ACCC Develops New Tools and Resources to Improve Care for Seniors With Cancer

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) has collaborated with the Gerontological Society of America and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology on new tools and resources to help prepare the multidisciplinary cancer care community for the growing prevalence of cancer and comorbidities among U.S. seniors, reports News-Medical . The kit includes a six-part webinar series on care for older adults with cancer; a curated resource list; and a publication that summarizes the challenges, successes, and effective practices to ensure implementation of quality care. An ACCC analysis revealed that just 32 percent of respondent practitioners have received specialized geriatric oncology training, and research increasingly supports the usefulness of geriatric assessments. The multidisciplinary Approaches to Caring for Geriatric Patients with Cancer program was made possible with backing from Pfizer Oncology. "I strongly believe that this project will serve as a model for other organizations whose goals are to improve care in the geriatric oncology population," said ACCC advisory committee member Melissa Kah Poh Loh.