Care of the Elderly academic programs were officially established in Canada in 1989. The programs represent elective, supplementary training in care of the elderly for a six or 12 month duration, available after the two-year core Family Medicine residency.
The Care of the Elderly Program was established at the University of Alberta in 1993 under the leadership of Dr. Jean Triscott, and was formally established in the Department of Family Medicine as the Division of Care of the Elderly in 2003. It is one of 15 Care of the Elderly programs in Canada and is sanctioned by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
Since its inception, the program has trained over 50 Care of the Elderly physicians, making it one of the most successful Care of the Elderly training programs in Canada. Care of the Elderly physicians make a significant contribution to geriatric services in Alberta, with our physicians located at all of the major health care institutions in Edmonton. Care of the Elderly physicians awork in both urban and rural regions in Alberta.
Mission
The mission of the Division of Care of the Elderly is to promote excellence in care of the elderly through:
- teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level;
- research and innovation;
- practice and promotion of best-practice clinical care;
- serving as a resource to the community;
- advocacy for the needs of seniors; and
- raising awareness of the public on age-related issues including the care of frail seniors.
Goals
The goals of the Division of Care of the Elderly are to:
- promote excellence in the care of the elderly through teaching, research, and clinical care instruction at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level.
- promote the academic development of Division of Care of the Elderly members.
- provide an academic home and support base for Care of the Elderly physicians and residents.
- provide expertise and support in the care of the elderly to family physicians in urban and rural Alberta.
Core Areas of Activity of Division Members
- Teaching
Providing clinical education in geriatrics and academic half days at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels, including training in the enhanced skills diploma (Care of the Elderly Program). - Clinical Care
-->Co-ordinating and delivering geriatric services in acute care and community based and continuing care facilities in Edmonton and area as needed.
-->Developing new initiatives for health care services to seniors and their care providers in the community.
Research
- Conducting research on issues specific to the care of the elderly
- Facilitating interdisciplinary research
- Engaging in research dissemination and knowledge transition
