Healthy People Consortium Meeting and Public Hearing
"Building the Next Generation of Healthy People"
November 12 and 13, 1998
Capital Hilton, Washington, D.C.

Select Populations:
Older Adults

Note taker: Joan Lyon, ODPHP

Comments on Draft 2010 Document:

1. Needs index by topic and category.
2. Needs user friendly cross-reference for objectives.
3. Difficult to find relevant objectives for grant writing, funding streams...
4. Key word search on web site may not be sufficient to find all objectives for a specific sub-population.
5. Objectives are robust regarding initial prevention, however they do not adequately address prevention of complications once the disease exists ie. Beta blocker therapy after heart attacks.
6. Prevention efforts need to target the full spectrum of life, be age-appropriate, and focused on the whole person not just the chronic disease.
7. Continuity of care needs to be an overarching issue.

Comments on Specific Subject Areas:

Elderly:

1. May need additional differentiation by age cohort, ie. 65 year-old people are very different than 85year-olds.
2. Need an objective on pain management in the elderly.
3. Include elderly in depression and smokeless tobacco objectives.
4. We now have elderly boomers taking care of their very elderly parents. Need to address support systems to help them - adult caregivers should have systems as good as child caregivers.
5. Have an objective on social engagement as this improves health status. We need to keep older people active and productive to give them a purpose for staying healthy.
6. Need to focus on long-term care - we need creative solutions/facilities that are not driven by cost.
7. Address sensory deficits related to aging such as vision and hearing.

Oral Health:

• Include an overview of the link between oral health and cardiovascular disease, as well as respiratory disease.

Infectious Disease:

• Need to address immigrant population as most emerging infectious diseases enter the country via this vector.

Pain Management:

• All pain should be addressed.

End-of-life issues - need to develop objectives on:

1. Physical suffering.
2. Patient autonomy
3. Decision-making