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College of Human Science and Services - Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center

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Welcome to the

Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center (RIGEC)

at the University of Rhode Island

A Leading Source for Interdisciplinary Education

RIGEC's mission is to help prepare health care and human service professionals, faculty, and students to better meet the physical, functional, and psychosocial needs of older adults. We do this through interdisciplinary education that spans workshops, clinical training, special lectures, academic courses, and faculty development programs.

Why the Need for Geriatric Education?

Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the US population, and people are living longer than ever before. Most health care providers will encounter older adults in their practice, yet very few health professionals receive any formal education or training in gerontology or geriatrics. Indeed, a 2008 Institute of Medicine report sounded an alarm about this looming crisis in our health care system, i.e., that the US health care workforce is inadequately prepared to meet the needs of older adults.

Health professionals who lack training in geriatrics may not be able to distinguish normal age-related changes from pathology. They may be unaware that physiologic changes that occur with aging can affect the way that medications are absorbed, distributed, metabolized and eliminated. They may not realize that the signs and symptoms of illness in older adults often present very differently than in younger adults. They may assume, incorrectly, that functional and cognitive decline, depression, and disability are inevitable consequences of aging. This can lead to misdiagnosis, under or over medication and treatment, increased hospitalizations, poorer outcomes, increased costs, and reduced quality of life for older adults and their loved ones.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

For more information about a program, click on the workshop title below: