NSU South Florida GWEP

Mission Statement

The South Florida Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is committed to providing interprofessional programs to maintain and improve the health of ethically and culturally diverse older adults from underserved areas across Florida, educating and training health professionals in health promotion and prevention, emphasizing undergraduate and graduate professional education, and serving the needs of underserved with innovative teaching and clinical experiences. The GWEP encourages, enhances, and continually promotes the profession of geriatrics to students at all levels of education, and provides ongoing education and information dissemination to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their families and caregivers.

Program Goals

Develop partnerships to educate and train a workforce

GWEP will develop an effective reciprocal partnership infrastructure and communication process to ensure project success. An advisory council will convene to enhance complementary skills and create synergies to improve outcomes under the leadership of a dedicated interprofessional team

Train geriatrics specialists, primary care providers, health profession students, fellows, residents, and faculty

GWEP will employ four strategies to integrate geriatrics and primary care training through promoting geriatric competencies and awareness of social determinants of health enabling the health care workforce to deliver person-centered care in age-friendly health systems. These are curriculum redesign, 2) student training, 3) provider and faculty training, 4) RCQI assessment and dissemination of training modules.

Transform clinical training environments to become age-friendly health systems

GWEP will facilitate an age-friendly health system among primary care preceptor sites by identifying opportunities to integrate the 4 Ms. Site specific needs of primary care sites will be identified and a self-assessment tool will be provided to measure 4 Ms. These are mobility, mentation, what matters, and medication

Deliver community-based programs to improve health outcomes for older adults

GWEP will provide patients, families, and caregivers the necessary knowledge and skills to improve health outcomes for older adults, such as reduction in injurious falls, re-hospitalizations, and episodes of delirium.

Provide training on ADRD and dementia-friendly communities/primary care practices

GWEP will provide training to health care professionals, students, patients, families, and caregivers in the early detection, prevention, and management of patients with ADRD to support the transformation to dementia-friendly communities and primary care delivery sites.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3.5M with 25% financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents of this website are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.