2014 Gero-Ed Track: Social Work's Role in the New Era of Aging
The 2014 Gero-Ed Track, supported by the Gero-Ed Center and the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW), is one
of 40 tracks at the CSWE Annual Program Meeting (APM). It was held at the Tampa Bay Convention Center in Tampa, Florida from
October 23-26, 2014.
Highlights included:
Gero-Ed Track Kick-Off Panel—Aging Your Way: Advancing Social Work Education and Practice
Community-based initiatives have emerged from a growing desire to age in place. These initiatives are reshaping local communities, redefining how we age across the life course, and changing our care delivery system. An expert panel defined this topic and placed it within the broader context of social work education on aging services. Panelists included moderator, Stephen Golant (University of Florida), Emily Greenfield (Rutgers University), Amanda Lehning (University of Maryland, Baltimore), and Nicole Ruggiano (Florida International University). Learn more about the panelists here. Download slides from this presentation at the bottom of the page.
AGESW Reception
The annual AGESW reception featured networking among gerontology educators, researchers, and practitioners, and a wonderful performance by Tampa's Carrollwood Cultural Center's New Horizons Band. The New Horizons Band offers an entry point to music
making for older adults, and their lovely performance of show tunes allowed reception guests to see community initiatives in action.
FDI & Panel—Preparing Students with Person-Centered and Participant-Directed Competencies
Social work graduates need person-centered and participant-directed (PC/PD) competencies to work in community-based services for older adults and persons with disabilities. A preconference Faculty Development Institute (FDI), Preparing Social Workers with PC/PD Competencies, and a Gero-Ed Track panel session, Infusing PC/PD Competencies into Required Generalist Curriculum, provided the PC/PD philosophy and demonstrated strategies to infuse PC/PD competencies and content into generalist curriculum. Attendees received a Toolkit with infusion strategies and teaching resources.
Panel—Training HPPAE Students in Health Care Settings: Looking Back and Moving Forward
The Affordable Care Act is emphasizing the need for effective and efficient health care for frequent users such as dual eligibles, individuals with chronic illnesses, and older adults. Current research shows that social work interventions can significantly reduce use of health care services and associated costs while also improving quality of life for older adults. This panel explored how educators are preparing Hartford Partnership Program in Aging Education (HPPAE) students to work in these changing health care settings. Panelists included moderator, Victoria Rizzo (Binghamton University), Robyn Golden (Rush University Medical Center), Paul Gould (Binghamton University), and Marilyn Luptak (University of Utah). Download slides from this presentation at the bottom of the page.