Aging Health and Social Resources

Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Team (G.A.I.T.)

GERIATRICS is certainly one of the fields in which multiple areas of competence are needed. The aged are more likely than other populations to have multiple health needs. Their various health systems-physical, cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, and material--are probably more exquisitely interdependent and inter-responsive than is the case in most other age groups. For these reasons, multiple heatlh care disciplines and instititutions are likely to be involved with their care and support. Therefore, it is important to understand and structure the working relationships among these health disciplines in the interest of the care of the aged patients, the effectivenes and satisfaction of the practitioners, and the preparation of students in the heatlh professions for competent practice. ~David G. Stain, MD

Western Maryland Area Health Education Center is a community-based center affiliated with the Maryland Statewide Medical Education and Training System and the Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research (GGEAR) Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore. The AHEC works to improve health care delivery in the rural Appalachian counties of Maryland and surrounding communities in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The mission of the center is to improve access to and promote quality in health care through educational partnerships with centers for higher education, community health professionals, and other vital supporters and advocates. Visit the AHEC website at http://ahec.allconet.org/

GAIT is an opportunity to:

• Enhance your Interdisciplinary Health Care Team Skills training
  
• Learn about Interdisciplinary Geriatric Assessment at a rural geriatric care site
  
• Participate in Interdisciplinary Team Assessment of care site program participants
  
• Discuss your Team Interdisciplinary Assessment with the care site staff
  
  

Who Can Participate:

• Frostburg State University
  
Psychology, Recreation Therapy, and Social Work

• Salisbury University
  
Nursing, Social Work, and Psychology

• Towson University
  
Gerontology, Health Care Management, Health Education, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Speech-Language Pathology

• University of Maryland Baltimore
  
Dental, Nursing, Medical & Research Tech., Medicine, Social Work, Pharmacy, Law, Physical Therapy

• University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
  
Human Ecology, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant

Preparing for GAIT:

Typical GAIT project Schedule:

• Orientation
  
• Health Car Team Skills Training
  
• Aging Simulation
  
• Dinner with Host Site Staff (overnight accommodations are provided)
  

• Interdisciplinary Geriatric Assessment (Host Siite Staff presentation)
  
• Student Teams Assess Program Participants and Prepare a Team Report
  
• Student Teams Present Assessment Report and Discussion with Staff
  
• Evaluation/Comments/Departure
  

• October 21-22, 2007 - Ravenwood - Adult Medical Daycare Services - Download
  
• November 15, 2007 - Homewood - Transitions in Assisted Living - Download