Delaware State University’s Geriatric Workforce Education Program has received a $5 million grant from the federal government that will be spread out over five years.
The new program is a partnership between Delaware State University and Education, Health and Research International Inc.
The grant is a “shot in the arm to a program to train healthcare workers to work with the elderly,” US Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) stated Friday at the Milford Wellness Village, where the program will be based. “This will help us meet the need for decades to come,” he added.
Cheryl Heiks, executive director of the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association, told the McKnight’s Business Daily on Monday that, according to the state population projections from 2022, the population of Delawareans aged 65 or more years is expected to grow by almost 20% from 2025 to 2035.
The grant is a “historic leap forward for workforce development for geriatric care for Delaware,” Heiks said. “Our small state is a popular place for individuals to retire, and the need for healthcare professionals at every level in and every category and specialty is paramount to caring for individuals who move here or have lived here all their lives. Our small population also means the number of available healthcare workers is not as large as it needs to be to meet the need.”
One of the program’s goals is to educate prospective healthcare workers on how to best care for people living with dementia or other cognitive health-related issues. James W. McCracken, president and CEO of LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware, noted that the number of state residents with dementia diagnoses is increasing.
“We support programs that teach caregivers techniques for caring for people with cognitive issues. It’s great that the federal government is supporting DSU’s Geriatric Workforce Education Program, which trains workers in the classroom and provides hands-on experience,” he said.
