RI Geriatrics Project ECHO

Impact of Covid 19 on Older Adults

Session 1

Lessons Learned Along the Continuum of Care: Sharing Innovations and Successes in our Elder Centered Healthy Neighborhood

Presented May 7 2020

Learning Objectives

This session features panelists from different care settings who share their recent caring experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Participants of the session were invited to share their innovative ideas, successes, and needs in providing care to older adults across the wide range of settings in which they work.  

Guest Experts

  • Mark Schwager MD, Preceptor/Attending Physician, Boston University Internal Medicine Residency Program at Roger Williams Medical Center
  • Joan Kwiatkowski, MSW, Chief Executive Officer PACE Organization of Rhode Island
  • Edward Martin, MD, MPH, FAAHPM, Chief Medical Officer, Hope Hospice and Palliative Care Rhode Island

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Session 2

COVID-19 Concepts and their Application to Geriatrics

Presented May 21, 2020

Learning Objective

This session discusses aspects of SARS-CoVID-19 infections in older adults including epidemiology and ideas on how to translate concepts to practice in a variety of care settings.  

Guest Expert

  • Stefan Gravenstein, MD, Director, Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.  Professor, Departments of Medicine and Health Services Policy and Practice at Brown University Schools of Medicine and Public Health.

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Session 3

Social Isolation and Well Being Among Older Adults During COVID-19

Presented June 4, 2020

Learning Objectives

This session identifies the impact of social isolation among older adults and examines new mental and physical health concerns experienced by older adults during COVID-19.  Treatment recommendations and creative activities are shared among the care provider community.

Guest Expert

  • Corinne Calise Russo, MSW, ASWCM
  • Kim Rickler, MSW, LICSW

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Session 4

Available COVID-19 Resources in Rhode Island

Presented June 18, 2020

Learning Objectives

This session included an array of community resources in Rhode Island to support the health and safety, basic needs, and overall well-being of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Guest Expert

  • Catherine Taylor, Executive Director of Age-Friendly Rhode Island

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Handouts

Session 5

Reopening Rhode Island during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Presented August 13, 2020

Learning Objectives

This session includes a discussion of the challenges of “Reopening” ambulatory practices in Rhode Island during COVID-19 and how to best manage associated risks.  Guest experts discuss the epidemiology and impact of SARS-CoV-2 in Rhode Island and review approaches to addressing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Ambulatory Care Settings.

Guest Expert

  • James McDonald MD, MPH, Chief Administrative Officer Rhode Island Department of Health

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Session 6

Update on COVID-19 in Long-Term Congregate Care Settings

Presented August 27,2020

Learning Objectives

This session includes a discussion of the challenges of “Reopening” long-term care settings and how to best manage associated risks. 

See Reference article: 
       The Importance of Proper Death Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Guest Expert

  • Philip A. Chan, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Brown University; Consultant Medical Director, Rhode Island Department of Health

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Session 7

The COVID Marathon: Self-Care Strategies that Go the Distance

Presented September 10, 2020

Learning Objectives

This session includes a discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on health professionals, including self-care strategies and local resources. 

Guest Experts

  • Kathi Boyd, LICSW, & Donna Stetson, LMHC, Rhode Island Physician Health Program

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Session 8

Prevention and Management of COVID-19 in the Elderly:  Vaccine Availability & Allocation

Presented September 24, 2020

Learning Objectives

This session includes a discussion of the of a COVID-19 vaccine, including the stage of development, clinical trials and the concept of vaccine hesitancy.  Proposed models of vaccine distribution will also be reviewed and discussed. 

Guest Experts

  • Jeffrey Bratberg, PharmD, FAPhA, Clinical Professor of Pharmacy, URI

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Session 9

COVID-19: Mental Health Impact on Healthcare Patients

Presented October 8, 2020

Learning Objectives

This session discusses the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults, the differences between social isolation and loneliness and their role in health and well being and risk factors and resiliency factors in late-life suicide and potential association with COVID-19. 

Guest Expert

  • Andrew Rosenzweig, MD, MPH, Geriatric Psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer, Forefront TeleCare

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Session 10

Caring for Vulnerable Older Adults:
LGBT Patients and Residents

Presented October 22, 2020

Learning Objectives

This session includes a discussion of issues that LGBT older adults may face in long-term care and includes strategies for improving the care of LGBT patients and residents.

Guest Experts

  • Patricia Burbank, DNSc, RN, FAAN, Professor of Nursing, Univ. of Rhode Island 
  • Hugh Hall, Administrator, West View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

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Session 11

 SARS-CoV-2 and COVID: A Quick Review

Presented November 19, 2020

Learning Objectives

This session reviews the current status of COVID-19 including symptoms, risk mitigation, and immunology.  Strategies to reduce the impact of COVID 19 is also discussed.

Guest Expert

  • Stefan Gravenstein, MD, Director, Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.  Professor, Departments of Medicine and Health Services Policy and Practice at Brown University Schools of Medicine and Public Health.

Participate Now!

Session 12

COVID-19 Panel Discussion

Presented January 15, 2021

Learning Objectives

This session includes a summary of the current status of COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Rhode Island, including available resources for health professionals.

Guest Experts

  • Kerry LaPlante, PharmD, FCCP, FIDSA, Professor and Chair, Pharmacy Practice, URI; RI COVID-19 Vaccine Subcommittee
  • Jill Powers, RPh, Consultant Pharmacist, Rhode Island Pharmeric
  • Diane Cocozza Martins, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor, URI College of Nursing
  • Erin Foeri, URI PharmD Candidate 2021

Participate Now!