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AgeWell Va is a quarterly e-journal produced by the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Allied Health Professions' Department of Gerontology. 

Please note that all submissions must fall under one of our Departmental goals in order to be considered:

I.  Fostering a Qualified Aging Network

II.  Student Inquiry, Discovery & Innovation

III. Quality of Life & Optimal Aging

IV.  Community Engagement & Regional Impact

Submissions:  [email protected]

Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Allied Health Professions
Department of Gerontology

Mailing Address:
PO Box 980228
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0228 

Physical Address:
(Direct Deliveries only, please)
730 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Phone: (804) 828-1565
Fax: (804) 828-5259

 

Wednesday
Aug212013

2013 Grants and Awards

VCU Department of Gerontology and Senior Connections Receive Groundbreaking Age Wave Grant

The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology and Senior Connections, the Capital Area Agency on Aging have received a two-year grant from the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation to coordinate the Age Wave Initiative and implement the Age Wave Readiness Plan.  As the management and staffing organization, the VCU Department of Gerontology will ensure a measurable impact on health and healthcare issues confronting Virginians and the development of an Age Wave Readiness Toolkit. 

The Age Wave Readiness Toolkit will empower individuals to take ownership of their aging by offering best practices on topics ranging from home safety and aging in place to nutritional needs and medication safety.  It will support Age Wave Ready Communities as Engaged, Livable, Stable and Well for elders and our aging population.

By 2030, more than 250,000 Greater Richmond region residents will be ages 60 and older. As Baby Boomers continue to age – those born between 1946 and 1964 -- we will experience increasing demands for supportive services, health care choices, and lifestyle options that promote independence, safety and optimal aging.  Our region must prepare for the changing needs and new opportunities that come with this demographic shift known as the Age Wave.

 

Since 2009, hundreds of Greater Richmond residents and over 80 businesses and community agencies have gathered to study regional data and learn how other communities across the U.S. are engaging and supporting older adults. In 2012, this work resulted in the launch of the Age Wave Readiness Plan guided by these key principles:

- Older adults are viewed as resources to the community, not just service recipients.

-  The plan builds on our region's unique assets and other regional collaborative efforts among local government, the business community, nonprofit sector, academia and funders.

-  Age Wave preparedness is critical for our region.  The plan fosters multi-generational opportunities for individuals, families, businesses, civic organizations and more.

The Greater Richmond Regional Plan for Age Wave Readiness is born of data generated from the Older Dominion Partnership.  Senior Connections and United Way of Greater Richmond facilitated the development of a shared blueprint that empowers our residents to engage in the community; find stable employment; live in safe, accessible environments; and stay healthy. The plan joins other initiatives throughout Virginia by prioritizing regional efforts to improve our collective well-being as we age.  Targeted actions include:

-  Encouraging collaborative regional leadership and innovative policy making to support our               aging population

-  Broadening public awareness of resources for optimal aging

-  Strengthening lifelong learning and civic engagement opportunities

-  Encouraging businesses to invest in older adult workers

-  Increasing the number and diversity of older adults with access to prevention, wellness and           chronic disease management programs

As part of VCU’s School of Allied Health Professions, the mission of the VCU Department of Gerontology is “Improving Eldercare through Education”.  This is achieved through the development of educational programs that are responsive to the changing psychological, physical, social and political needs of our aging population.  The mission of Senior Connections is to assist older adults to live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities, as well as preparing for future generations.  This is achieved through advocacy, education and the provision of diverse home and community services.  The Richmond Memorial Health Foundation invests financial, intellectual and leadership resources through grant-making, strategic initiatives and partnerships with non-profit organizations, foundations, government, businesses and academic institutions to improve health and healthcare.

For more information on how this collaboration will improve access and quality of care, support healthcare workforce education/development and support aging services planning/delivery please contact the VCU Department of Gerontology at 804-828-1565 or by email at [email protected].

Tuesday
Jan242012

2011-2012 Grants

 

The Department of Gerontology has had the great good fortune to be the recipient of, or collaborator on, a number of grants since our Fall Newsletter.

 

Oral Health Care Training of Direct Care Providers and Health Care Professionals

 

The Geriatric Training and Education Initiative (GTE) proposal submitted by PhD in Health Related Sciences student Patricia Brown Bonwell and her project team received full funding from the Virginia Center on Aging. The project is titled "Oral Health Care Training of Direct Care Providers and Health Care Professionals".

 

In-service training sessions and a seminar/webinar will be presented addressing oral health in older adults. This will increase education of direct care providers and health care professionals in nursing home facilities and in private practices. The following disciplines will benefit from this proposed training and education project: Nursing (Nurse Aids, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Nurse Practitioners), Occupational Therapists, Physicians, Dietitians, Dental Care Providers (Assistants, Hygienists, and Dentists), Pharmacists and Nursing Home Administrators. The in-service trainings and seminar/webinar will also serve as a means of maintaining accreditation and continuing education requirements as deemed necessary by the various participating disciplines.

 

A Community and Academic Partnership for Training on Depression and Dementia
 
The GTE proposal submitted by Tracey Gendron, Assistant Professor and Megan Felton, MS December 2011 was also funded.  The project, titled "A Community and Academic Partnership for Training on Depression and Dementia" partnered with Memory Commons at the University of Virginia and the Beard Center at Lynchburg College to develop trainings for healthcare professionals on the differential diagnoses between dementia and depression.  This project will also work with Dr. Andrew Heck to develop a training curriculum that will also be placed on the Memory Commons' website for training international healthcare professionals.
 
Mental Health and Aging Training Initiative

 

A third exciting initiative was funded in partnership with the Center for Excellence in Aging and Geriatric Health (CEAGH) and is titled "Mental Health and Aging Training Initiative".  The Geriatric Mental Health Partnership (GMHP) is an informal, voluntary group which focuses on geriatric mental/ behavioral health care in the Commonwealth. Participants of the GMHP include representatives from mental/ behavioral health, aging services, and long term care professionals representing the private, public and academic sectors. One of the key obstacles the group has identified is a lack of relevant training for facility and community staff. The GMHP has identified six key training issues important for developing a workforce prepared to effectively address the behavioral health needs of the growing aging population. This project will address the first three training issues through a series of one-hour webinars to be offered during the winter and spring of 2012. These topics include: 1) Community Partnerships: Ethical and Communication Issues for LTC Facility/ Hospital Transitions and Effective Care Coordination; 2) Psychiatric Emergencies: A Practical Guide for LTC Facility Staff; and 3) Pre-admission Screening of Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: Considerations for Emergency Services Staff. The webinars will be produced by the VCU Department of Gerontology and moderated by Dr. E. Ayn Welleford.  Project management will be provided by the Center for Excellence in Aging and Geriatric Health.
Saturday
May212011

2010-2011 Grants

Tracey Gendron and Jay White received a $25,000 grant from the Virginia Center on Aging to develop and implement a curriculum for healthcare professionals on issues related to LGBT and aging.

The Department of Gerontology received a $3000 grant to host an event in honor of National Caregivers Awareness Month in November

The Department of Gerontology received a $1000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Richmond to host a training with the Gay Community Center of Richmond.

Dr. Ayn Welleford was a major contributor on a GTE (Geriatric Training and Education) grant to AlzPossible and the Virginia Alzheimers Commission to provide webinars on Dementia and Person-Centered Caring.  Please visit www.alzpossible.org for archived webinars.

Tracey Gendron and Ginger Ragan were awarded a Council for Community Engagement Grant for $18,000 funding a two day dental clinic for Virginia's Native Americans to take place on October 22 and 23.