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Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program | The FlourishCare Program

The University of Louisville Trager Institute manages a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program HRSA grant called “The FlourishCare Program.” This initiative improves the health and well-being of older adults in underserved communities across Kentucky through a coordinated approach consisting of direct care coordinate, workforce development, community organizing, and resources for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia.

Goal 1: Strengthen & Expand Partnerships

Increase and strengthen academia, primary care delivery sites and systems, and community-based organizations to educate and train a workforce to provide value-based FlourishCare that improves health outcomes for rural vulnerable older adults in Kentucky.

These efforts will result the following strengthen or new partnerships:
7 academic, 19 primary care delivery sites, and 22 community-based
organizations. Example statewide partners include the University of Pikeville,
Campbellsville University, Western Kentucky University,
TJ Sampson Family Medicine Center, Family Community Clinic,
Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, and all Area Agencies on Aging.

Contact us if you are interested in becoming a partner FlouischCare practice

GOAL 2: Professional Education

This program will train over 7780 geriatric specialists, primary care providers, and health professions (specifically medicine, nursing, SW, dentistry, pharmacy, PT) students, residents, fellows and faculty to assess and address primary care needs of older adults. The program seeks to do so through micro-credentialing curriculum aligned with the 4Ms of Age-Friendly healthcare systems, six Project Echo programs, and two annual conferences/retreats.

Learn more about our professional education efforts: 

Goal 3: Age-Friendly Healthcare Systems

By the end of the fifth year of funding, this program will have helped our 19 primary care partners to be transformed integrated geriatrics and primary care systems. As part of this practice transformation, these practices and clinical training sites will become age-friendly health systems that incorporate the principles of value-based care and alternative payment models.

How to get involved with our age-friendly healthcare practice transformation:

  • Contact us you our interested in becoming a partner FlouischCare practice.
  • Click here to learn about our FlourishCare Coordination Model 

 

Goal 4: COmmunity Building

The program will deliver community-based programs that provide patients, families, caregivers, and direct care workers with the knowledge and skills to improve health outcomes for older adults. This program will reach 1,200 community members, including through education and training as well as the development of a Friendly Visitor program reaching 500 isolated older adults.

Learn more about our community building efforts and get involved!

  • Flourishing Together
  • Kentucky Coalition for Healthy Communities (KCHC)
  • Virtual Friendly Visitor Program: The Virtual Friendly Visitor Program provides opportunities for isolated older adults to participate in social engagement with a trained volunteer whose sole purpose is to socialize with them. The program is designed to prevent and alleviate the physical, emotional and mental health risks linked to isolation and improve quality of life. As a virtual program, services are provided through a telecommunication device that has video capacity rather than face to face. Through ongoing assessments and recurring  tele-visits, the program not only improves social contacts, but also identifies clients’ unmet needs and offers ongoing assistance in securing access to appropriate health and social resources.

Goal 5: Dementia & Age-Friendly Communities

The program will train to patients, families, caregivers, direct care workers, healthcare providers, and health professional students, residents, fellows and faculty on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) using the FlourishCare Compassionate Care (CC) Curriculum. These trainings will reach 115 nursing facilities across 10 states and 100 community caregivers. These trainings will be disseminated through a newly designed app to support compassionate care of persons with cognitive/behavioral challenges.

As part of this effort, the program will create state-wide dementia/age-friendly community initiatives.
 

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under U1QHP28732-04-00 and Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (U1QHP28732, Kentucky Rural and Underserved Geriatric Interdisciplinary Education Program, $750,000). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.