Public Invited to June 13 Dedication of Oaklawn Center On Aging Caregiver Training Center
| June 4, 2018 | The Oaklawn Center on Aging, part of the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will dedicate and rename its care house June 13 as the Darrell Meyer Care House.
The public is invited to the dedication, which will be from 2 – 4 p.m. at 101 McGowan Court in Hot Springs. The center also will unveil its new website, OaklawnCenteronAging.com. The site will provide information about free community events, educational programs, and tutorial videos developed by the Oaklawn Center on Aging.
“We are excited for the opportunity to rename our care house in honor of Darrell Meyer, former chairman of the Oaklawn Foundation,” said Kathy Packard, the center’s director of education. “Our older community members are able to lead safer, healthier lives as a result of his commitment to education. It is an honor to play a small role in upholding his legacy.”
Through the training provided at the center, a student can become a Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.) to care for older adults.
“We’re on the verge of seeing a significant increase in our aging population,” Packard said. “The training programs available at the Darrell Meyer Care House will not only help to provide a better environment for older adults, but offer invaluable employment opportunities to those entering the workforce.”
An estimated 120 students earn C.N.A. certifications through the program each year. Classes are taught by UAMS faculty, meet state and federal guidelines, and are available in a variety of different tracks including: certified nursing assistant, in-home assistant, and Alzheimer’s and dementia training.
“The importance of geriatric care has increased as the over-65 population continues to grow, and not all of these individuals are able to leave their homes to attend our information sessions,” Packard said. “Our new online presence will allow home-bound caregivers and adults the opportunity to participate in low-impact exercise, gather critical information about safety and nutrition, in addition to general wellness and lifestyle planning. We’re thrilled to make this resource available to the public.”
The Oaklawn Center on Aging is dedicated to improving the lives of older adults in the area and works with other agencies committed to providing quality care and assistance for older adults and their families. It is a partnership of UAMS and the Oaklawn Foundation.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; northwest Arkansas regional campus; statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Myeloma Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and Translational Research Institute. It is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 2,834 students, 822 medical residents and six dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses throughout the state, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.