The Multi-disciplinary Center on Aging at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus was established in 1993 through an agreement between the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, the deans of the schools on the Anschutz Medical Campus and the leadership of the University of Colorado Hospital. The mission of the center is to promote improved health for older adults through the establishment and continuation of high quality and innovative clinical programs; the education of community professionals in geriatrics and gerontology; an emphasis on multidisciplinary team care and activity; and the promotion of collaborative transdisciplinary efforts in basic, clinical, and health services research that span the university community.

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In The Community 

CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center Launches COAST-IT with Schools of Pharmacy, Medicine, and College of Nursing

COAST-IT – Connecting Older Adults to Students Through Interprofessional Telecare

Brief Explanation of the Project:

Older adults have been significantly impacted by social isolation during COVID-19. At the same time, health professional students in their first 1-2 years of training have lost opportunities to have interactions with patients. The team at the CU Anschutz Senior's Clinic is planning a social isolation outreach project where students (from a CU Anschutz Pharmacy, Nurse Practitioner, or Medical School) will pair with a patient who they will have weekly to every other week phone calls with throughout the next semester (and possibly beyond) to provide support to the resident and to help students improve their communication skills with older adults.  For many of these students, older adults will be their patient population, so working on communication skills is extremely important. The students will be available to start making calls mid-September.

Good candidates for the project:

• Residents who have had significant mental or physical health effects from the social isolation that has occurred due to COVID-19 or other recent social changes.
• Residents who would enjoy interacting with a student regularly and volunteer to be a part of the project. The resident should know they are going to be contacted and be willing/wanting to participate. Please do not refer until you have discussed this with the residents themselves.
• Residents without cognitive impairment who could participate in regular (up to weekly) phone calls with a student over the next 3-4 months (fall semester)
• Residents who would enjoy extended conversations with a student.
• Residents who can operate a telephone independently (no hearing impairment that would prohibit their ability to use the phone)
  

Contact us for more information and to participate

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Value and Contributions of Older Coloradans

Older Coloradans are incredible contributors to the economy of the state.  See a snapshot of just a few of their many contributions to the economy and workforce in Colorado.

Aging in Colorado