Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program

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The Trager Institute’s Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) works to transform health care for older adults across Kentucky, with special attention to underserved areas. Through this program, the Trager Institute equips health care providers, community organizations, and caregivers with advanced  skills in geriatric care, resources, and collaborative support needed to provide age-friendly, compassionate care.

Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), our GWEP aims to strengthen Kentucky’s health care workforce, improve outcomes for older adults, and expand dementia-friendly care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias (ADRD).

FlourishCare Centers of Excellence (FC-CE)

The Trager Institute has established four FlourishCare Centers of Excellence (FC-CE) across Kentucky, strategically located in:

  • The KIPDA region (Louisville and surrounding counties)
  • The BRADD region (Bowling Green and surrounding counties)
  • The CVADD region (London and surrounding counties)

These centers drive local efforts to improve care transitions and integrate age-friendly practices. Lead connectors at two of these regions help guide the transformation, while social work learners are placed at each center to support the integration of best practices into local healthcare systems.

Program Goals

Goal 1: Strengthen & Expand Partnerships

We partner with academic institutions, health care providers, and community organizations to build a FlourishCare workforce that addresses the health care needs of Kentucky’s older adults, with a focus on rural communities.

In collaboration with the UofL Kent School of Social Work, the UofL School of Medicine, the UofL School of Nursing, and universities across Kentucky, we integrate geriatric care into curricula and place students in underserved and rural primary care settings. These efforts ensure that health care professionals throughout the state are well-prepared to deliver age- and dementia-friendly care where it’s needed most.

Goal 2: Professional Education

To prepare a geriatric-savvy workforce, our FlourishCare program trains health care providers and students across multiple disciplines—including medicine, nursing, social work, dentistry, and more. This training includes:

Goal 3: Age-Friendly Health Care Systems

By partnering with primary care practices across Kentucky, the program is helping transform health care systems to incorporate geriatrics and age-friendly principles. These transformed systems support value-based care and ensure that older adults receive integrated, compassionate care.

Goal 4: Community Building

Our community-building initiatives provide essential resources and support for patients, families, caregivers, and direct care workers. Key programs include:

Goal 5: Dementia & Age-Friendly Communities

Our program addresses Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias through the FlourishCare Compassionate Care (CC) Curriculum, reaching nursing facilities, caregivers, and health care providers with specialized training. This training, supported by a mobile app, helps caregivers address the unique needs of those with dementia and promotes dementia-friendly initiatives across Kentucky.