UNC's Center for Aging and Health helps older adults live well longer.
The Center for Aging and Health
The Center for Aging and Health supports the Division of Geriatric Medicine in its mission to provide the highest quality of clinical care to older patients; connect families and caregivers with community resources; and train the next generation of Geriatricians.
But we don’t stop there. Improving care for older adults means training different types of providers – including dentists, pharmacists, cardiologists, and oncologists – in best practices of geriatric medicine that are grounded in research, informed by patient priorities, and guided by compassion.
Whether you’re a medical resident applying to our Fellowship programs, a Triangle resident looking to become a patient, or a clinician taking our courses, the Center for Aging and Health can connect you to the right resources for aging well.
News | Impact | Outreach
Telehealth with Older Adults During the Covid-19 Crisis
Due to Covid-19, UNC Health outpatient clinics are “seeing” fewer patients physically. Though most facilities remain open to patients needing an in-person visit, the coronavirus crisis rapidly accelerates the use of telehealth via virtual visits between providers and patients. In this Q&A UNC Geriatrics Specialty Clinic’s Assistant Medical Director, Dr. Meredith Gilliam, talks about benefits and challenges of video visits.
COVID-19 in Older Adults: Biese Publishes Key Points for Providers
Kevin Biese, MD, MAT, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine, with co-authors, has published key information on the role of the ED in diagnosis and acute management of COVID-19 in older adults.
Deprescribing in Older Adults: An Interview with Josh Niznik, PharmD, PhD
“More than half of older adults are exposed to polypharmacy and the unfortunate thing is that those people are more susceptible to the side effects and they’re more vulnerable to drug-drug interactions. It’s important for physicians, patients, and caregivers to realistically discuss the benefits a medication can and can’t provide, and to have a plan for de-escalating or stopping certain medications.”
WRAL interviews Bryan Godfrey on Benefits of Seeing a Geriatrician
UNC Geriatrics Specialty Clinic’s Social Worker Bryan Godfrey speaks with WRAL’s Liisa Ogburn on why older adults seek primary care providers with geriatrics expertise. “Our providers are physicians with certifications in internal or family medicine, but they also have specialized training in geriatrics. This means they are especially attuned to the challenges older adults often face and particularly skilled in helping patients and families prepare for the road ahead.”
From Dr. Jan Busby-Whitehead
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We’re the big picture doctors.
“Geriatricians take a holistic view of the patient. We provide care that is focused on the functional activities of daily living. A patient’s chronological age is not important, their functional age is what matters. What can people do? What do they want and need to do?” Read more
Mary and Thomas Hudson Distinguished Professor of Medicine
Director, Center for Aging and Health | Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine