JUNE 2001

Table of Contents

Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging

The Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging at UAMS is the umbrella organization for health programs for older adults. This geriatrics program is the second of its kind among all U.S. medical schools and was recently rated among the top programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Rural Aging Initiative

Responding to the dramatic increase in the size of the state's elderly population as well as the tremendous need for health care services in rural areas, the Reynolds Department of Geriatrics developed its Rural Aging Initiative. Its goals are to increase access to quality health care, increase geriatric knowledge and expertise among health care practitioners and providers, and provide health education on geriatric issues to older adults, their families and the community. This initiative has already:

• created an infrastructure of satellite Centers of Excellence in geriatric health care and education through partnerships among Area Health Education Centers, local hospitals and the communities to be served
• increased access to geriatric health care through wellness programs in rural areas

Schmieding Center for Senior Health

The first satellite center of excellence in geriatric health care is the Schmieding Center for Senior Health in Springdale, Arkansas. It was created in April 1999 with a generous gift from the Schmieding Foundation. The Schmieding Center is already making significant strides in meeting the geriatric health care and educational needs in northwest Arkansas, as shown below:

• 77 persons have graduated from personal care / home care assistant courses
• more than 400 persons have attended Elder LifePhases and Elder Caregivers programs
• more than 355 consultations have been provided to persons needing assistance with caregiving concerns
• 204 health-care professionals have attended continuing education programs conducted by the center
• more than 6,000 patient encounters occurred during the past year

Acknowledging the complexity of senior health issues, the Schmieding Senior Health Center provides primary geriatric care through an interdisciplinary team approach. The core team consists of a geriatrician, an advanced practice nurse and a medical social worker, with other health professionals consulted as needed.

The Schmieding Center provides the model upon which other decentralized geriatric health care centers will be based. Fund-raising activities have already begun for creating another satellite center of excellence in El Dorado, which is scheduled to open in July 2001.

Photo: Exercise classes are available at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging.

© 2001 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Division of Institutional Advancement
4301 W. Markham St., Slot 716
Little Rock, AR 72205
501-686-5685

06/25/01