Embedding and Sustaining a Focus on Function in Specialty Research and Care
Authors
Callahan, Kathryn E.Boustani, Malaz
Ferrante, Lauren
Forman, Daniel E.
Gurwitz, Jerry H.
High, Kevin P.
McFarland, Frances
Robinson, Thomas
Studenski, Stephanie
Yang, Mia
Schmader, Kenneth E.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Meyers Primary Care InstituteDivision of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2021-01-01Keywords
cognitionfunction
health system
implementation science
physical performance
sensory health
Geriatrics
Gerontology
Health Policy
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Function and the independent performance of daily activities are of critical importance to older adults. Although function was once a domain of interest primarily limited to geriatricians, transdisciplinary research has demonstrated its value across the spectrum of medical and surgical care. Nonetheless, integrating a functional perspective into medical and surgical therapeutics has yet to be implemented consistently into clinical practice. This article summarizes the presentations and discussions from a workshop, "Embedding/Sustaining a Focus on Function in Specialty Research and Care," held on January 31 to February 1, 2019. The third in a series supported by the National Institute on Aging and the John A. Hartford Foundation, the workshop aimed to identify scientific gaps and recommend research strategies to advance the implementation of function in care of older adults. Transdisciplinary leaders discussed implementation of mobility programs and functional assessments, including comprehensive geriatric assessment; integrating cognitive and sensory functional assessments; the role of culture, environment, and community in incorporating function into research; innovative methods to better identify functional limitations, techniques, and interventions to facilitate functional gains; and the role of the health system in fostering integration of function. Workshop participants emphasized the importance of aligning goals and assessments and adopting a team science approach that includes clinicians and frontline staff in the planning, development, testing, and implementation of tools and initiatives. This article summarizes those discussions.Source
Callahan KE, Boustani M, Ferrante L, Forman DE, Gurwitz J, High KP, McFarland F, Robinson T, Studenski S, Yang M, Schmader KE. Embedding and Sustaining a Focus on Function in Specialty Research and Care. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 Jan;69(1):225-233. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16860. Epub 2020 Oct 16. PMID: 33064303; PMCID: PMC7871732. Link to article on publisher's site
DOI
10.1111/jgs.16860Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/41750PubMed ID
33064303Related Resources
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/jgs.16860