Week In Review

Why submit an abstract for the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting? Your research could be recognized on a national stage and help further your career interests and network connections, that's why! Plus, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to the biggest and best annual event in geriatrics! Don't miss the opportunity to help shape #AGS20. Submit your abstract  before our deadline: Tues., Dec. 3.

Did you know: You can become more involved in AGS Annual Scientific Meetings by signing up as an abstract reviewer. Doing so allows you to have a say in the research presented at #AGS20! The deadline to volunteer is Mon., Nov. 18. Learn more here.

At AGS, there's a lot to be proud of—but what makes us #AGSProudest is the incredible work all our members do to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of us all as we age. We think you deserve recognition for this work—and luckily, there's a great way for you to get it! Apply for an AGS Award before Tues., Dec. 3, to be added to the running for the recognition you deserve at #AGS20.

What makes these awards (and awardees) so outstanding? Check out these inspiring awardee stories to learn more:

• Rebecca Brown, MD, MPH, received the Outstanding Junior Clinician Education Manuscript Award in 2019 for her study "Good Cop, Better Cop: Evaluation of a Geriatrics Training Program for Police." Dr. Brown's study resulted in a significant increase to police officers' self-reported knowledge and skills when presented with a need to enhance safety and effectiveness in community police situations involving older adults.
• Skotti Church, MD, received 2019's Outstanding Junior Clinician Educator of the Year Award for work teaching geriatrics principles to interprofessional students, residents, allied health professionals, and colleagues in all care settings. Dr. Church also was recognized for her service as a mentor to countless trainees and her leadership of the Denver VA GRECC.
• Nancy Schoenborn, MD, MHS, received the 2019 Outstanding Junior Investigator of the Year Award for her extensive geriatrics research, particularly her nationally-recognized work to communicate the discontinuation of routine cancer screening in some older adult populations.

Are you a geriatrics policy wonk (or do you aspire to be one)? Check out our latest updates on the 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule and see what has us #AGSHappy and #AGSIntrigued on the MyAGSOnline CEO Blog.

• What are your protocols on the transition away from restraints in patients with delirium?
• What are some of the most common barriers impacting women in academic medicine?
• What are your experiences with billing for chronic care management?

Congratulations to this week's most active members: Sally Brooks, Elizabeth White-Chu, Christina Prather, and Brienne Miner. Thank you for your contributions!

• From the Kaiser Family Foundation: ACA Premiums Are Falling in Many Areas, But Changes Vary Widely by County and Plan Type
• From the Kaiser Family Foundation: Medicare-for-All's Popularity May Have Peaked
• From the Kaiser Family Foundation: Medicare Advantage 2020 Spotlight: First Look
• From the Kaiser Family Foundation: Key Global Health Positions and Officials in the U.S. Government

Earlier this year, the AGS released the 4th edition of the Clinician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers. Now you can take your expert advice on the go with our updated Safe Older Drivers app, which condenses the Clinician's Guide into an at-your-fingertips easy reference. Available for Android and Apple devices, the Safe Older Drivers app allows clinicians to browse through the Clinician's Guide text, immediately access key resources and assessment tools, and walk through the interactive Plan for Older Driver Safety flowchart. This free app is available now! (Also, don't forget to check out our other new resources for safe older driving, the Emergency Medicine and Trauma Specialist's Quick Guide for Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers.)

Hosted annually by the Caregiver Action Network, November is National Family Caregivers Month—a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. This year's theme is #BeCareCurious. Learn how you can help promote curiosity in care here.

Care of older adults is mired in misinformation, with most older people and caregivers mistakenly believing that sharp declines in quality of life are inevitable, according to a new survey from The John A. Hartford Foundation and WebMD. Driving Towards Age-Friendly Care for the Future, a survey of more than 2,700 older people and caregivers, found that more than 40% of respondents believe depression is an inevitable part of aging; three in four are not aware they have a right to ask for and receive health care tailored to what matters to them; and nearly 40% did not know that some prescription medications can impact cognition. The survey underscores the importance of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, a national movement led by the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), which is helping hospitals and health systems provide age-friendly care focused on the 4Ms of age-friendly expertise.

• AGS CoCare: HELP™ SIG Meeting. AGS CoCare: HELP™ (Hospital Elder Life Program) will be present at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 2019 Annual Meeting on Fri., Nov. 15, at 7am CT in room 8C on level 3 of the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. Dr. Sharon Inouye will discuss new aspects of the HELP program as it transitions to the AGS, and Dr. Yan Yan Wang will present a recent article published in JAMA, which shows that training family members in HELP delirium prevention protocols can significantly reduce the incidence of post-operative delirium. Learn more about AGS CoCare: HELP™ here.
• HAPF Program/The John A. Hartford Foundation Reception. Also at GSA on Thurs., Nov. 14, from 6-8pm CT in Room 10A at the Austin Convention Center, Terry Fulmer, President of the John A. Hartford Foundation, will accept the 2019 Donald P. Kent Award. The reception also provides an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the Health and Aging Policy fellowship, and meet alumni and current fellows.

Created by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, SafetyinDementia.org addresses three safety concerns: Firearm access, driving, and general home safety. While developed with caregivers as the primary audience, the site also is useful to individuals with early cognitive impairment, healthcare providers, and other service experts. Bookmark the site as a go-to resource to assist in clarifying some of the concerns or fears older adults and caregivers may have around these safety issues.