A Pennsylvania-based geriatric care program is receiving a $5 million federal grant to expand access to aging-related healthcare services. Advocates see the initiative as a program with nationwide potential.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine will lead the effort, funded by the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program. Known as Advancing Geriatrics Education with Strategic, Multi-dimensional, Age-friendly Resources and Training, or AGE SMART, the program aims to train healthcare providers and educate older adults and caregivers across the region.
The initiative takes a multipronged approach, providing training to providers, pharmacists and social workers that helps them manage the complex health issues associated with aging. It also includes a community education component, partnering with organizations across the state to offer programming on topics such as cognitive assessments, preventing financial exploitation, and vaccination promotion.
“The challenges we face in Pennsylvania — an aging population and limited geriatric specialists — are echoed across the country,” said Lisa M. Walke, MD, who leads the program.
Pennsylvania’s older adult population, which was 19% of the state’s total population in 2020, reflects a national trend. By 2030, 20% of the US population will be 65 or older, yet only about 7,100 geriatricians are available to care for more than 52 million seniors.
“We are building a framework that can be used to educate providers and communities nationwide,” Walke added.
