BRIDGING GAPS: THE POWER OF THE GERIATRICS 5M’S IN TRANSFORMING KNOWLEDGE - Age-friendly care education study

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

Age-friendly care improves outcomes for older adults, and the Geriatrics 5M’s framework—Mind, Mobility, Medications, Multi-complexity, and Matters Most—guides providers to address older patients’ multifaceted needs. A cross-sectional study evaluated health-profession staff awareness and understanding before and after an educational workshop and learning materials (n=39). Awareness varied by profession, with medical care providers reporting higher familiarity than nurses and allied health professionals, and physician trainees improving after a 5M’s workshop. A 5M’s-focused curriculum increased knowledge across groups, especially in Medications and Matters Most, supporting the value of geriatric education. Longer-term effects require further study.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background and Rationale

Study Design and Participants

Educational Intervention

Results and Key Findings

Implications and Future Research

934 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3157 BRIDGING GAPS: THE POWER OF THE GERIATRICS 5M’S IN TRANSFORMING KNOWLEDGE Ashmeet Bhatia, Keisha Velazquez-Diaz, Kamal Patel, James Meisel, Supriya Parvatini, and Lionel Lim, VA Bedford Health Care System, Bedford, Massachusetts, United States Age-friendly care improves health outcomes for older adults. The Geriatrics 5M’s framework—Mind, Mobility, Medications, Multi-complexity, and Matters Most—serve as a guide to ensure that healthcare providers address the multifaceted needs of older patients. However, awareness and perceived application of these principles among hospital staff may be inconsistent. Literature reveals limited studies focusing on increased awareness and application after 5M’s workshop. VA Community Living Centers present opportunities for interprofessional education to identify gaps in knowledge and areas for improvement to foster a more age-friendly healthcare environment. This cross-sectional study aims to assess awareness and understanding of the Geriatrics 5M’s before and after an educational intervention across health professions, including nurses, physicians, trainees, and allied health professionals (n = 39) . Staff were surveyed for knowledge before and after an educational intervention, which was delivered through workshops and learning materials. Results indicate a variable level of awareness of the 5Ms across health professions. Medical care providers showed higher familiarity compared to nurses and allied health professionals. There was improvement in knowledge of the 5M’s amongst physician trainees on geriatrics rotation at the VA and after a 5M’s workshop. There was increased knowledge across all groups using a Geriatrics 5M’s-focused educational curriculum, with notable increases in the “Medications” and “Matters Most” components. Our findings highlight the importance and impact of geriatric education using the Geriatrics 5M’s approach in improving interprofessional knowledge of age-friendly care. Further research is needed to explore the long-term impact of these educational efforts on health outcomes and patient care quality.

FAQs

What is the Geriatrics 5M’s framework and why does it matter?

It is a guide to help healthcare providers address the multifaceted needs of older patients through Mind, Mobility, Medications, Multi-complexity, and Matters Most. The study focuses on gaps in awareness and application among hospital staff.

How was awareness and knowledge assessed in the study?

Staff were surveyed for knowledge before and after an educational intervention delivered through workshops and learning materials. The participants included nurses, physicians, trainees, and allied health professionals (n=39).

Which professions showed different levels of baseline familiarity and improvement?

Medical care providers had higher familiarity than nurses and allied health professionals. Physician trainees on a geriatrics rotation showed improvement after a 5M’s workshop, and overall knowledge increased across all groups using the 5M’s-focused curriculum, with notable gains in Medications and Matters Most.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Aria