A study led by center director Jennifer Wolff and co-authors Danny Scerpella, Kimberly Cockey, Naaz Hussain, Tara Funkhouser, Diane Echavarria, Jennifer Aufill, Amy Guo, Danetta Sloan, Sydney Dy, Kelly Smith, and SHARING Choices Investigators in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care found that SHARING Choices, an advance care planning intervention, was acceptable among older adults with and without cognitive impairment and may increase advance directive completion. The study engaged family in advance care planning of older adults with and without cognitive impairment in the primary care context. Patients remarked that SHARING Choices clarified communication and preferences while family reported a better understanding of their role in advance care planning and communication. SHARING Choices is now being tested in a pragmatic trial at 55 primary care clinics in the Baltimore-Washington area. Read more.

Jennifer L. Wolff, Brenda C. Spillman, Vicki A. Freedman and Judith D. Kasper

Family and unpaid caregivers who assist older people with disabilities by providing substantial help with health care participate less in valued social and leisure activities, experience reduced productivity at work, and are more likely to report emotional, physical, and financial difficulties....Read More

Jennifer Wolff

Patient-centered care has been described as “true north” in health care quality. (Berwick 2009) Attaining patient-centered care within the prevailing 15-minute medical visit may be especially challenging in the care of older patients.  ...Read More