Geriatric Education Center of Pennsylvania

Resources

Training Materials

Online Resources

In support of GEC/PA’s mission to improve the training of health care professionals in geriatrics, GEC/PA has gathered a wide range of useful and informative resources on caring for the elderly.

TRAINING MATERIALS

GEC/PA PUBLICATIONS

The GEC/PA supports its commitment to training by having a variety of up-to-date educational materials available for health care professionals. The center has nearly 20 resource and training materials available in both print and electronic formats. For more information or to place an order, call 412-624-9190 or 1-888-33-GECPA (43272).

ELECTRONIC MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES
Please note that while supplies last, there is no charge for videos and CD-ROMs. All videos are available in VHS format.

Management Strategies in 2002 for Osteoporosis Video (2002)
This video includes discussions on:

current medical thinking about osteoporosis
prevention and management of the disease
healthy living and its role in osteoporosis prevention
bone mass density screening as a diagnostic tool
current and future treatments for osteoporosis
pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions

Stand Tall, Pennsylvania: A Program on Osteoporosis CD-ROM (2000)
This multimedia program offers health care professionals, caregivers, and the general public information about the prevention, early detection, and therapeutic management of osteoporosis.

Rx for Safer Driving: Health Care Conference on Older Driver Issues Video (1999)
This video offers presentations and information on:

older driver characteristics
physiologic changes and the older driver
older driver assessment
social issues
Pennsylvania’s policies on older drivers
counseling families of older drivers
transportation options

Partners in Guardianship Video (1995)
This panel discussion reviews:

Pennsylvania’s guardianship law
ethical challenges in guardianship decision-making
alternatives to guardianship

Elder Abuse: Helping the Older Patient Video (1993)
This video includes a panel discussion on:

the need for establishing partnerships between Area Agencies on Aging and hospitals
protective services standards and regulations
hospital regulations and constraints
differences between care management and protective services
guardianship
service barriers

PRINTED MATERIALS

Preventing and Managing Osteoporosis (2000) - $36.95
This book resulted from a GEC/PA curriculum development project, an undertaking designed to raise the awareness and increase knowledge in various groups of health care professionals in preventing, early detecting, and managing osteoporosis. Available from Springer Publishing Co., New York, NY.

Compendium of Faculty Fellow Projects (Second Edition) (1999) – free of charge
The brochure provides summaries of educational projects completed by university faculty who participated in the GEC/PA Faculty Development Program from 1985 to 1991 and educational programs developed by GEC/PA faculty affiliates from 1992 to 1998.

The Epidemiology of Osteoporosis (1998) - $2.50
This is a reprint of GEC/PA’s curriculum module No. 1 from the course “Osteoporosis: Management Therapies and Intervention Strategies.” The publication covers:

prevalence of osteoporosis
risk factors and comorbidity
costs associated with changes in quality of life and medical expenditures

Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis: Nutrition Overview (1998) - $2.50
This is a reprint of GEC/PA’s curriculum module No. 2 from “Osteoporosis: Management Therapies and Intervention Strategies.” This reprint includes:

biochemical and nutritional aspects of the disease
dietary requirements and recommendations
dietary supplements

Exercise as an Intervention Strategy for Osteoporosis (1998) - $2.50
A reprint of GEC/PA’s curriculum module No. 3 from “Osteoporosis: Management Therapies and Intervention Strategies,” this publication reviews:

effects of exercise regimes on skeletal health
exercise prescriptions to improve skeletal health

Fall Prevention for Older Adults (1998) - $2.50
This reprint of GEC/PA’s curriculum module No. 4 from “Osteoporosis: Management Therapies and Intervention Strategies” discusses:

physiological, psychological, and external factors that predispose older adults to falling
elements of a generic balance screen
elements of a fall prevention program

Profiling the Aged in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (1996) - $10.00
This document examines characteristics of the elderly population in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania:

general demographic characteristics and population projections to 2015
marital status and living arrangements of the elderly
health and functional status
economic well-being
employment and educational attainment
housing

Elder Abuse: Whose Problem? Partners in Guardianship (1995) – free of charge
This instructional package is designed to:

provide educational tools to social service and legal professionals to help them meet their community’s guardianship needs
increase awareness of alternatives to guardianship to preserve and maximize the older individual’s independence and autonomy

Assessment of Marketing Strategies for Interdisciplinary Continuing Education Programs in Geriatrics (1994) – free of charge
This document offers results of a survey to evaluate the effectiveness of attracting participants to geriatric education programs. Strategies included mailings, brochures, advertisements, exhibits, and a toll-free number. (Reprint from Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, 15 (2), 81-89.) Reprints available from Haworth Press.

Elder Abuse: Whose Problem? Helping the Older Patient (1994) – free of charge
This publication is a tool for hospital and aging-related services professionals. It offers aid in developing a greater understanding of the regulations and procedures governing the delivery of services for elderly hospital patients who are at risk for mistreatment or neglect.

Elder Abuse: Whose Problem? A Guide for Understanding and Help (1993) – free of charge
This publication provides an overview of the elder abuse problem including definitions, incidence, reasons for abuse, signs of abuse, prevention strategies, and reporting procedures. It also includes a list of organizations to contact regarding elder abuse and a selected bibliography.

Geriatric Education: A Guidebook for Faculty Development in the Health Professions (1989) - $20.00
This manual is used to assist faculty in the GEC/PA Faculty Fellowship Program in developing courses or programs of study in gerontology or geriatrics.

The Status of Geriatric/Gerontology Education for Health Professions in Pennsylvania (1988) – free of charge
This publication provides results of a statewide survey on geriatric/gerontology education activities in dentistry, medicine, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry, public health, and social work.

ONLINE RESOURCES

In addition to the information provided on this site, GEC/PA has gathered the following helpful online resources:

OTHER PENNSYLVANIA ORGANIZATIONS

University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging – The institute’s mission is to improve the quality of life and health care for older adults through research, education, and innovations in clinical practice. The institute site provides a wide variety of information and resources for seniors; family and caregivers; researchers; educators and students; and health care professionals.

Albert Einstein Healthcare Network Geriatric Services – The Albert Einstein Medical Center's network of primary care doctors and medical specialists strive to help older adults stay healthy. Its geriatric services range from nursing care facilities to complimentary health and wellness program for adults age 55 and older.

Benedum Geriatric Center of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – The center provides ongoing routine care and specialty care on an outpatient basis to adults age 60 and older. With full coordination all in one location, the center's goal is to preserve the health, independence, and well-being of its patients.

Gerontology Center at Penn State – The Penn State Gerontology Center strives to carry out research, instruction, and community service programs of the highest quality and to make those resources available on a state and national level.

Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania – This site offers information on hot topics in health care, including HIPAA reform, to enhance the capabilities of health care providers.

Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center – The center provides custom-designed training and technical assistance to support, motivate, and educate physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dental professionals, pharmacists, advanced practice nurses, and members of the clinical team to provide quality HIV care.

Temple University Institute on Aging – The institute serves as the focal point for Temple University activities in the field of aging and is responsible for developing and implementing interdisciplinary educational programs of study, community services, and research through established centers and programs of excellence in aging.

GERIATRIC EDUCATION TOOLS

Geri Ann – This University of Florida site provides a framework for developing interactive geriatric education materials for geriatric instructors to build their own cases, topics, drug lists, etc.

MEGA (Multidisciplinary Education in Geriatrics and Aging) – This site offers a series of learning modules to teach graduate and undergraduate students in health sciences the basic concepts in geriatric care.

CyberLearning Modules – This Baylor College of Medicine site is currently developing interactive learning techniques for online users on a range of geriatric topics. Recently launched, the site now has training materials available on congestive heart failure.

OTHER RESOURCES

Adult Day Care Group Consultants – This site provides manuals and consulting to help individuals, developers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and government agencies at all levels to start and operate adult day care centers and assisted living facilities.

Delaware Valley Geriatrics Society – The regional affiliate of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS), the Delaware Valley Geriatrics Society (DVGS) is dedicated to advancing high standards of clinical care and quality of life for elderly individuals.

Foulkeways at Gwynedd – The first continuing care retirement community in Pennsylvania, Foulkeways was founded in 1967 and continues today as a way of living reflecting the Quaker ideals of friendship, dignity, and respect.

Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging ( PANPHA) – PANPHA represents more than 370 nonprofit providers of long-term care and housing services for 70,000 elderly residents across Pennsylvania. The association is committed to helping its members provide quality care efficiently and effectively for the individuals and families they serve.

The Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life – Formerly the Philadelphia Geriatric Center, the center has a heritage of more than 130 years of care and concern for the aging.