About

What is GWEP?

The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) helps with the development of health care workforce and quality care for older adults through community-based programs that aid patients, families, and caregivers with the knowledge and skills to improve quality of care and health outcomes among older adults.

Maine’s GWEP—known as AgingME — aims to create a more age-friendly health system by better preparing an age-capable workforce, transforming primary care practices and engaging and empowering older adults. 

UNE COM, working in close collaboration with the University of Maine and multiple statewide partners, was one of 48 organizations nationally to receive this funding.

Under the umbrella of a statewide AgingME Council, Aging ME will help to align new and existing primary care and community-based efforts in geriatrics and create connections for the well-being of older Mainers.

What are our specific goals?

We teach individuals what matters most when caring for older adults.

  1. We teach knowledge and skills to community-based programs. We provide patients, families, caregivers and direct care workers with the knowledge and skills to improve health outcomes for older adults.
  2. We deliver knowledge and skills to patients, families, caregivers, and direct-care workers to improve health outcomes for older adults.
  3. We provide training to patients, families, caregivers, direct care workers, providers, health professions students, residents, fellows and faculty on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.
  4. We train geriatrics specialists, PCPs, health professions students, residents, fellows, and faculty to assess and address the primary care needs of older adults.
  5. We transform clinical training environments. to integrated and primary care systems to become age-friendly health systems that incorporate the principles of value-based care and alternative payment models.

What are some projects being funded by the grant?

We have a lot going on here at AgingME! Below are some of the projects we’re working on:

Project ECHO: To support the care of older adults in rural primary care sites.

Education Enhancements: To develop and expand education programs such as Maine Academy for Geriatrics Interprofessional Continuing Education Program (MAGIC), UNE COM’s Geriatrics Education Mentoring with Seniors (GEMS), enhanced field placements and practica at UMaine

Plain language initiative:  To improve health literacy among older adults and their care partners as well as among students and health professionals with older adults.

Practice Transformation:  To optimize the use of Medicare Annual Wellness Visits, detect cognitive impairment earlier, focus on the 4Ms and support care partners.

Community-based Programs: We support Falls Prevention Programs, Brain Health, the Conversation Project and Savvy Caregivers.

Conference Offerings:  We provide knowledge about age-friendly living at many Maine Conferences and Expos. The Clinical Geriatrics Colloquium, the Maine Geriatrics Conference, the Portland Spring Successful Aging Expo, Midcoast Aging Expo, the Lewiston Aging Expo, UMaine Impact week, and the EAAA Healthy Aging Expo, are just some of the locations we present information about aging well.