Category: News

The Carolina Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (CGWEP) was well represented at the recent Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting in Boston. The gathering brought together leaders in aging from across the country and offered a valuable opportunity to learn, connect, and share the work happening in North Carolina. Dr....

Recently, NC Governor Josh Stein issued the following Proclamation to mark 2025 Falls Prevention Awareness Week:  

Each year, the first full week of fall is marked as Falls Prevention Awareness Week. This year, that week is September 22-26, 2025. However, for 2025, the NC Falls Prevention Coalition will celebrate in a new way with 2025 Falls Prevention Awareness Month with STEPtember. Throughout this month, events hosted by...

Jan Busby-Whitehead, MD, founder of the UNC-CH Division of Geriatric Medicine, has stepped down from her role as Division Chief.

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), recently awarded the article, An interprofessional experience preparing a collaborative workforce to care for older adults with the 2024 David A. Peterson Award.

The American Society on Aging (ASA) defines ageism as, "stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) toward others or oneself based on age."

In North Carolina, over 17 percent of residents are 65 years of age or older. And in this age group, unintentional falls are the leading cause of injuries (both fatal and nonfatal).

The UNC Center for Aging and Health announces that the CGWEP (Carolina Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program) has received a $5 million Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant. This funding will support programming over the next five years, from 2024 to 2029.

Each year, over 35 million American adults fall. These accidents are associated with more trips to the ED (emergency department) as well as 1-year mortality. Even though there are solid associations between medications and falls among older adults, prescribing fall risk-increasing drugs is still common.

Falls are not a normal part of aging. Indeed, most falls are preventable. According to the North Carolina Division of Public Health, one in four older adults falls each year. Not only that, but these falls are the top cause of fatal injuries and the second leading cause of nonfatal...