SGE015 | Unseen Burdens: How Social Drivers of Health Impact Geriatric Patients, and What We Can Do About It

SGE015

Authors

Dr. Christina Shenvi

Course Description

Social factors such as isolation, neglect, food insecurity, and poor caregiver support often go unnoticed but significantly affect older adults’ health and ED visits. This case-based session helps learners recognize red flags, screen effectively, and initiate interventions with compassion. It emphasizes the ED’s unique role in identifying unmet needs and connecting patients with essential support systems.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain how social drivers of health (SDOH) influence the health and ED utilization of older adults.
2. Detect common signs of unmet social needs during ED encounters.
3. Employ tools and resources—like screenings, social work consults, and community referrals—to address these needs.

Run Time: ~30 minutes

Target Audience: Emergency Department Clinical Staff

SAGE Program

These courses were developed for the Syllabus for Advancing Geriatric EM Education (SAGE). They’re designed to help medical residents better understand how to manage geriatric patients in the ED.