Presenter(s):
Analía Nancy Adad; Lilian Ayala, María del Carmen Ruiz; María Andrea Carosella, ILC ARGENTINA, Argentina
Intriduction:
We are currently living through the Decade of Healthy Aging, which,
according to the WHO, seeks to promote and maintain functional ability to ensure well-being in old age. By 2050, the population of older adults is expected to grow significantly, with a projected exponential increase in global aging. This substantial demographic shift will impact society, making it essential to address the issue specifically and to place it firmly on the public agenda. Active aging emerges as a strategic tool to face this growing challenge. In this context, a decision was made to address this issue at a General Acute Care Hospital in the City of Buenos Aires, where most of the population served falls within this age group.
Objective: Through the formation of an interdisciplinary team, composed of a neurologist and a social worker, the following work strategies were defined:
● Develop a preventive, interdisciplinary group-based program aimed at older adults
● Establish an interdisciplinary team for gerontological care
● Create a network of workshops targeting this population within the hospital’s
catchment area
● Participating in NGOs and institutional networks engaged in related topics
● Organize courses and training programs for hospital staff on these issues
● Ensure ongoing professional development by the responsible professionals
Method:
Following a literature review and research on similar services in GCABA hospitals,
a survey was conducted of older adults receiving care at the hospital. Professionals from
other group settings were also contacted to exchange experiences. A group-based program titled Conociendo-nos was created for individuals over 60 years of age. It was open to the public and held weekly. Subsequently, a network of workshops for older adults within the hospital’s service area was formed, followed by a call for professionals from various disciplines to join the newly created interdisciplinary gerontological care team. A new tool for geriatric/gerontological assessment was designed for conducting interviews with older adults.
Results: The development of the group-based program led to:
● Increased participation of older adults in these activities
● Stronger connections between professionals from various disciplines and the older
adult population
● Joint activities with group-based programs from other healthcare facilities
● Engagement of health professionals in relevant networks and NGOs
● Presentations at conferences, workshops, and training sessions
● A gerontological approach to the care of older adults
● Greater visibility of older adults within an acute care hospital setting
Conclusion:
This initiative helped strengthen the relationship between healthcare
professionals and older adults, reaffirming their rights and promoting healthy aging.
Keywords: Older Adults. Healthy Aging. Older Adult Workshops. Group-Based Programs. Interdisciplinary Work. Gerontological Care.
Bio(s):
Analía Adad M.D:
General Practitioner, Gerontologist.
Professional Roles
●Head of the 5th Floor Inpatient Section at Dr. Julio Mendez Sanatorium until 2023.
Secretary of the Teaching and Research Committee of the Dr. Julio Mendez Sanatorium
from 2020 to present.
● Head of practical work at UDH Julio Mendez, University of Buenos Aires (UBA).
● Executive Director of the Comprehensive Care Program for Older Adults, Social Security
of the City Government since 2023.
Postgraduate Activities
● Secretary of the Joint Cardiometabolism-SAC Conference, Diabetes and Cancer
Committee SAD, Nutrition and Diabetes Working Group, Municipal Oncology Hospital
María Curie, December 2019.
● Member of the organizing committee of the 1st International Conference on Nutrition,
Cancer, and Diabetes, September 5-6, 2019.
● Panel Chair: Management of Hyperglycemia in Oncology Patients – led by Dr. Félix
Puchulu. Diabetes and Cancer Conference, September 2020.
