What is a Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP)?
The GWEP’s purpose is to improve health outcomes for older adults by developing a healthcare workforce that maximizes patient and family engagement, and by integrating geriatrics and primary care. The goals of this program are: 1) to educate and train the primary care and geriatrics workforce to care for older adults in integrated geriatrics and primary care models, and 2) to partner with community-based organizations (CBOs) to address gaps in healthcare for older adults, promote age-friendly health systems and dementia-friendly communities, and address the social determinants of health.
GWEP awardees have the flexibility to identify education and training needs unique to their own communities. GWEPs and their partners include: schools of medicine, schools of nursing, primary care practices, community-based organizations, clinical settings, academia programs, long term care centers, and emergency departments.
The 48 GWEP awardees are working towards:
- Developing partnerships between academia, primary care delivery sites/systems, and community-based organizations.
- Training geriatrics specialists, primary care providers, and health professions students, residents, fellows and faculty to assess and address the primary care needs of older adults.
- Delivering community-based programming that provides patients, families, caregivers, and direct care workers with the knowledge and skills to improve health outcomes for older adults.
- Providing training to patients, families, caregivers, direct care workers, healthcare providers, and health professions students, residents, fellows, and faculty on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and how cognitive and behavioral impairments impact medical care throughout the course of illness.