UAMS receives $5 million for geriatric education

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a five-year, $5 million federal grant to support the UAMS Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative in its mission to improve the quality of care for older adults.

The Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program grant, awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will allow the collaborative to provide specialized training for health professionals, students and supportive care workers such as caregivers and first responders.

“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,” said Robin McAtee, Ph.D., director of the Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative and assistant professor in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Geriatrics.

“Learning how to assess and honor what matters most to older adults, and their families, will improve health care outcomes,” she said.

Founded in 2015, the collaborative offers educational programs that cover topics such as chronic disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dementia, opioid use disorders, pain management, and recognition and reporting of elder abuse or neglect. The programs reach communities throughout the state using a variety of educational forums, including apprenticeships, classes, webinars and workshops.

“The grant funds will have a significant impact on the resources available for us to train health care students and professionals in Arkansas,” McAtee said.

As part of this effort, the collaborative plans to partner with academic institutions across the state to offer stipends for students to gain experience in rural health care settings. These rotations will benefit as many as 22 students per year from a variety of health disciplines, training them on how to provide age- and dementia-friendly care and how to use digital health technology to assist patients in underserved communities.

McAtee said the collaborative will also work with colleges and community organizations to expand outreach to older Arkansans and to address their unique needs. The goal is to improve their quality of life and empower them to take a greater role in health care decisions, she said.