UAMS has received a five-year, $5 million federal grant to support the UAMS Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative.
The Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program grant aims to help the collaborative provide specialized training for health professionals, students and supportive care workers, such as caregivers and first responders.
Through the grant, the Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative plans to partner with academic institutions across the state to offer stipends for students to gain experience in rural health care settings.
As many as 22 students per year from a variety of health disciplines will participate. Those students will receive training on how to provide geriatric-friendly care and how to assist patients in underserved communities with digital health technology.
Founded in 2015, the collaborative offers educational programs that cover chronic disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dementia, opioid use disorders and pain management, as well as recognition and reporting of elder abuse or neglect.
The programs are targeted to reach communities throughout Arkansas using educational forums like apprenticeships, classes, webinars and workshops.
The grant is awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and will have a “significant impact on the resources available for us to train health care students and professionals in Arkansas,” said Robin McAtee, director of the collaborative, in a press release.
McAtee also said in the release that the collaborative will work with colleges and community organizations to expand outreach to older Arkansans and address their unique needs.
“With the ever-increasing number of older adults in Arkansas and across the United States, it’s imperative to emphasize the teaching of age-friendly and dementia-friendly skills to health professionals and students,” McAtee said in the release. “Learning how to assess and honor what matters most to older adults, and their families, will improve health care outcomes.”
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