Contact: Amy Gilliam

Best Care Practices help providers to identify the critical components of care, identify and describe problems experienced by older persons, find and assess existing Best Care Practices, discover creative solutions to similar problems, and implement and replicate Best Care Practices in health care and community settings.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 7, 2004) -- Four programs that serve the needs of the elderly were recognized for outstanding efforts during the 21 st annual Summer Series on Aging, sponsored by the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and the Ohio Valley Appalachia Regional Geriatric Education Center (OVAR/GEC), which serves Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.

The programs include:

• Southeast Kentucky Community Access Program (SKYCAP), UK Center for Rural Health in Hazard, Ky., directed by Fran Feltner;
• Council on Aging Learning Advantages (COALA®) program, Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA), directed by Cynthia Fischer;
• Pharmacy Connect of Southwest Virginia program, Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc., directed by Marilyn Maxwell and Margaret Sturgill; and
• Volunteer Caregivers Program, University of Louisville, directed by Karen Robinson.

"The OVAR/GEC Best Care Practice nominees and winners are creative problem-solvers,” said Arleen Johnson, director, OVAR/GEC, UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. “The University of Kentucky is proud to be a partner with these community health care workers who help older persons to live healthier, happier lives."

OVAR/GEC is made up of member universities, including UK , University of Louisville , University of Cincinnati , and East Tennessee State University . The organization was established in 1985 to enhance geriatric education and improve services for older persons throughout Kentucky , southern Ohio , eastern Tennessee , and western Virginia. A current focus of the OVAR/GEC is to develop a Best Care Practices interactive Web-based continuing education program, as well as a database to provide a repository for Best Care Practices from across the region. Best Care Practices are evidence-based ideas and programs that are proven to produce successful results that improve the care of older persons.

Best Care Practices help providers to identify the critical components of care, identify and describe problems experienced by older persons, find and assess existing Best Care Practices, discover creative solutions to similar problems, and implement and replicate Best Care Practices in health care and community settings.