Equitable and Accessible Care Accounts for Linguistic and Cultural Differences of Older Adults and Their Caregivers
What is most important when you engage with patients is that you remain open and maintain a sense of respect for your patients. The RESPECT model can help you remember what factors to consider to engage patients in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. These factors are important throughout assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
In an effort to tackle one of the most modifiable factors of health inequity, culturally and linguistically sensitive care, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has released a series of national standards that are intended to “advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities by establishing a blueprint for health and health organizations.”
As a person ages, the need for family or caregivers to be engaged within their medical appointments generally increases. In a 2015 review, the Alzheimer’s Association noted that there were almost 15.7 million adult family caregivers in the United States that were providing care to an older adult that was diagnosed with either Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia alone.
The failure of health care providers to communicate effectively and appropriately with people with disabilities is a major barrier to delivering quality health care. The following information identifies general recommendations for communicating with people with disabilities in general and for individuals with specific disabilities. If you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with communication strategies, learn more about specific types of disability to increase your comfort level and communication skills.
Equitable and Accessible Care Accounts for Older Adults’ Physical and Cognitive Differences
To keep a telehealth visit running smoothly for both patient and provider, it is important to understand what types of cognitive accommodations your patients may need for a telehealth visit before the visit ever takes place. The following is a set of questions geared for patients that must be administered by a person on your staff (not a form where the patient self reports). The screener can be done ahead of the telehealth visit over the phone or in person.
To keep a telehealth visit running smoothly for both patient and provider, it is important to understand what types of hearing accommodations your patients may need for a telehealth visit before the visit ever takes place. The following is a set of questions geared for patients that can be included in intake forms or asked of the patient by a staff member ahead of a telehealth appointment.
To keep a telehealth visit running smoothly for both patient and provider, it is important to understand what types of vision accommodations your patients may need for a telehealth visit before the visit ever takes place. The following is a set of questions geared for patients that can be included in intake forms or asked of the patient by a staff member ahead of a telehealth appointment.
Health equity is often at the forefront of many healthcare related discussions and concerns, and this is especially true when considering telehealth. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defines health equity as “the opportunity for everyone to receive the health care they need and deserve, regardless of social or economic status.”
Toolkit intended to help providers manage care for seniors at PACE programs utilizing various telehealth tools.
This toolkit provides telehealth providers with tools that prioritize an equity-focused approach, recognizing the physical, cognitive, linguistic, and cultural differences among older adults.