{"id":4646,"date":"2026-02-12T20:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T04:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thescanfoundation.org\/?post_type=news-insight&p=4646"},"modified":"2026-02-17T15:34:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T23:34:30","slug":"do-you-hear-what-i-hear-why-listening-to-older-adults-leads-to-better-care","status":"publish","type":"news-insight","link":"https:\/\/www.thescanfoundation.org\/es\/news-insight\/do-you-hear-what-i-hear-why-listening-to-older-adults-leads-to-better-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Hear What I Hear? Why Listening to Older Adults Leads to Better Care"},"template":"","class_list":["post-4646","news-insight","type-news-insight","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-insight_type-insight","location-national"],"acf":{"details":{"helper_accent_color":"yellow","helper_taxonomies":{"priority_tax":[7],"location":[11],"news-insight_type":[17],"resource_type":false,"event_type":false,"person_type":false,"year_tax":false,"asset_class":false,"investment_type":false,"investment_category":false},"helper_authors":[{"person_type":"linked","author_linked":[1533],"author_manual":""}],"abstract":"Extensive\u00a0<\/span>new\u00a0<\/span>research shows better outcomes and lower costs\u00a0<\/span>result<\/span> when providers consider patient preferences in care plans. Diving into LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston's <\/span><\/span>quantitative and qualitative work<\/a>, we learn key takeaways and actionable insights.","featured_image":2555,"":null,"source_logo":"","source_name":""},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Extensive\u00a0<\/span>new\u00a0<\/span>research shows better outcomes and lower costs\u00a0<\/span>result<\/span> when providers consider patient preferences in care plans. Diving into LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston's <\/span><\/span>quantitative and qualitative work<\/a>, we learn key takeaways and actionable insights.<\/strong><\/em>\r\n\r\n\u201cI was trying to explain to the doctor... [that the] meds that I was taking\u2026 caused my ankles to swell... and that I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want to take them. He just joked about it like, \u201c[You\u2019re] not a doctor. It might be\u00a0other things. It might not be the medication,\u201d and I didn\u2019t feel respected\u2026 and I walked away feeling small and insignificant, like I wasn\u2019t important.\u201d\u202f\u2014 Patient Focus Group Participant<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nFor older adults\u00a0and providers, the current system of care is\u00a0often\u00a0centered around\u00a0volume\u00a0and efficiency. Interactions can be short,\u00a0rushed\u00a0and\u00a0full of jargon.\u00a0This dynamic\u00a0makes it harder to build\u00a0meaningful\u00a0relationships\u00a0where individual\u00a0care preferences are\u00a0collaboratively\u00a0discussed.\u00a0According to new research from\u00a0the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston\u00a0and Community Catalyst,\u00a0<\/span>one in three older adults<\/span><\/a>\u00a0say their\u00a0care preferences are rarely or never considered\u00a0by their clinicians,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0even worse for older adults of color and those with lower incomes.\u00a0This happens even though\u00a0we know\u00a0that\u00a0taking patients\u2019\u00a0health care preferences into account improves care quality and health outcomes.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nAt The SCAN Foundation, we believe policy and programs should\u00a0elevate older adults\u2019 care preferences so that people\u00a0age well,\u00a0how\u00a0and where they want.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why I sat down with\u00a0the team\u00a0leading this new research\u00a0for my \u201cThree\u00a0Questions\u00a0With\u201d video series to better understand\u00a0how\u00a0ignoring older adult care preferences\u00a0impacts\u00a0patients, providers, and\u00a0the\u00a0broader\u00a0health system.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nIgnoring patient preferences is costly<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nEveryone has\u00a0goals\u00a0as they age\u2014like\u00a0remaining\u00a0physically active,\u00a0staying in their\u00a0home\u00a0and\u00a0being\u00a0socially connected.\u00a0Care plans\u00a0should reflect\u00a0and\u00a0support these goals.\u00a0<\/span>When patent preferences are ignored, the\u00a0financial\u00a0costs are steep<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nOver\u00a0an\u00a0eight-year study period, researchers estimate\u00a0$45 billion\u00a0in\u00a0unnecessary Medicare spending resulted from providers not taking patient preferences into account.\u00a0Older adults\u00a0who felt their preferences\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0considered\u00a0were\u00a0less likely\u00a0to receive routine care and\u00a0more likely to visit emergency rooms\u00a0for their care, which is expensive,\u00a0stressful\u00a0and often unnecessary.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nListen to\u00a0<\/span>LeadingAge\u00a0<\/span>researcher Jane Tavares on the cost of ignoring care\u00a0<\/span>preferences:\u00a0<\/span>","":null,"helper_width":"narrow"}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_basic_html","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_basic_html":{"content":"