March 2025 Issue | Volume 19, Number 03

A publication of the Univ. of Utah Center on Aging
phone: 801.213.4156 | email: aging@utah.edu
Newsletter Archives

The Marriott Library has recently acquired several books on dementia that may be of interest to practitioners, care givers, and patients.  Link here:  https://blog.lib.utah.edu/dementia-books-for-patients-caregivers-and-health-professionals/.

Dr. Timothy Farrell, Geriatrics Division Associate Chief for Age-Friendly Care, presented on “Implementation of AFHS into EHRs:  Focus on Epic” for the UT Health Houston 9th Annual Hot Topics in Aging:  “The Intersection of Quality and Age-Friendy:  Responding to the New CMS Hospital Measure.”  See 9th Annual Hot Topics in Aging - Events - About Institute on Aging - UTHealth Houston

American Geriatrics Society 

May 8-10, 2025 

Chicago , IL

Save the Date!

Rocky Mountain Geriatric Conference

“All Hands On Deck! Navigating the Treacherous Waters of Serious Illness in Older Adults”

How an interdisciplinary age-friendly health system can support older adults facing serious illness such as hospitalization, surgery, and end of life care.

September 11-12, 2025

University of Utah - HELIX Building

SLC, Utah

More details to come!

Please join the University of Utah, Division of Geriatrics and the Veteran Affairs Salt Lake City Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center for Geriatric Grand Rounds and Translational Grand Rounds on Tuesday mornings.

Dr. Sara Bybee who is conducting an Alzheimer's Association funded study to co-design a Spanish-language advance care planning intervention for Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latino persons living with dementia and their care partners (spouse, adult child, chosen family member, etc.).

Dr. Bybee is looking for 5 pairs of people to participate on a community advisory board. The community advisory board will meet a total of eight times over three years, and each participant will be compensated $100 for every meeting they attend. The study materials and meetings are in Spanish, so persons must be fluent and must identify as Hispanic/Latino. Interested participants can also visit this link https://redcap01.brisc.utah.edu/ccts/redcap/surveys/?s=CKA4X3HKJR9MTAK9 to complete a screening questionnaire. 

Community Partner Engagements.

Executive Director Ence is working with a WINGS subcommittee to investigate and build a proposal for pursuing background disclosures in guardianship cases. This is a subset need for existing policy and procedure that was missing to establish safe rules and guidelines when guardians or conservators are being screened and qualified.

Executive Director Ence led an Inservice training discussion for about forty employees involved in the lifelong learning and child development education programs at the U on ageism. Ence reviewed the many manifestations of the issue, and the group discussed personal experiences, how to recognize, manage, and correct incidents where ageism is present.

Utah’s State of Health Reform will be held on March 27 at Little America Hotel. Ence will be facilitating a panel of experts on older adults and access to care in our current policy environment.

Other projects included framing out public information strategies on Living Well programs, introducing a trusted home repair model for Area Agencies on Aging, and discussing with Dr. Kirsten Graham of SUU, the need for mental health access in Southern Utah.

Dear community members,

We want to hear your thoughts, concerns, and ideas about how we can best support Utahns in aging well. 

Governor Spencer Cox is focusing on older adults this term through the WISE Initiative. This initiative focuses on improving 4 pillars of aging well:  Wealth, Independence, Security, and Engagement. 

As part of this initiative, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hosting a series of listening sessions across the state. What we learn during these sessions will help inform us as we develop a 10-year statewide multi-sector plan on aging that focuses on the 4 WISE pillars. 

We invite you to participate in the listening session for your region:

R6 Regional Council                                                       Salt Lake County

9–11 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2025                               1–3 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2025

Richfield Senior Center                                                      Midvale Senior Center
890 N 300 W                                                                      7550 S Main St
Richfield, UT 84701                                                            Midvale, UT 84047

Five County                                                                      Davis and Weber counties 

1-3 p.m. Friday April 25, 2025                                            9–11 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2025

St. George Senior Center                                                   Kaysville Senior Center
245 N 200 W                                                                       81 E. Center St.
St. George, UT 84770                                                        Kaysville, UT 84037

Mountainland                                                                    Southeast

Time and date TBD                                                            2–4 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2025

American Fork Senior Center                                             Grand Center
54 E. Main St.                                                                     182 N 500 W
American Fork, UT 84003                                                   Moab, UT 84532

Uintah Basin                                                                     Bear River

9–11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2025                                9–11 a.m. Friday, May 30, 2025

Golden Age Center                                                             Cache County Senior Center
330 Aggie Blvd.                                                                   240 N 100 E
Vernal UT 84078                                                                 Logan, UT 84321

Your input is crucial in shaping a plan that truly meets the needs of Utahns. We hope you will join us. 

Please share this invitation with those in your network who may be interested in joining the conversation.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Nels Holmgren
Director
Division of Aging and Adult Services
Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Alzheimer's Association

Health Services Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (HSR-ADRD) Funding Program

This program provides funding of up to $250,000 (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) over a two-year period, with Year 1 funding capped at $137,500 and Year 2 funding capped at $112,500. Applications will be accepted from researchers at all career levels, including postdoctoral fellows, instructors, assistant, associate, and full professors. 

As a mostly virtual Center, we depend on the accuracy and timeliness of our Web presence. Center members are urged to review and update their membership directory information. Please take the next few moments to review your information on the Center’s Web site. Send any updates or requests for changes and more importantly to be linked to the appropriate topic interest group(s) complete this survey and return to Heather at heather.podolan@hsc.utah.edu or aging.utah.edu.

For past issues, please visit our NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES PAGE.

The bristlecone pine tree (Pinus longaeva) - the earth’s oldest inhabitant with a life span of almost 5,000 years - is found only in Utah and five other western states. Its extraordinary longevity and ability to adapt and survive in extremely harsh environmental conditions above 10,000 feet embodies the investigative spirit and mission of the Utah Center on Aging.