When I was 12, my dad had a stroke. Spending time with him in nursing homes and care facilities, I recognized a need to improve how we provide care for older adults. Pursuing a career in nursing was the best way for me to help make that change, and I made a commitment to becoming a geriatric provider.
My personal experiences led me to seek out a career focused on providing care for the unique health needs of the elderly. Geriatrics remains largely underrecognized as a specialty. It is hopeful to see a rise in the number of geriatric providers, like me, who are pursuing specialized training to effectively care for older adults.
As I enter practice, I have already encountered the common misconception that seniors’ health challenges are simply the result of “getting old.” However, we know that not everything is attributable to normal aging processes. My education has taught me how chronic conditions can be better managed by understanding social, environmental and cultural conditions, which can shift across one’s lifespan.
Reports like this help practitioners shine a light on older adults’ individualized needs and motivate me to practice patient-centered care tailored to older adults. I hope they motivate others as well.
Through the United Health Foundation’s 10-year, $100 million commitment, our Diversity in Health Care Scholarship program is focused on providing scholarships and support to 10,000 current and future health professionals to advance a more diverse health workforce prepared to serve the needs of underserved communities.