About the Session:
What happens when the health care system fails to listen to older adults? Emerging evidence from the LeadingAge LTSS Center @ UMass Boston shows that when care preferences are overlooked, older adults experience worse health outcomes, higher costs, and diminished trust in the system.
This session will highlight findings from a multi-method research initiative examining how honoring or ignoring care preferences shapes outcomes in long-term services and supports (LTSS). Drawing on national data linked to Medicare claims as well as qualitative insights from older adults and providers, the session will explore the real-world consequences of person-centered care gaps, including increased hospital use, avoidable spending, and persistent inequities.
The session will present practical and policy-relevant insights into how aligning care with individual preferences can improve quality, reduce costs, and advance equity, particularly for populations whose voices are too often unheard. The discussion will also identify actionable strategies for providers, health systems, and policymakers to embed shared decision-making and person-centered practices into LTSS delivery.
About the Speakers:
Marc A. Cohen, PhD, is co-director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston.
Cohen is a professor of gerontology at the University of Massachusetts Boston and research director at Community Catalyst. Prior to joining UMass Boston, he was chief research and development officer, former president, and co-founder of LifePlans, Inc., a long-term care research and risk-management company.
During his 30-year career, Cohen led major research studies related to issues affecting financing and delivery of long-term services and supports, led a national demonstration of a new falls-prevention program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and worked with managed care plans implementing new models of care designed to reduce hospital readmissions.
Cohen received an MA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a PhD from the Heller School at Brandeis University.
Claire Wickersham, PhD, is a senior research associate at the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston. Her work focuses on home- and community-based services, aging in place, person-centered care, and the financial impacts of family caregiving. Her recent research examines policy solutions to reduce financial vulnerability among family caregivers and improve alignment between care delivery and individual preferences.
She holds a doctorate in gerontology from UMass Boston, a master’s in gerontological studies (MGS) from Miami University, and a BS in speech and hearing science from SUNY Cortland.
Jane Tavares, PhD, is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Gerontology at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Tavares has extensive experience working with large-scale representative panel data, such as the Health and Retirement Study. Her primary research explores how social relationships and social participation are associated with various aspects of health. More recently, Tavares conducted demographic research to identify U.S. older adults who are most financially vulnerable and to explore related longitudinal predictors and risk factors for financial vulnerability in later life.
Tavares is the former managing editor of the peer-reviewed journal Research on Aging.
Accessing the Meeting: REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Registration Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/iCy9HeAqSoOvHdkhsHW8Hw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If you have any questions. please click here to connect to our email. If you do not have Outlook, or if the link doesn’t work, you can contact us at ltcdiscussiongroup@gmail.com .
Meeting materials will also be posted once available on the Long Term Care Discussion Group website: http://www.ltcdiscussiongroup.org on the PRESENTATION MATERIALS page.