Our Goals
Working to Improve Older Georgians’ Health Outcomes
Unfortunately, Georgia's healthcare delivery system and workforce are not prepared for the needs of our rapidly growing population of older Georgians. Georgia Gear's goals are focused on better preparing for these needs:
1. Working to Improve Older Georgians' Health Outcomes
To meet the evolving healthcare needs of Georgia's older adult population, Georgia Gear is dedicated to strengthening the primary care, geriatrics, and associated healthcare workforces. Through targeted education and comprehensive training programs, we aim to equip healthcare professionals to provide age-friendly and dementia-friendly care within integrated geriatrics and primary care settings.
2. Empowering Faculty and Preceptors
We are partnering with providers, faculty, and preceptors at Emory University, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - South Georgia, and Georgia State University to provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills to educate healthcare professionals in age-friendly and dementia-friendly care. This training is implemented within primary care environments to support hands-on, practice-based learning experiences that enhance professional readiness.
3. Building Reciprocal Partnerships
Georgia Gear is actively developing collaborative partnerships with academic institutions and primary care sites across Georgia. These partnerships focus on transforming care delivery to address the unique needs of older adults, promoting innovation in both primary care and geriatrics.
4. Enhancing Preventive Medicine Training for Residents
We are focused on geriatrics training in preventive medicine for residents, which prepares them with age-friendly and dementia-specific care practices. This training strengthens residents' competencies in managing the complex health needs of older adults across Georgia.
5. Integrating Community-Based Outreach Programs
Georgia Gear extends its community outreach by partnering with groups like the Georgia Cherokee Community Alliance, Atlanta Medical Association, Alter Dementia, LLC, and Improving Care through Improv. Each organization brings unique support to caregivers and community health workers: Georgia Cherokee Community Alliance aids Cherokee citizens with resources for elders and veterans, Atlanta Medical Association advocates for African American health needs, Alter engages African American churches to support families facing dementia, and Improving Care through Improv trains caregivers with improv workshops to enhance presence and empathy. These collaborations strengthen Georgia Gear's commitment to age-friendly, dementia-sensitive care in diverse communities.
6. Supporting Interdisciplinary Geriatrics Education through Workshops and Simulation Training
Supporting interdisciplinary geriatrics education, our partners conduct workshops and simulation training to provide healthcare teams with hands-on, realistic practice in geriatrics. The Veterans Affairs Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (VA - GRECC) leads simulation training, preparing clinicians to deliver patient-centered, age-friendly care. Workshops by partners like Alter Dementia, LLC and Improving Care through Improv further strengthen this approach: Alter Dementia, LLC, trains community and church caregivers on dementia sensitivity, while Improving Care through Improv uses improv-based exercises to teach adaptability and empathy in dementia care. These efforts foster collaboration across disciplines and enrich care for older adults through practical, community-focused training.
