Comprehensive Geriatric Education Program (CGEP)

Section 865 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 298) as amended by section 5305 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, P.L. 111-148, authorizes grants, in coordination with programs under PHS Act section 753 (Education and Training Relating to Geriatrics) to meet the costs of projects that train and educate individuals in providing geriatric care for the elderly. This legislation authorized the establishment of traineeships for individuals who are preparing for advanced education nursing degrees in geriatric nursing, long-term care, gero-psychiatric nursing or other nursing areas that specialize in the care of the elderly population. Grants to support development of individuals in geriatric education may be used to: 1) Provide training to individuals who will provide geriatric care for the elderly; 2) Develop and disseminate curricula relating to the treatment of the health problems of elderly individuals; 3) Train faculty members in geriatrics; 4) Provide continuing education to individuals who provide geriatric care; or 5) Establish traineeships for individuals who are preparing for advanced education nursing degrees in geriatric nursing, long-term care, gero-psychiatric nursing or other nursing areas that specialize in the care of the elderly population. Projects must provide education and training for individuals providing geriatric care. Applicants are encouraged to use or adapt existing curricula as appropriate to the proposed project rather than expend resources to develop new curricula. Geriatric educational resources are available through entities such as the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (http://www.hartfordign.org/), Hartford Centers of Excellence in Geriatric Nursing Education (http://www.geriatricnursing.org/centers/), the Administration on Aging (http://www.aoa.gov), and The Long-Term Services and Supports Workforce Competency Model at: http://web.bc.edu/libtools/details.php?entryid=273 and the Veterans Administration (http://www.va.gov). The National Association of Geriatric Education Centers website at http://www.nagec.org/ also provides resources and other useful information.