New York Times Article: This Geriatrics Training Program Escaped the Ax. For Now.
The New York Times has published an article by Paula Span, "This Geriatrics Training Program Escaped the Ax. For Now." The Trump administration has restored promised funds to the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) that teaches people in health care how to work with aging Americans.
Paula Span, The New Old Age columnist, explains that GWEP is a federally funded initiative that trains about 70,000 healthcare professionals to better care for the older adult population. Projects supported by GWEP include mobile health teams and online training for community health workers, addressing a projected decline in geriatricians.
Span details a significant crisis this July, when these grants to universities and hospitals, up to $1 million each this year, were suddenly cut by 34%. She notes that this cut seemed to be a precursor to the Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget, which sought to eliminate GWEP entirely. However, the allocated funds were unexpectedly restored on September 10, that may reflect in part, she says, support from politicians like Senator Susan Collins. In addition, GWEP has been restored to both the House and Senate bills funding the federal health department.
Span explains that despite the recent funding scare, GWEP is seen as a cost-effective program that provides essential training on subjects such as medications, falls prevention and dementia care to a wide array of providers, especially in underserved and rural areas.
Read the NYT article.
Learn more about the New Old Age column on KFF Health News and in the NYT.
Go to the HRSA GWEP Awardees.
Learn more about the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative.
Learn more about GWEP Tools and Resources at AGS' GWEP Coordinating Center.
Learn more about JAHF's co-support of the GWEP Coordinating Center at AGS.
