discussion Points Download the Transcript Guests:  Carolyn K. Clevenger, DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN Professor, The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University Clinical Director/Practicing Nurse Practitioner, The Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Laura Medders, LCSW  Administrative Director, The Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka. 

It is vital that health care professionals supporting older adults on their weight loss journey recognize the importance of cultural differences as well as differences in risk based on age, race, or ethnicity. Cultural preferences and views about larger body sizes should also be respected. In this podcast episode, Dr. Rodolfo Galindo, an expert review panelist of the GSA KAER Toolkit on the Management of Obesity in Older Adults, highlights unique cultural beliefs and practices that are prevalent among individuals from the Hispanic community and discusses how providers must recognize and factor them into conversations about weight and obesity. He also notes how providers may provide culturally congruent care while using the GSA KAER Framework to kickstart the discussion of weight with older adults and their families; assess for the presence of altered body fat amount, distribution, and/ or function; evaluate treatment options; and refer patients to community resources.  Download the Transcript Guest: Rodolfo J. Galindo, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine Investigator, Center for Diabetes and Metabolism Research, Emory University Hospital Midtown Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

We all experience normal physiological and metabolic changes as we age, including loss of muscle mass, that can impact functioning and quality of life. When combined with obesity or overweight, these changes can be magnified, causing even greater functional losses and decreases in quality of life. An all-too-often approach of simply limiting caloric intake to lose weight may further heighten these risks. As such, older adults seeking to lose weight need a balanced diet that will support loss of excess adiposity while preserving muscle. As vital members of the patient care team, dietitians can support older adults seeking to lose weight to ensure that their nutrient needs are met while on their weight loss journey. Additionally, these professionals can support the older adult to address social, environmental, and economic risk factors that often go unrecognized yet play an enormous role in healthy dietary patterns. In this podcast episode, Dr. Kathryn N. Porter Starr, an expert review panelist of the GSA KAER Toolkit on the Management of Obesity in Older Adults, explores complex issues around dietary needs of older adults, including the importance of assessing for and addressing sarcopenia, and highlights how comprehensive nutritional care can support function, independence, and quality of life while enabling the older adult to reach and maintain their desired body weight.   Download the Transcript Guest: Kathryn N. Porter Starr, PhD, MS, RDN  Assistant Professor of Medicine–Geriatrics, Duke University School of Medicine  Research Health Scientist, Durham VA Health System, Durham, North Carolina  Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).