Indian Health Geriatric Nurse Fellowship Accomplishments
Many fellows have shared the positive impacts of their local improvement projects. Here are some of their accomplishments.
Addressing Sexual Health Awareness in Elders
As sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates rise among elders, Geriatric Nurse Fellow Jennifer Sharma, RN, from Wewoka Indian Health Center in Oklahoma, researched the lack of sexual health education for adults 65+ and created a small community education intervention.
Key findings include:
- Elders appreciate education tailored to their age group.
- Many are unaware of STIs they may be at risk for.
- Elders are more open to discussing sexual health than often perceived.
Sharma's work is helping prioritize the importance of improving STI awareness and education for older adults.
Enhancing Health Insurance Knowledge for Better Care
Geriatric Nurse Fellow Rebecca Carrillo, RN, a case manager at Phoenix Indian Medical Center, examined health insurance knowledge among elders. Her case study approach found barriers and created solutions to help patients understand health insurance processes.
Key findings include:
- Low understanding of health insurance can delay treatment and make it harder to get care.
- Telemedicine and online tools help with access but can be hard to use for patients who need extra support.
- Case managers play an important role in advocacy, education, and addressing health disparities.
Carrillo's project, which includes policy recommendations for training and elder-specific case management, is improving education and access to elder care.
Improving Elders’ Understanding of Medication Labels
Geriatric Nurse Fellow Suzie Chism, RN, from Kyle Health Center at the IHS Pine Ridge Service Unit, created a learning session to help elders better read and understand medication labels. Her project measured how well participants understood the labels before and after her session.
Key findings include:
- Many elders have a hard time understanding medication labels, which can affect their health and safety.
- Education can greatly improve how well elders follow prescription instructions.
- Leadership and mentor support strengthen the success of quality improvement efforts.
Understanding medication labels helps elders manage their medications safely and independently, leading to better health outcomes.
Understanding Barriers to Dementia Care
Geriatric Nurse Fellow John M. Keller, RN, from Indian Health Council in California, explored community perceptions about long-term care for people living with dementia and identified major barriers to patient and caregiver support.
Key findings include:
- Lack of trust in health care is not a major barrier in his community.
- Advanced care planning conversations need to start earlier.
- Awareness of dementia resources is low—only 20% know where to get help.
These insights are helping to shape better support strategies for elders and caregivers in his community and beyond.
