DSU hosts inaugural GWEP symposium on aging care
Delaware State University has partnered with Education Health and Research International (EHRI) to address an important issue in Delaware: the need for enhanced care and support for the state’s aging population.
On a balmy June 18, DSU and EHRI hosted the inaugural Delaware Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) Symposium at the Milford Wellness Village, bringing together healthcare professionals, educators, policymakers and community leaders to address the urgent need for improved care and infrastructure for Delaware’s elderly. The symposium included panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities.
Photos from the event can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCj46G
Speakers included Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay; Dr. Patrice Gilliam Johnson, Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Delaware State University; Dava Newnam, Deputy Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services; Rabbi Halberstam, Chief Strategy Officer at EHRI; and Dr. Karen Panunto, GWEP Principal Investigator and MSN Program Director at Delaware State University.
“This symposium is vitally important as it is a call to action and brings together a myriad of participating organizations to discuss topics such as geriatric curriculum development, dementia education and career advancement pathways,” said Dr. Johnson. ”But most importantly, we’ll debut an interprofessional learning community to serve as a national example of long-term collaboration between academic and community stakeholders.”
Lieutenant Governor Gay highlighted the rapid demographic shift in Delaware and the increasing number of older adults requiring age-appropriate care. “Workforce development programs and important partnerships like this can ensure that we train enough professionals for our aging citizens,” she said. “Better care and outcomes for our senior population is not just possible but achievable.”
Deputy Secretary Newnam outlined the state’s aging statistics, noting that 28 percent of Delawareans are now over the age of 60, a number expected to rise significantly by 2050. “These numbers are not abstract,” she said. “These are mothers, fathers, grandparents, co-workers and neighbors… who want to live their later years with dignity, purpose and access to the care they need.”
The symposium also served as the formal introduction of Delaware GWEP’s strategic goals, as presented by Dr. Panunto. These include addressing shortages in direct care workers and geriatric professionals, expanding clinical and community-based training opportunities, and embedding geriatric and dementia care into health education through interprofessional curricula. “These efforts not only fulfill immediate grant objectives, but also lay the foundation for long-term sustainable improvements in geriatric care across the state,” she said.
Rabbi Halberstam emphasized EHRI’s mission to facilitate aging in place with dignity and the power of partnerships. “The Milford Wellness Village and this GWEP initiative represent what can be achieved when we work together for a greater cause,” he said.
Supported by a five-year, $5 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Delaware GWEP is part of a national effort to strengthen the geriatric workforce. Delaware State University is one of only 42 institutions nationwide selected to lead this work.
For more information on Delaware GWEP, visit https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-grant/gwep-awardees.