June 18th, 2024: $5 Million Awarded to Wyoming Center on Aging to Address Needs of Older Adults

The University of Wyoming (UW) Department of Psychology’s Center on Aging has been awarded a major grant to enhance partnerships to expand and strengthen geriatrics education for the healthcare workforce and to expand resources for older adults and caregivers. The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the $5 million of funding through the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). This five-year grant is led by Director, Christine McKibbin and Co-Director, Catherine Carrico from the UW Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The purpose of the GWEP is to educate and train the health care workforce and family caregivers to care for older adults by collaborating with community partners. “We are grateful to have partners dedicated to serving those with the highest needs, including tribal elders and older adults in rural and underserved areas,” says Dr. McKibbin. This unique partnership will strengthen the geriatrics workforce and address a common goal of maximizing health outcomes of older adults. Partners of the GWEP include Ivinson Medical Group, UW Department of Graduate Medical Education, Wind River Family and Community Health Care, Eastern Shoshone Tribal Health, Morning Star Care Center, UW School of Nursing, Central Wyoming College Nursing Program, and the Wyoming Aging and Disability Resource Center.
The Wyoming GWEP will educate and train the primary care and geriatrics workforces and other appropriate specialties to provide age-friendly and dementia-friendly care for older adults. “Age-friendly healthcare is a growing movement that helps to provide the best care possible by focusing on what matters to older adults, reducing potential harms that older adults face more than others, and ensuring that older adults and caregivers are engaged in and satisfied with their care,” said Dr. Carrico.
The Wyoming Department of Health Aging Division predicts that, from 2016 to 2030, the number of Wyomingites aged 65 or older is expected to grow from approximately 90,000 to 138,000, a 56% increase. Wyoming’s entire population is expected to increase by less than 12% during that time; therefore, the majority of growth will come from the older adult population.
“Programs like the GWEP allow Wyoming to use evidence-based and innovative strategies to ready its workforce to meet the needs of our growing aging population,” said McKibbin.

WYOMING PBS DOCUMENTARY FEATURES WYOMING DEMENTIA TOGETHER GROUP “A State of Mind: The Caregivers”: June 2024

August 2023: FREE EDUCATIONAL HELP FOR CAREGIVERS OFFERED THIS OCTOBER THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING CENTER ON AGING

July 5th, 2023: UW and Hot Springs County Library Offer Blood Pressure Cuffs for Checkout; also offered at the Buffalo, Kaycee, Jackson and Alta!

May 25, 2023 -- The University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) begins its new statewide program, “Dementia on the Road,” Wednesday, May 31, on the campus of Laramie County Community College, located at 1400 E. College Drive in Cheyenne. Read More

March 2nd, 2023: ENLIGHTENED COMMUNICATION IN ACTION: WYOMING DEMENTIA TOGETHER PROGRAM OFFERS VALUABLE HELP TO CAREGIVERS

Sept 2022: Wyoming Dementia Together is highlighted on County 10!  See article here

Albany County Public Library now has Blood Pressure cuffs available for checkout!  Included in these kits are a blood pressure cuff, easy-to-read instructions on how to properly use the cuff, educational material about high blood pressure and local resources. Library cardholders can place a hold request on a blood pressure kit and check it out at any branch for up to 30 days.

June 2022: The University of Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) is excited to announce the Healthier Wyoming initiative! The goal of Healthier Wyoming is to empower all Wyoming residents to take charge of their health by providing a comprehensive, statewide directory of chronic disease prevention and management resources

June 2022:  Be sure to check out the NEW Wyoming Dementia Together Once Again YouTube Channel!  Click on “subscribe” and on the “bell” icon next to it and you will be notified when we upload a new video.  Don’t forget to “like” us and feel free to leave a comment.

April 2022: UW Center on Aging to Host Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Summit May 18-20

Feb 25th, 2022: See Project Coordinator Larry Goodwin tallk about Healthy U Mini Grants on Wyoming News Now!

February 7th, 2022: UW Center on Aging to Provide Educational Programs for American Heart Month, from UW Communications.

October 2021: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The 6-week Better Choices, Better Health workshop is available to you at no cost!

UW Plays key role in Vaccine Roll out (From UWYO magazine Fall 2021)

June 26th, 2021 - Wyoming Dementia Together featured on Star Valley Independent based out of Afton, WY. 

March 2, 2021: UW Plays Big Role in COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts.  Students and employees of the University of Wyoming are playing a key role in Albany County’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, ranging from scheduling appointments via telephone to providing facilities to actually administering the vaccine shots. (WyCOA Mention)

December 21, 2020 – The University of Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) is excited to announce a new program entitled Wyoming Dementia Together.

Dec 2020: Congratulations to Dr. Tabitha Thrasher, Clinical Associate Professor at the UW Family Medicine Residency Program in Casper, on becoming the first graduate of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program and Wyoming’s first homegrown board certified geriatrician! Learn more about Dr. Thrasher’s accomplishment and the fellowship program at: https://www.uwyo.edu/news/2020/12/dr.-tabitha-thrasher-first-uw-produced-geriatrician.html

WyCOA & WyCOA Dementia Support Center Holiday Letter for Caregivers and Family, Dec 2020.

AmeriCorps Seniors’ Foster Grandparents of the Wyoming Rockies, sponsored by Action Resources International, has received a Tech2Connect Grant from the University of Wyoming, Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) in the amount of $5,400.

UW’s Center on Aging Highlights National Caregiver Month
Nov. 2, 2020 -- The Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming is recognizing the impact of caregivers across Wyoming communities with a free webinar series during National Caregiver Month.

The University of Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) is excited to announce a new program entitled Wyoming Dementia Together.  September 2020 (WDT press release)

Sept 2020: Wyoming Alzheimer’s Association Receives Tech2Connect Grant

July 2020: Ivinson Medical Group was recognized as an Age Friendly Health System by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, becoming the first in the state of Wyoming. We are excited to be part of the nationwide movement to improve healthcare for older adults.

May 2020: The University of Wyoming Center on Aging in collaboration with the Montana Geriatric Education Center will be offering an ECHO in Geriatrics for healthcare professionals and students in the Rocky Mountain Region (press release)

May 2020: Healthy U Moves to education online (press release)

April 2020: Dementia Support Center Services Continuing to be Offered during COVID

UW’s Wyoming Center on Aging Receives $3.75 Million Grant to Address Needs in State. (Feb 2020 Press Release)

Improving Rural/Frontier Care Transitions Project ECHO: Wyoming Hospital Association, February 2018.

Partners on Federal Grant to Strengthen Geriatric Care in Wyoming: Wyoming Hospital Association, July 2015.

UW Geriatrics Center to Use $2.5 Million Grant for Education, Technology: Casper Star Tribune, July 2015.
July 2015:  WyGEC/WyCOA has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from HRSA to strengthen geriatric care and training throughout WY with the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). The Wyoming GWEP, one of 44 awards across 29 states, is a partnership with CRMC, The WY Department of Health Aging Division and the Cheyenne VA Medical Center, with additional collaborations around the state. The GWEP is an exciting opportunity, and we are busy diving in!  *WyGEC (Wyoming Geriatric Education Center) is now supported by the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) within the Wyoming Center on Aging.

Federal Grant Will Strengthen Geriatric Care in Wyoming: UW News, July 2015.

Wyoming's Population is Getting Older, Fast: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, September 2012.

Senior Spelling Bee Champ Shares His Secrets for Staying Sharp: CNN.com, August 2012.

WyGEC Documentary Wins National Awards: UW News, August 2012.

Summer Workshop in Jackson Examines Memory Disorders: UW News, May 2012.

Wyoming Geriatric Education Center Consortium at UW Receives $2.1 Million: UW News, September 2010.

Linda Gore-Martin named new Dean of Pharmacy School.  Wyoming Pharmacy Association  December 3, 2012

Gray Matters Wins National Awards! GEC Pipeline September-October 2012

"Wyoming's Population is Getting Older Faster" featuring an interview with Christine McKibbin, WyGEC Director
Wyoming Tribune Eagle  September 6, 2012

"Senior Spelling Bee Champ Shares His Secrets for Staying Sharp" About the AARP National Spelling Bee, featuring an interview with Suzanna Penningroth, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology, UW 
CNN.com  August 15, 2012

UW Press Release: Gray Matters documentary wins national awards. UW News August 6, 2012

UW Press Release: Jeffrey Cummings, M.D. speaking at Memory Disorders Workshop in Jackson. UW News  May 15, 2012

UW Press Release: WyGEC awarded $2.1 million consortium funding from HRSA. UW News  September 20, 2010