Geriatric Psychiatry Across the Spectrum: Medical Student, Resident, and Fellow Education.

The older adult population in the United States is poised to reach 83.7 million by 2050, and up to 20% will suffer from cognitive and mental illnesses. We do not have the workforce available to meet this need; therefore, general psychiatrists will care for many older psychiatric patients. Enhancing learning opportunities during general medical education and residency could improve the knowledge of general psychiatrists and encourage recruitment into geriatric psychiatry. This article outlines geriatric psychiatry education in medical school, residency, and geriatric psychiatry fellowship with suggestions for recruitment into the field, along with recommendations for enhanced learning for general psychiatrists.

The COVID-19 AAGP Online Trainee Curriculum: Development and Method of Initial Evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: One effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is the disruption of in-person clinical experiences within geriatric psychiatry residency education. Online resources for trainees are needed to fill resultant gaps. METHODS: The American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) Teaching and Training Committee leadership collaborated with geriatric psychiatry experts to develop a web-based geriatric psychiatry curriculum for psychiatry residents and other learners. In addition, we planned to obtain initial self-report outcomes of the curricular modules. RESULTS: The COVID-19 AAGP Online Trainee Curriculum (aagponline.org/covidcurriculum) consists of approximately 30 video-recorded lectures provided by AAGP member experts. A demographic survey and pre-/postsurvey attached to each module allow us to obtain learner characteristics and feedback on each module. CONCLUSIONS: The Curriculum has the potential to supplement psychiatry residency education during the pandemic and potentially raise the profile of AAGP, with the goal of inspiring interest within geriatric psychiatry. Results of the initial self-report evaluation should be available in 1 year.

Combating Heightened Social Isolation of Nursing Home Elders: The Telephone Outreach in the COVID-19 Outbreak Program.

OBJECTIVE: Social isolation and loneliness-common concerns in older adults-are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address social isolation in nursing home residents, the Yale School of Medicine Geriatrics Student Interest Group initiated a Telephone Outreach in the COVID-19 Outbreak (TOCO) Program that implements weekly phone calls with student volunteers. METHODS: Local nursing homes were contacted; recreation directors identified appropriate and interested elderly residents. Student volunteers were paired with elderly residents and provided phone call instructions. RESULTS: Three nursing homes opted to participate in the program. Thirty elderly residents were paired with student volunteers. Initial reports from recreation directors and student volunteers were positive: elderly residents look forward to weekly phone calls and express gratitude for social connectedness. CONCLUSIONS: The TOCO program achieved initial success and promotes the social wellbeing of nursing home residents. We hope to continue this program beyond the COVID-19 pandemic in order to address this persistent need in a notably vulnerable patient population.