11:00 a.m-12:15 p.m

3-A. Honoring the Care Preferences of Older Adults

When healthcare practitioners overlook the care preferences of older adults, those patients are more likely to experience stressful hospital visits, higher medical costs, and a loss of trust in the healthcare system. Conversely, listening to and honoring patient preferences improves health and quality of life, reduces avoidable costs, and helps reduce health disparities. This session will provide an overview of research from the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston—including focus groups with physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants—that illustrates how healthcare professionals are engaging in shared decision-making, navigating barriers to honor patient preferences, and adapting these strategies across diverse populations. Join us to learn how health outcomes can be optimized by ensuring patients feel heard and that their care preferences and needs are considered.

• Claire Wickersham, Senior Research Associate, UMass Boston Gerontology
• Marc Cohen, Co-Director, LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, UMass Boston Gerontology
• Jane Tavares, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate, LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, UMass Boston Gerontology