As a public health leader what is the role of public health for assuring health justice and social justice for older adults?

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PUBH 8571: Public Health & Aging

Fall 2020 Syllabus

Distance Education Delivery

Instructors:

Dr. Ruth Little Dr. Rashmita Basu

Vice Chair & Assistant Professor Assistant Professor

Dr. Little Office Hours: Office hour: by appointment

Tuesday 2-4pm; Thursday 2-5pm; Email: [email protected]

or by appointment Phone: 252-744-2785 (O)

Phone 252-744-3123

Cell: 252-916-4608

Email: [email protected]

Prerequisite:

Enrollment in Doctor of Public Health, Health Policy Administration & Leadership Concentration

Course Objectives:

On completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

1. Examine public health services for the aged population.

2. Analyze health care resources and competencies needed for healthy aging.

3. Demonstrate skills necessary for public health workforce development and advocacy.

4. Evaluate technological applications available for optimizing quality of life.

5. Analyze health care policies, financial resources and services available for the aged

population.

6. Assess financial resources needed by aging population and critique current system for

ensuring quality of care.

7. Evaluate the current needs and services for assuring provision of care for fragile populations.

8. Critique the role of public health in end of life care for aged population.

Textbooks for Dr. Little’s portion of the course:

Rowles, Graham D. & Teaster, Pamela B. (2016). Long Term Care in an Aging Society. Springer

Publishing Co. New York. New York.

Nerenberg, Lisa. (2019). Critical Topics in an Aging Society: Elder Justice, Ageism, and Elder Abuse.

Spring Publishing Co. New York, New York.

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Dr. Basu’s portion of the course:

There will be no specific text book for Dr. Basu’s portion of this course, rather you will be given a list of

journal articles, book chapters, reports etc, on the topics that we will cover in the syllabus. Please find

these reading materials in the Canvas.

Additional Required Readings:

Will be assigned and placed in canvas under each weekly module. Please check frequently, as relevant

readings occur, these may be added to maximize course learning opportunities.

Course Schedule

Week 1: Dr. Little

August 10, 2020

Assignments

Discussion Board 1:

See Week 1

Discussion Board in

Canvas

Long Term Care Overview:

• Long Term Care Populations

• History of LTC

• Formal versus Informal Care

Week 2: Dr. Basu

August 17, 2020

Discussion #2:

demand for long-term

care services and

supports (LTSS),

financial and

economic challenges

faced by older adults

Health and economic consequences of

aging—

• Demographic trends: increase in long-term care needs due to

disability, chronic illnesses etc.

Financial/economic resources

available to aging population—to

meet the demand for care needs

Week 3: Dr. Basu

August 24, 2020

Discussion #3:

Payment and

reimbursement of

acute versus LTSS:

public versus private

payers. Different types

of LTSS /different

care settings

Health insurance coverages for older adults:

Reimbursement and financing of healthcare

for older adults: Acute care and Long-term

care

• Insurance coverage for acute care: Medicare/Medicaid/Supplemental

coverage

• Long-term care needs for aging population; types of services who

provides: Informal versus formal care

services-costs and consequences to

health care system, public health

• Home Health care/Long-term care facilities/Skilled Nursing care

Week 4; Dr. Basu

August 31, 2020

Discussion #4:

Differences in

financing between

acute and long-term

care: financial risks

associated with LTSS

financing: the role of

Financing of long-term care services and

supports (LTSS):

• Financing of long-term care: roles of public and private insurance

coverage

• Who are the Long-term care service providers?

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government policies

and challenges to the

elderly.

You should start

thinking about the

topic of your research

paper.

Decision to make private long-term care

insurance

Week 5: Dr. Basu

September 7, 2020

Discussion #5: Roles

of public payers

(Medicare/Medicaid)

and individuals in

financing of LTSS

Private long-term care

insurance coverage

and its implications for

financing

Labor Day Holiday

• Role of public and private financing of long-term care services and

supports

• Financial burdens related to long- term care services and supports

Week 6: Dr. Basu

September 14, 2020

Discussion #6: Quality

of LTSS and role of

federal and state

regulations and

oversights on quality

assurance efforts

Quality of LTSS for older adults:

• Quality of care received by older population- concerns/efforts to

address-both acute and long-term

care system.

• Efforts to improve quality of care— acute care/long-term care ACA and

beyond

Week 7: Dr. Basu

September 21, 2020

Research Paper Due

(Specific instruction

for the research paper

is included at the end

of the syllabus)

COVID-19 and Long-erm care facilities:

public health challenges

• Why COVID-19 impacts long-term care facilities so hard:

• Impacts of COIVID-19 on residents and staff –challenges of having

adequate resources, transition of

residents due to COVID-19

Week 8: Dr. Little

September 28, 2020

Discussion Board See

Canvas

Community Based LTC

• Quality of Life

• Family and Family Involvement

• Community Services/Aging Programs

• Social Isolation

Week 9: Dr. Little

October 5, 2020

Home Health Care/Adult Day

Care/Rehabilitation

• Policies and Regulation

• Disability Rights and Olmstead Decision

• Technological Advances

• Geriatric Rehabilitation

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• Adult Day Care Background and Services

Week 10: Dr. Little

October 12, 2020

Discussion Board

integrating week 9 and

10. See Canvas

Assisted Living/SNF/Palliative Care/Hospice

• History

• Policies and regulations

• Ethical Considerations

Week 11: Dr. Little

Oct 19, 2020

Paper 2 Assignment Opens

No discussion board

work on paper

Ageism, Ethics/Elder Justice/Abuse

• History

• Health Justice vs Social Justice

• Elder Abuse

• Consumer Choice

• Advocacy

Week 12: Dr. Little

October 26, 2020

Discussion Board:

You will select a

critical ageism issue in

public health for this

discussion board.

Please send proposed

topic so other students

don’t select same topic

by October 21, 2020.

See Canvas

Critical Public Health Issues in Aging

• In depth discussion and review of critical issues in public health and

aging including Covid-19 pandemic

for driving public health policies.

• Public Health Aging Policies: Aging in Place; health and well-being of

older adults.

Week 13: Dr. Little

November 2, 2020

Public Health Policy & Aging/Health

Disparities

• Social Determinants of Health Older Adults

• Disparities in preventative care, assess to care, chronic disease and

utilization of services

Week 14: Dr. Little

November 9, 2020

Paper 3 Final Assignment

Opens

Discussion Board on

Public Health

Policy/Health

Disparities, A

leadership response.

See Canvas

Public Health Workforce/Leadership

Development for Aging Society

Week 15

November 16, 2020

Classes End. Paper 3

You will find each week’s reading materials in the canvas

Student Conduct: Students’ work on assignments outside of class is to be their own unless specifically instructed

to work in teams.

Grading Rubric: See Canvas

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Grading:

A=90-100

B=80-89.9

C=70-79.9

F=69.9 and below

Assignments:

Assigned readings and specific instructions for assignments will be distributed separately

• Discussion Boards: 40% (30% Dr. Basu; 10% Dr. Little)

• Paper 1: Basu: 20%

• Paper 2: Little 20%

• Paper 3: Little 20%

General Class Information:

• Dr. Little and Dr. Basu are co-teaching this course. Please note the instructor listed under the week and date. Each professor’s assignments will constitute 50% of the final grade.

• APA Format is used for Dr. Little’s assignments. 12- point font, one -inch margins, double spaced, separate reference page. All assignments should be submitted with a cover page that

includes your name, course name and number, semester/year, instructor name and date. Make

sure you number each page except the cover page.

• Assignments are due by the date and time posted. Late assignments will not be accepted.

• Proactive communication is appreciated if you are experiencing difficulties in meeting deadlines due to Covid-19 pandemic and your job responsibilities.

Instructions for Dr. Basu’s research paper (you are welcome to send me your topics of interest and I

would be happy to give you feedback on your topic selection):

• APA Format is used. 12- point font, one -inch margins, double spaced, separate reference page. All assignments should be submitted with a cover page that includes your name, course name and

number, semester/year, instructor name and date. Make sure you number each page except the

cover page. Your paper should be within 1500 words excluding reference pages, figures tables

etc.

• Structure and content of the research paper 1. Topic of your research paper and the goal/objective of your paper 2. Why this is a problem to older adults and what is not known in the literature that you

specifically wanted to learn from research this topic and particular question of your

interest

3. Literature review: be brief and only include literature that are relevant to your study and published within last 10 years. What would be your contribution to the literature?

4. Your findings –must be aligned to your goals/objectives 5. Your conclusions and what you have learned

East Carolina University is committed to social justice. The course director and other course leaders

concur with that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open

communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. We do not discriminate on the basis of race,

gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran’s status, religion, sexual orientation, color, creed,

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genetic information, political affiliation, or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a

positive and open environment in this course will be appreciated and given serious consideration. Initial

suggestions first should be delivered to the course director; if a satisfactory resolution is not

accomplished, concerned students then may direct suggestions to the BSOM Office of Student Affairs. Additionally, as noted in the BSOM’s Office of Student Affairs Policies and Procedures, students

requesting disability accommodations must first self-identify to the Office of Disability Support Services

on the East Carolina University main campus, who will advise the Office of Student Affairs at Brody

School of Medicine concerning recommended accommodations.

East Carolina University seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students

requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the Department for Disability

Support Services located in Slay 138 ((252) 737-1016 (Voice/TTY)).