The Marshall University Center for Healthier Aging Initiatives in Appalachia is prepared to pioneer a new strategy for improving the health of older citizens in West Virginia and other rural and low-resource regions. The Center’s mission is to improve the quality of life for Appalachian seniors by developing clinical best practices, training today’s and tomorrow’s workforce in geriatric practice, establishing elder-related outreach programs, providing patient and provider education, and conducting cutting-edge research.
STRATEGIC GOALS
- Prepare the future workforce to work with older adults by providing multi-disciplinary graduate certificates and/or degree programs.
- Foster interdisciplinary/interprofessional research regarding barriers to healthy aging.
- Provide interdisciplinary patient care and clinical outreach in Appalachian communities through partnerships with local health care providers.
- Advocacy for the health and wellness of older adults, particularly those in rural and/or low-resource communities.
- Foster collaboration and engagement with community organizations to work on behalf of older adults.
- The purpose of the proposed effort is to focus and refine institutional research to adopt interdisciplinary investigatory teams to add to the broad base of scientific evidence to promote healthy aging in place in underserved areas.