The University of Minnesota Geriatric Case Competition is a unique opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students from multiple disciplines and schools at the University of Minnesota to come together as a team to develop a comprehensive, interprofessional plan of care for an older adult. The Interprofessional Geriatric Case Competition is being sponsored by the Minnesota Northstar Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP).

The Minnesota Northstar GWEP provides education to support older adults. Through a partnership with Dementia Friends, we will train health professionals, students, and community members. Additional specific training programs for professionals focus on dentistry, exercise, and safety for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Projects include:

Since Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia are especially challenging when caring for older adults, the Minnesota Northstar GWEP has several programs targeting these complex conditions. Through education “roadshows,” conferences, community speaking engagements, and radio spots, we are reaching out to people in all corners of our state with dementia information and support. Programs include:

The Minnesota Northstar GWEP aims to implement and demonstrate the ways we can transform primary care clinics throughout the state of Minnesota to better integrate Age-Friendly geriatrics care. By concentrating efforts on clinics where students and residents learn, we can improve care while changing the way our next generation of healthcare professionals practice. Stages of this project include:

The Minnesota Northstar GWEP is preparing the current and future workforce to care for older adults and create Age-Friendly systems. Our team is implementing a multi-faceted geriatrics training program to reach a wide variety of healthcare providers and interprofessional learners in Minnesota. This program includes:

A goal of the Minnesota Northstar GWEP is to facilitate and strengthen meaningful support and collaboration of key partners in the geriatrics field. The University of Minnesota is joined by eight community partners to provide greater access community education in aging and dementia, improve geriatrics training in health professions, and transform primary care clinical training and practice sites to provide Age-Friendly care. Partners include: