Clinical Care
Although most older persons are insured through Medicare, Medicaid, and other supplemental insurance, there are large gaps in the benefits provided. Funding for clinical programs can help ensure that all those age 65 and above have access to needed services. We seek funding for several specific programs that will improve the patient experience in the Geriatrics practice. All of these programs have the potential for naming opportunities in which a legacy of your vision and philanthropy can be a source of pride and inspiration for your family, friends, colleagues and those individuals whose lives will be forever touched and improved through your generosity.

1. Home Visit Program: to provide personalized in home visits to patients who are homebound and unable to get to doctors' appointments due to their frailty or other medical conditions.
Needed funding: $200,000 per year

2. Nurse Practitioner Program: to initiate a doctor-nurse practitioner team to promote higher-quality care and allow more time spent directly addressing patient concerns.
Needed funding: $100,000 per year

3. "Geronet" Patient Website and Computer Training Program: to create and maintain the patient component of the Geronet Website providing resources for caregivers, condition-specific patient education resources, and links to community-based organizations and support groups. Additionally, under this program, accessible classes or individual instruction will strive to teach basic computer navigation skills to patients and their caregivers.
Needed funding: $75,000 initial year / $50,000 per subsequent years

4. Geriatric Inpatient Sitter Program: to meet the needs and issues of hospitalized geriatric patients at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital, providing specially trained paid and volunteer sitters to spend quality time with patients, helping them with daily routines, such as ordering food, communicating with loved ones, and assisting with transition needs upon discharge.
Needed funding: $100,000 per year

5. Palliative Care Program: to improve symptom management and end-of-life care at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital .Palliative care focuses on whole-patient, goal-directed care, and includes attention to the family and caregivers.
Needed funding: $100,000 per year

6. UCLA Geriatric Day Clinic and Healthy Aging Center: to build a free-standing clinic in a centralized location, serving a broad geographic footprint on the Westside of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Needed funding: to purchase, renovate, or build facility – $15 million -$35 million / annual operational budget: $2.5 million

Education
Most practicing healthcare professionals have received little or no training in geriatrics in medical or other professional schools. With the growing elderly population, there will not be enough geriatrics-trained professionals for all older persons. Funding for educational programs helps bring existing practitioners’ knowledge and skills in geriatrics up to contemporary standards. Medical schools and other professional training programs require additional support, as well, to ensure that every graduating student is competent in this field. In addition, funding is needed to support physicians who will devote their careers to the care of older persons as geriatricians.

1. Fellowship Training in Geriatrics: to provide funding for UCLA Geriatrics Fellowship Program, including stipends, salary and administrative support for physicians who will focus their careers on caring for older persons.
Needed funding: $100,000 per year

2. Sponsored Lectureship: to build upon UCLA’s intensive course in Geriatrics.
Needed funding: $5,000 per year or $100,000 endowment

3. Student Training: to nurture an interest in Geriatrics and aging by sponsoring student research programs and the Geriatrics Interest Group
Needed funding: $50,000 per year

4. Educational Endowment Opportunities: Click here (Link to Endowment Opportunities).

Research
Basic science research stimulates new discoveries and ideas, promotes collaboration across disciplines, and brings important resources to bear on important problems that will lead to better ways to treat age-related diseases and maintain successful aging. The UCLA Division of Geriatrics currently has several research programs underway on such topics as:

• determinants of successful aging
• cumulative effects of wear and tear (allostatic load) on the body
• older women’s health, particularly osteoporosis and menopause
• exercise programs (e.g., yoga, community-based walking)
• health effects of long-standing inflammation
• alcohol use
• cancer
• improvement of the quality of medical care
• decision-making and preferences at the end of life
• medical education

Creation of a UCLA Geriatrics Research Center: to pursue an endowment in order to maintain a large basic science and clinical research program infrastructure including space, staff, and administrative support, since funding to date has been piecemeal and insufficient.
Needed funding: $5 million endowment

For more information or questions regarding the Geriatrics Programmatic “Wish List,” please contact:
David Reuben, M.D. (310) 825-8253
Chief, Division of Geriatrics
Department of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA