News Release

Online Continuing Education Modules Created By The NC Gerontology Consortium Are Now Available

February 22, 2010

With UNC General Administration support, Jim Mitchell (IOA Senior Research Scientist from East Carolina University) coordinated development of four continuing education modules that are now available online. The topics include: Understanding Dementia (causes, frequency, and treatments); Making Ends Meet in Retirement (understanding older adults' financial challenges); Introduction to Evidence-Based Programs (how to use evidence to make programmatic decisions); and Successful Aging (suggestions about how to transition successfully into older adulthood).

The need for topical continuing modules originated in results of surveys of the NC aging services workforce conducted through the IOA by Mitchell and current IOA Interim Co-Director, Mary Altpeter. Mitchell, on behalf of the NC Gerontology Consortium of 11 UNC campus members, and in partnership with the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services, solicited module topics through subsequent surveys of the non-clinical aging services workforce. Module content was drafted by two-person teams of faculty members from UNC campuses, and organized and polished into final form with assistance from Megan Bell's team with UNC Information Technology Services. Mitchell, Altpeter, and Heather Burkhardt from the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are developing a strategy for module implementation. The modules are available at no charge through the IOA website http://www.aging.unc.edu/ncgc/ce/.