Transforming Geriatric Care in the Borderland

In El Paso, TX County, about 15 out of 100 adults age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, placing the region among the top ten counties in the nation for prevalence (First-Ever U.S. County-Level Alzheimer’s Prevalence Estimates | Alz.org, n.d.). Families facing dementia, chronic illness, and long-term care have carried the burden with few bilingual providers and no coordinated system of support. El Paso is one of the largest cities in the United States without an Age-Friendly Health System, leaving Hispanic communities, tribal nations, and veterans especially vulnerable. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is changing that reality.

The Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is co-led by Dr. Emre Umucu, Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship and Director of the Research, Evaluation, and Academic Center on Health Disparities in the College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Guillermina Solis, Associate Professor of Nursing and Project Director. GWEP is a five-year, $5 million initiative funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Under Dr. Solis’s direction, the program has expanded from twelve to forty-four community partners and continues to grow. “Our goal is to ensure that every older adult receives care that is respectful, safe, and supportive by teaching healthcare teams and community health agencies how to provide age-friendly and dementia-friendly services,” Dr. Solis said.

The program reflects the vision of an interdisciplinary team of investigators committed to improving the quality of life for older adults. Dr. Hyejin Jung, Dr. Beatrice Lee, and Dr. Cecilia Fierro join Dr. Umucu and Dr. Solis in building both the workforce and the infrastructure needed to meet the complexity of aging in the Borderland.

Partnerships show how the program is reshaping care across the region. University Medical Center (UMC) is extending its geriatric services and planning a dedicated center. Project Amistad is expanding caregiver support while training its staff using GWEP resources. Texas Tech’s Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is integrating geriatric education into its curriculum, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are welcoming UTEP students into rotations that prepare them to serve older adults in real-world practice. From the Opportunity Center for the Homeless to long-term care providers, the program is building a network that strengthens families across the region.

The program also invests in preparing the next generation of providers. Students from nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiology, public health, speech-language pathology, rehabilitation sciences, and social work are receiving interdisciplinary training through the GWEP program. These experiences ensure that future clinicians enter the workforce ready to care for older adults in ways that are collaborative, culturally responsive, and grounded in the real needs of their communities.

Innovation is also at the forefront. In collaboration with computer science faculty, GWEP is piloting an artificial intelligence tool designed to help providers recognize the early signs of dementia and connect patients with the right resources. This reflects a Whole Health approach that considers not only clinical care but also caregivers' mental health, recognizing that supporting families is central to improving outcomes for older adults.

“Our region needs care that honors lived experience and cultural roots,” Dr. Umucu said. “By empowering providers to meet patients on their terms, both linguistically and culturally, we build trust and strengthen the foundations for healthier aging.”

Through the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, UTEP is addressing a long-standing local need while contributing to a national model. As one of only forty-two awardees across the country and one of only two in Texas, UTEP is demonstrating how a public university can drive systemic change in healthcare, ensuring that older adults are not overlooked but supported with dignity, respect, and care.

Written by David A. Hernández, Director of Research Development, Research & Innovation.

Point of contact: Guillermina Solis, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-C, GNP-C, FAANP, Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, College of Nursing, University of Texas at El Paso, gsolis2@utep.edu

Alternate contact: Emre Umucu, Ph.D., MPH, MBA, LP, Associate Dean for Research & Scholarship and Professor of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, eumucu@utep.edu

References

First-Ever U.S. County-Level Alzheimer’s prevalence estimates | Alz.org. (n.d.). AAIC. https://aaic.alz.org/releases_2023/us-county-level-alzheimers-prevelance-estimates.asp