- July 31, 2024
ICYMI: Senator Carper Announces $5 Million for Delaware Workforce Training to Care for Aging Population
In Case You Missed It, last week, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, along with Senator Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), announced a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Delaware State University’s Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Science. This grant will support the Geriatric Workforce Education Program, which addresses gaps in Delaware’s senior care by increasing training for healthcare workers. During a visit to the Milford Wellness Village, Senator Carper emphasized the importance of ensuring that seniors across the state are able to access high-quality health care, especially in marginalized and low-income communities.
See more in Delaware Public Media, Milford Live, WDEL, Bay to Bay News, WRDE Coast TV, and DelawareBlack.
Sen. Carper announces $5 million in federal funding for healthcare workforce training program
By: Abigail Lee
July 27, 2024
Listen to the radio story here.
Senator Tom Carper announced $5 million in federal funding today to support Delaware State University’s Geriatric Workforce Education Program.
The program is a partnership between DSU and Education, Health, Research International, Inc. and will be based at the Milford Wellness Village. Its goal is to build a curriculum that trains workers to care for the First State’s aging population, addressing a gap in the healthcare workforce. […]
Carper said the health care system often focuses on the health of children and young people, leaving older people’s health overlooked.
The program will include teaching health-care workers and their future colleagues how to best care for people suffering from dementia or other cognitive health-related issues that diminish quality of life.
“We want to make sure that we have a workforce in place who are trained especially to make sure that the health care needs of people who are over 70s, 80s, 90s [are met],” Carper said, “and that they can not just live healthy lives, but actually be contributing citizens. This partnership is going to help make that happen.”
The funds will be spread out over five years.
Del State and Milford Wellness Village partner to offer GWAP
By: Terry Rogers
July 30, 2024
On Friday, July 26, officials from Milford Wellness Village and Delaware State University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner with a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWAP). The program is designed to provide multiple degree offerings in programs designed to aid the older population in Delaware. […]
According to Rabbi Halberstam, Delaware State University will provide both senior-focused training as well as clinical rotations at Milford Wellness Village service providers.
“As the saying goes, it takes a village. In our case, we like to say it takes a village to create the Milford Wellness Village,” Rabbi Halberstam said. “To that end, EHRI has received support from many elected officials across the first state, and while it would be impossible to mention all, I would like to highlight Senator Tom Carper, who was instrumental in advocating for this federal grant, as he has done for many previous EHRI initiatives.”
Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University, stated that Senator Carper was instrumental in Milford Wellness Village and the university in receiving a $5 million federal grant to create the program. […]
“One of the reasons why we kind of punch above our weight in Delaware, in terms of federal money, getting money for folks in Kent and Sussex is Lisa [Blunt Rochester] and Chris [Coons] and I are a team. It doesn’t matter who gets the credit. We share the credit for Delaware.” [said Senator Carper.]
Pointing out that he is 77 years old and still does 100 pushups every morning, Senator Carper explained that workforce development programs designed to help people his age were critical.
“We need workforce training for those who work with people my age and the age of Joe Biden to make sure that we have the ability to continue to be not just functional, but able to make contribution in different roles. And it’s, it’s a team effort, and part of that team is Del State, and part of that, that that team is going to get better and more effective, helping a lot more folks, older folks like Joe, like me to help us to be relevant and happy and able to continue to contribute to society,” Senator Carper said. “To be honest, $5 million in the whole scheme of things in Washington DC doesn’t sound like a lot when you’re looking at the federal budget, but here in Delaware and Milford, it’s a lot.” […]
DSU launches program to train elder care workforce
By: Mark Fowser
July 27, 2024
Delaware State University will establish a program that could expand the available workforce to take care of the growing aging population in Kent and Sussex Counties. […]
“It’s no secret that Delaware has a large senior population – after all, it’s a great place to retire,” Senator Tom Carper, D.-Del. said. “But we are woefully behind in our workforce to take care of them. That’s where DSU and Milford Wellness Center and all levels of government are coming together to address this problem. Today’s $5 million grant is where the federal government comes in, giving a shot-in-the-arm to a program to train healthcare workers to work with the elderly. This will help us meet the need for decades to come.”
Delaware State University joins Milford Wellness Village with geriatric program
By: Elle Wood
July 29, 2024
[…]With the help of Sen. Tom Carper, Delaware State University was awarded a five-year, $5 million grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This will fund Delaware State University’s Geriatric Workplace Enhancement Program at Milford Wellness Village, announced July 26.
The initiative will provide and develop a curriculum for training health care workers to provide the best possible care for aging seniors and improve overall well-being.
“One thing that we can and need to do is put together a trained workforce to work with people my age,” said Sen. Carper. “This will make sure that we have the ability to be not just functional but make contributions.” […]
Grant announced for Geriatric Workforce Education Program
By: Mallory Metzner
July 26, 2024
Watch the broadcast story here.
A big announcement for geriatric care came out of the Milford Wellness Village on Friday.
A $5 million grant is set to help Delaware State University’s Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Science support the Geriatric Workforce Education Program. The money comes from the U.S. Health and Human Services. […]
U.S. Senator Tom Carper’s office says the money is in response to Delaware’s aging population and gaps in the health care workforce. Senator Carper helped secure this funding through the Congressionally Directed Spending process, along with Senator Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.
By: Staff
July 28, 2024
[…] Through the grant awarded to DSU’s Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program will be established in connection with EHRI. This initiative will develop and facilitate a training curriculum enabling healthcare workers to employ best practices, particularly as it relates to caring for senior citizens in various stages of dementia and other late-life diseases. […]
“It’s no secret that Delaware has a large senior population – after all, it’s a great place to retire,” said Delaware U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “But we are woefully behind in our workforce in taking care of them. That’s where DSU and Milford Wellness Center and all levels of government are coming together to address this problem. Today’s $5 million grant is where the federal government comes in, giving a shot in the arm to a program to train healthcare workers to work with the elderly. This will help us meet the need for decades to come.” […]
This grant-funded program will also provide training and internship opportunities for DSU students in its Nursing and Social Work programs. In addition to providing new training to existing healthcare workers, the program will strive to increase the number of competent professionals who care for senior citizens.
“I am very excited about this partnership and opportunity to enhance the geriatric-serving workforce here in the State of Delaware,” said Dr. Gwen Scott-Jones, Dean of the DSU Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and DSU School of Graduate, Adult and Extended Studies. “A program of this nature demonstrates forward thinking and impact as we enhance how we care for our older adults in their golden years. […]
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