Improving care for older adults

The UW Northwest Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Center (NW GWEC), led by Dr. Elizabeth Phelan, professor (Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine), is one of 42 programs to receive federal support to improve care for older Americans, including those experiencing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced more than $200 million to support 42 programs across the country to train primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health care clinicians to provide age-friendly and dementia-friendly care for older adults.

Specifically, this workforce initiative integrates geriatric training into primary care to ensure that health care providers are prepared to identify and address the needs of older patients.

Primary care providers are the usual source of care for many older individuals. It is important that these care providers have the capacity to respond to patients’ growing needs as they age.  Grantees also will work in the community to help family members and other caregivers understand the changing needs of those they support.

NW GWEC is a regional center that conducts inter-professional education and training programs to improve the primary care of older adults. It is a collaboration across UW health sciences schools, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy and social work.