Empowering health professionals to serve Wyoming’s older adults
Summer 2014
www.uwyo.edu/wycoa
The establishment of the Wyoming Center
on Aging (WyCOA) is a result of the efforts
of the staff, leadership, and Advisory
Council to the Wyoming Geriatric Education
Center and the College of Health Sciences
at the University of Wyoming. The need for
a Wyoming Center on Aging is great.
Wyoming is one of the most rapidly aging
states, and by 2030 will be the state with the
highest concentration of individuals over 85.
The benefits of a Center on Aging include
connecting Wyoming residents, researchers,
service providers, and educators, as well as
fostering innovative aging research, training
care providers, disseminating evidencebased practices, and serving as a resource
for older adults and their family caregivers.
Dept. 3432
1000 E. University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071
(307)766-2829
uwyo.edu/geriatrics
wygec@uwyo.edu
WyGEC Event Highlights:
“I think this has been one of the best
conferences I have been to in the past 20
years. Good job!”
~RN, Cheyenne WY on the Rocky Mountain
Alzheimer’s Summit June 2014
A Message from the Director
It has been an amazing 2014 so far for WyGEC! Many new
and exciting changes have been made. We have officially rolled out
the Wyoming Center on Aging. The new WyCOA is detailed to the
left. Please take a few minutes to visit the WyCOA at www.uwyo.edu/wycoa. Another
significant addition is the award of funds to expand the education provided by the WyGEC
to lay and family caregivers. In this capacity we are extending our partnerships and scope to
educate those that play a vital role in the care of older adults with dementia. The educational
activities provided by both the Wyoming Center on Aging and WyGEC is vital to help
improve the overall care of older adults. We hope to see you in Sheridan for our Caregiver
Conference October 3rd & 4th, and in Laramie for our Coping with Caregiving Class. The
focus of each of these offerings is on the caregiver. Note, if you want to support our efforts
please see the donation form on the last page of this newsletter.
We are delighted to announce another new addition to our WyGEC programming our Dementia Care Certificate. We have over 100 registrants so far! The Certificate is
FREE for a year and has continuing education credits for healthcare professionals. The
certificate is an online self-paced program designed to fit within the healthcare professional’s
busy schedule. The modules are previously recorded WyGEC workshops, online trainings,
and webinars that were taught by experts in their field. The WyGEC Dementia Care
Certificate is a convenient, easily assessable program that recognizes individuals for learning
quality dementia care practices as well as the latest evidence in dementia-related care. Please
visit www.uwyo.edu/geriatrics for more information and to register.
I hope to see you at one of our upcoming events and as always you can contact me
at wygec@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-2829. Have a great rest of your summer!
~ Christine
News and Events
Please visit www.uwyo.edu/geriatrics for more information!
An educational workshop on End-of-Life Care For all healthcare disciplines
*Featuring the Education in Palliative and End-of-life Care (EPEC) Curriculum
Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 from 9am-4:45pm
Cody, WY at the Cody Public Library Grizzly Hall
Topics include: Elements and Gaps in End of Life Care, Goals of Care, Pain Assessment and Management,
Communicating Difficult News and Professional Self Care
Cost: There is a one-day workshop fee of $30.00 which includes lunch and break refreshments
FREE Alzheimer’s Disease Workshop:
for Healthcare Professionals
October
3rd,
2014 in Sheridan, WY at the Holiday Inn; 1809 Sugarland Dr.
*Professional Continuing Education Credits will be available for healthcare professionals
Topics include: Alzheimers Disease Overview, Keeping Medications in Mind: Complexities of Alzheimer’s Disease
Treatment, Understanding Alzheimer’s Patients’ Needs and Supporting Family Care Partners, and panel discussion.
at www.uwyo.edu/geriatrics
and follow the links for the Sheridan Alzheimer’s Disease Workshop for Healthcare Professionals
Sheridan Caregiver Conference:
Building a Caregiver-Friendly Community
A FREE event open to the public featuring general information on caregiving and special sessions on Alzheimer’s Disease
October 3rd & 4th, 2014: Sheridan, WY
Friday October 3rd: Join us for a FREE Caregiver Appreciation Dinner. Following the dinner there will be a caregiver
panel: hear the experiences of other caregivers, learn tips and gain support.
Saturday October 4th: Learn about caregiver basics, long-distance caregiving, legal planning, Alzheimer medications,
dementia care strategies, including communications, wandering, bathing and more.
Respite care will be available during these events for you and the person you care for at the Sheridan Senior Center, through the Day Break Program.
For more information please visit www.uwyo.edu/wycoa, follow the links to Sheridan
Caregiver Conference, email wycoa@uwyo.edu or call (307) 766-2829.
This conference is brought to you by: The Sheridan Senior Center, AARP, and the University of Wyoming Center on Aging
Save the Dates for these 2014 events!
October 7-28th: for the Diagnosis Dementia Webinar Series, FREE Online at your PC or hostsites
Sept 18, 25, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov 13, 20, Dec 4th, 2014: Coping with Caregiving ClassFREE education for those caring for a person with dementia. www.uwyo.edu/wycoa
October 24th: Rural Behavioral Health Practice Conference Webcast, Laramie WY or on your PC!
Aging Resources
Please visit www.uwyo.edu for more information!
WyGEC Online Resource Center
Access to useful databases, links to related organizations,
and information on geriatric topics that can be used for
classroom or conference settings
http://www.uwyo.edu/geriatrics/resource_center/
The WyGEC Online Resource Center offers:
 Geriatric
research databases
 Geriatric
mobile apps for iphone and droid
 Alzheimer’s
and dementia resources
 Publications
on aging topics
 Links
to related organizations
 Consensus
statements and guidelines
 Lending
Library List (DVDs, Videos and
Publications) - Topics include general aging,
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia,
family and caregiving, women and aging, longterm care, healthcare management, stroke,
end-of-life care, elder abuse, education/students
and bereavement.
Please contact
wygec@uwyo.edu for more
information
Online Training modules:
Recorded training modules on relevant geriatric topics including:
 A Geriatrician's Perspective on Alz/Dementia
 Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: From Timely Detection to
Dementia Capable Health Care Systems
 Caring for Our Older LBGT Adults-Project Visibility
 Keeping Medications in Mind: Potential Risks vs. Benefits
 Assessment, Treatment, and Management of Dementias
 Evidence-based Care for Alzheimer's Family Caregivers
 Ethnogeriatrics
 The Future Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease and Reverse
Innovation: Re-engineering Community-based Care and
Embracing Technology to Meet the Challenge
And many more!
View these modules under the Education and Training button or
http://www.uwyo.edu/geriatrics/edu_training/videos.html
Infusion Units:
Infusion Units are packaged lecture materials featuring a film or
power-point with teaching notes, discussion questions & resources
Our collection includes:
 Hold Your Breath - for ethnogeriatrics
 Age of Champions: An uplifting story of five competitors who sprint, leap, and
swim for gold at the National Senior Olympics.
 Health
Literacy and Older Adults Module:
The degree to which
individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health
information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions
 Aging
Etiquette:
Understanding and implementing respectful communication and
interaction with people who are older or aging.
WyGEC Features
Tonja Woods, PharmD, CGP and WyGEC Pharmacy Coordinator is among 30
faculty members nationwide, selected for an American Association of College
of Pharmacy’s (AACP) 2014 Academic Pharmacy Leadership program. A
member of several national professional organizations, Woods received the
Wyoming Pharmacy Association’s 2012 Bowl of Hygeia Community Service
Award. Other honors include being named the 2008 Wyoming recipient of the
Pharmacy Practice Award and recognition
as the College of Health Sciences
\
outstanding teacher in geriatrics. Congratulations Tonja!
College of Health Sciences: Minor in Aging
Aging Baby Boomers are Redefining "Geriatric Care"!
The field of geriatric health offers opportunities in traditional health care settings and in new
settings as the aging baby boomers redefine “geriatric care.” Consider the variety of
professionals needed to design and create alternative community living environments. Imagine
the excitement of being involved in wellness and preventative geriatric programs such as healthy
nutrition for older adults or exercise for improved quality of life. Whether your interest is in
hospital care, residential care, or as-yet undefined allied health care, a minor in aging studies will
compliment your major. Please visit: http://www.uwyo.edu/hs/divisions-and-programs/minorin-aging-studies.html fpr more information and minor requirements!
Win $50 and Help WyGEC!
WyGEC is holding three drawings for $50 Visa gift cards which will be awarded to health professionals who complete the
2014 WyGEC Needs Assessment Survey by September 26, 2014. Drawings will take place on August 15, September 1,
and September 26th. Follow this link: WyGEC NEEDS ASSESSMENT to complete the survey or go to
www.uwyo.edu/geriatrics. The survey will take about 10 minutes, and your responses will be anonymous. It is very
important that WyGEC understand the geriatric training needs of Wyoming health professionals before reapplying for
HRSA funding. We appreciate your time and input very much!
Please join us in welcoming Katelynn McConnell to WyGEC!
Katelynn is a Graduate Student in the UW Psychology Department
and will be helping coordinate data and evaluation.
Funding by: HRSA; USDHHS Bureau of Health Professions GEC Grant (No. UB4HP19198);
John P. Ellbogen Foundation, Excellence Fund for Geriatric Education
Persons seeking admission, employment or access to programs of the University of Wyoming shall be considered without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or political beliefs.
Consider a Donation to WyGEC!
The Wyoming Geriatric Education Center (WyGEC) was formally established to provide interdisciplinary training
needed to assure an adequate supply of fully prepared healthcare professionals to address the unique healthcare
needs of Wyomingites 85 and older. This cohort has increased by 48 percent from 1990 to 2000. The U.S. Census
Bureau predicts Wyoming will be the second oldest state in the country by 2030, trailing only Florida. A 2005
survey of University and Community College health science faculty in Wyoming revealed that just 15 percent had
any previous training in geriatrics. Without coordinated, interdisciplinary planning for structured, evidence-based
curriculum integration and local training, health and social services providers in Wyoming will be unprepared for a
rising tide of need for elder care. WyGEC has facilitated over 631 trainings that include over 3000 participants.
Private support allows WyGEC to extend and enhance our training and educational opportunities beyond what
our limited grant funding allows. In 2013, through private foundation support, WyGEC was able to offer a public
education event which included: a presentation on the basics of Alzheimer’s, an expert panel and finally an
opportunity to ask the expert panel questions. This would not have been possible without private funds.
Please consider a donation to WyGEC, which will be
used to continue to enhance geriatric knowledge among
Wyoming health care providers. Thank you for your
generosity!
Left: A WyGEC presentation and expert panel on Alzheimer ’s
disease for the public, March 26th 2013.
Submit your gift to WyGEC today:
ONLINE: Please make a payment using our secure server: www.uwyo.edu/giveonline
Note – Please designate WyGEC when making online gifts
PHONE: Please call the University of Wyoming Foundation during normal business hours;
(307) 766-6300 or (888) 831-7795
Mail: Please send a check and this detached form to:
UW Foundation #4400, 20909, 1200 East Ivinson Street, Laramie, WY 82070
Please accept my/our gift to the University of Wyoming,
Wyoming Geriatric Education Center in the amount of: $________________________________
My preferred e-mail address is: _____________________________________________________
My preferred phone number is: _____________________________________________________