Donna H Odierna1, Mary T Katen1,2, Mariko A Feuz1,2, Ryan D McMahan1, Christine S Ritchie1,3, Shireen McSpadden4, Mark Burns5, Aiesha M Volow1,2, Rebecca L Sudore1,2,3. 1. 1 Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California. 2. 2 Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center , San Francisco, California. 3. 3 Tideswell at UCSF and the Innovation and Implementation Center on Aging and Palliative Care at the University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California. 4. 4 San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services, City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco, California. 5. 5 Homebridge Home Care Agency , San Francisco, California.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Millions of older adults require Medicaid-funded home care, referred to as In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Many of these individuals experience serious illness, disability, and common symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether and how to integrate symptom assessment into an IHSS program to identify and manage symptoms in diverse older adults who receive in-home care. DESIGN: Qualitative study comprising 10 semistructured focus groups. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Fifty San Francisco IHSS administrators, case managers, providers, and consumers. MEASUREMENTS: Two authors double-coded transcripts and conducted thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged from the data: (1) Large unmet needs: gaps in understanding, training, standard assessment, and untreated symptoms, including identifying loneliness as a symptom; (2) Potential barriers: misunderstanding of palliative care, consumer reluctance, and the added burden on IHSS workforce; (3) Facilitators: consumer and provider buy-in and perceived benefits of such a symptom assessment program, and the ability to build on current IHSS relationships and infrastructure; and (4) Implementation logistics: taking an individualized, optional approach; consider appropriate messaging about quality of life and not end of life; and creating standardized, easy-to-use procedures, tools, training, and workflow to support providers. CONCLUSIONS: An IHSS symptom assessment program is desired, needed, and feasible and can leverage the established IHSS infrastructure and relationships of consumers and IHSS providers to assess symptoms in the home. Acknowledging consumer choice, developing appropriate tools and trainings for IHSS staff, and effective messaging of program goals can contribute to success.
BACKGROUND: Millions of older adults require Medicaid-funded home care, referred to as In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Many of these individuals experience serious illness, disability, and common symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether and how to integrate symptom assessment into an IHSS program to identify and manage symptoms in diverse older adults who receive in-home care. DESIGN: Qualitative study comprising 10 semistructured focus groups. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Fifty San Francisco IHSS administrators, case managers, providers, and consumers. MEASUREMENTS: Two authors double-coded transcripts and conducted thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged from the data: (1) Large unmet needs: gaps in understanding, training, standard assessment, and untreated symptoms, including identifying loneliness as a symptom; (2) Potential barriers: misunderstanding of palliative care, consumer reluctance, and the added burden on IHSS workforce; (3) Facilitators: consumer and provider buy-in and perceived benefits of such a symptom assessment program, and the ability to build on current IHSS relationships and infrastructure; and (4) Implementation logistics: taking an individualized, optional approach; consider appropriate messaging about quality of life and not end of life; and creating standardized, easy-to-use procedures, tools, training, and workflow to support providers. CONCLUSIONS: An IHSS symptom assessment program is desired, needed, and feasible and can leverage the established IHSS infrastructure and relationships of consumers and IHSS providers to assess symptoms in the home. Acknowledging consumer choice, developing appropriate tools and trainings for IHSS staff, and effective messaging of program goals can contribute to success.
Entities:
Keywords:
In-Home Supportive Services; diverse older adults; geriatrics; palliative care end-of-life issues; symptom assessment
Authors: Elizabeth K Vig; Helene Starks; Janelle S Taylor; Elizabeth K Hopley; Kelly Fryer-Edwards Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2007-07-07 Impact factor: 5.128