Lesson Summary

A Curriculum to Support the Delivery of Age-Friendly Health Care is a provider's guide that focuses on age-friendly care for older adults. The guide introduces the concept of the "Age-Friendly Health System" developed by the John A. Hartford Foundation, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, American Hospital Association, and Catholic Health system to support high-quality care for older adults.

The guide presents the 4Ms Framework, emphasizing the essential elements to be applied with every patient at every encounter. It discusses the importance of age-friendly care due to the aging population nationally and in specific regions like Georgia. The guide highlights the complexity of healthcare for older adults, the lack of preparedness in health systems, and the disproportionate harm older adults may face in the healthcare system.

Furthermore, the guide addresses the issue of ageism in healthcare, explaining its forms such as institutional ageism, interpersonal ageism, and internalized ageism. It emphasizes the need for an interprofessional team to provide age-friendly care and shared language among healthcare providers to facilitate better care.

The curriculum provided in the guide integrates the 4Ms framework and includes modules on age-friendly care, ageism, and various geriatric syndromes to support screening, assessment, referral, and treatment. The guide concludes by offering free learning modules and resources for providers interested in improving clinical care for older adults.