An Analysis of End-of-Life Content in Aging Network Conference Proceedings

Abstract

Important home and community-based issues in the lives of older adults and caregivers relate to end of life. It is well documented that education on end of life, including curricula and textbook content for health and human service professionals, is lacking. This study analyzed another aspect of education: continuing education sessions offered at three major annual conferences for members of the Aging Network. Conference proceedings were reviewed for end-of-life–related content for the years 1999 through 2006. Only four sessions out of 960 addressed end-of-life issues. The implications in the rise of the number of aging consumers accessing end-of-life services depict a need for end-of-life service providers and Aging Network service providers to support opportunities to conduct educational outreach through national conferences. Additional research is recommended to analyze opportunities at the local level for education on end-of-life issues for the Aging Network.

KEYWORDS:

• Older Americans Act
• end of life
• hospice
• area agency on aging
• state unit on aging

The authors would like to thank the John A. Hartford Foundation, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, National Association of State Units on Aging, Kathryn Braun, DrPH, Gerald Holmes, MD, Harumi Karel, PhD, Pamela J. Kovacs, PhD, Betty Kramer, PhD, Elizabeth Lightfoot, PhD, Wes Lum, MPH, and Lisa Quinn, MSW, for their support in completing this research.