Network to develop long-term care COVID-19 treatment, infection prevention best practices

A network of long-term care medical directors and clinicians will develop best practices around COVID-19 treatments and infection prevention guidelines for senior living communities, nursing homes and other congregate care settings in Virginia.

The Virginia Long Term Care Clinician Network is the result of a partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Department of Health to bring together medical directors and clinicians practicing in long-term care settings. The network is a two-year project being developed and managed by the VCU Division of Geriatric Medicine, VCU’s Virginia Center on Aging and the VCU Department of Gerontology.

Read more about the partnership on McKnight's Senior Living.

VCoA and DARS Present Annual Update on Aging

The Virginia Center on Aging and the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services hosted the Annual Update on Aging on Wednesday, January 25th. The webinar was very well attended, and we were excited to share our work and demonstrate how it advances the health, well-being and equity for the elders of today and tomorrow. The webinar recording and slide presentation are shared here.

Annual Update on Aging 2023 (pdf format)

Annual Update on Aging 2023 Webinar Recording

Abuse in Later Life Trainings

VCoA's Abuse in Later Life Project has launched a fall training series about elder abuse. These trainings are free of charge.

Under Investigation: Considering the Intricacies of Elder Abuse Cases: Click here to register. (PIC pending). November 3, 9am -11am (virtual): Zoom

Rising Cost: Financial Exploitation and Elder Abuse. (PIC available). Nov 17 at 9:30am-11:30am (in-person and virtual hybrid): 900 E. Leigh St. Richmond, VA Room #1000 or Zoom. In-person option: Click here to register for in-person attendance. Virtual option: Click here to register for virtual attendance. Click here to see the flyer.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the American Association of Retired Persons, older adults lost nearly $3 billion dollars due to cybercrime in 2021. This represents a 62% increase from 2020. While each age group saw an uptick in rates of fraud, those over 60 accounted for nearly a quarter of the all the financial losses. Join Commonwealth's Attorney Alison Martin as she tells us how she works to bring justice to these victims. 

Long Term Care Facilities: What to expect when investigating Adult Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation: Click here to register. (PIC pending). Dec 7 10am-noon (virtual): Zoom. Click here to see the flyer. The coronavirus pandemic placed a spotlight on long term care facilities, especially nursing homes. While the focus was on controlling spread of disease, we saw a shadow pandemic unfold: elder abuse cases began to skyrocket. A Yale University study found an 83.6% increase from pre-pandemic estimates in reports of mistreated older adults during April and May 2020. Join nationally recognized speaker Carey Raleigh as she talks about best practices for responding to elder mistreatment in long term care settings.

Long Term Care Facilities: What to expect when investigating Adult Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation (second offering): Click here to register. (PIC pending). Dec 9 from 10am-noon (virtual): Zoom

Special Executive/Supervisor Level Training

Elder Justice: A Road Map to Developing Elder Abuse Policy, Protocol, and Procedures: Click here to register. Oct. 26 from 2pm-4pm (virtual): Zoom. Click here to see the flyer. This virtual training, intended for law enforcement officers in supervisory positions, offers suggestions for creating policy, protocol, and procedures to address elder mistreatment. This course will serve as an introduction to and an overview of VCoA's newest digital tool kit that can be used in conjunction with providing training on your new or revised policy.

 

VCU professor’s new book challenges ageism in society

‘It's so normalized that we literally have to unmask ourselves to be able to see it because it's all around us and it's been all around us for decades.’

Tracey Gendron holding her new book, Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End it
Tracey Gendron, Ph.D., director of the Virginia Center on Aging at VCU, is the author of the new book "Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It." (Tom Kojcsich, University Marketing)

In her book "Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It," Tracey Gendron, Ph.D., director of the Virginia Center on Aging at Virginia Commonwealth University, challenges why “everything we know about aging is wrong,” and why the concept of generations divides us more than it serves to bring us together.

Click here to read more about Tracey Gendron's book.

VCU President visits Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield

Key topics included importance of social interaction, engagement in older adults

By Malorie Burkett and Kim Ivey
VCU College of Health Professions

Feb. 18, 2022

From left: Tracey Gendron, Alexa van Aartrijk, Joe Casey, Hon. Leslie Haley, President Rao, Rachel Ramirez and Susan Parrish at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield.
From left: Tracey Gendron, Alexa van Aartrijk, Joe Casey, Hon. Leslie Haley, President Rao, Rachel Ramirez and Susan Parish at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield.

VCU President, Michael Rao, Ph.D., recently visited the Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield (LLI) where he emphasized the importance of social and mental engagement to the wellness of older adults.

Located in Chesterfield County, the LLI is a member-supported organization designed to meet the educational and social enrichment needs of adults age 50 and "better.” The LLI was established in partnership with the Virginia Center on Aging at VCU, Chesterfield County Public Schools and Chesterfield County. 

Pictured from left: Susan Parrish, Tracey Gendron and Rachel Ramirez

Pictured from left: Susan Parish, Tracey Gendron and Rachel Ramirez

“The Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield strives to be a welcoming community of diverse members dedicated to lifelong learning and personal enrichment,” said Rachel Ramirez, executive director of the LLI. “We are proud to offer midlife and older adults a myriad of opportunities to enrich their lives by engaging in thought-provoking lectures and lively discussions in a social learning environment.”

Accompanying Rao during the visit were Ramirez, Susan Parish, Ph.D., dean of the VCU College of Health Professions; Tracey Gendron, Ph.D., chair of the College’s Department of Gerontology and executive director of the Virginia Center on Aging; and Matthew Conrad, vice president for government and external relations for VCU and VCU Health. Also present were members of the LLI Board of Directors along with Chesterfield County officials, including members of the Board of Supervisors and the Office of Aging & Disabilities Services.

Rao expressed his interest in lifelong learning and his appreciation for the members supporting each other as they stay active and engaged to combat loneliness and social isolation. He also discussed the increasing number of older adult patients coming to VCU for healthcare, and how VCU's mission to put patient needs first includes expanding geriatrics programming at VCU Health and hiring additional geriatricians to treat those patients.

LLI is a learning community of peers who are committed to ongoing education and their own intellectual development. Members want to stay current, curious about the world of ideas, and involved with their own learning. The Institute develops and offers daytime courses, lectures and special events on a wide range of topics taught by volunteer instructors. Additionally, there are no exams or credits, and no college degrees are required.

LLI Chesterfield is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is equal opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin.

For more information, visit the Lifelong Learning Institute.

New director named for Virginia Center on Aging

By Malorie Burkett
VCU College of Health Professions
mgburkett@vcu.edu

Dr. Gendron headshot

Tracey Gendron, Ph.D., has been appointed executive director of the Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA).

She will maintain her role as chair of the Department of Gerontology in the VCU College of Health Professions, and replaces Ed Ansello, Ph.D., who retired last November.

“Dr. Gendron is a talented leader and gerontologist, and she has dedicated her career to changing the landscape to facilitate healthy, engaged elderhood,” said Susan Parish, Ph.D., dean of the VCU College of Health Professions. “Her passion and commitment combined with her expertise in this field will help advance the Center’s overall mission.”

Created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1978, the VCoA is a critical part of the College of Health Professions, and serves the entire Commonwealth in its interdisciplinary training, research, information and resource sharing.

“Through continued collaborative efforts with partners across our communities, I am excited to lead the VCoA into the future,” said Gendron. I remain committed to advocating for older Virginians and ensuring that they receive the care and resources they deserve.”

Gendron recently authored a new book titled “Ageism Unmasked,” which is slated to release in March. The book reveals the biases behind society’s false understanding of aging, while sharing powerful opportunities for personal growth and strategies to help create an anti-ageist society.

Gendron received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Florida, and both her Master of Science and doctoral degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. With over 25 years of experience as a gerontologist, she has authored and co-authored over 30 manuscripts and seven book chapters on ageism and aging-related topics. She is frequently quoted in popular media outlets, including the New York Times, the Huffington Post, and U.S. News and World Report. Gendron has spoken about ageism in forums across America and can also be seen and heard as a guest speaker on numerous podcasts and video productions.