Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation

Area Geriatric Education Scholars (AGES) Internship Program Update

January 2008

UPHEC Awarded Challenge Matching Grant by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation awarded UPHEC funding to support the Summer 2007 and Summer 2008 AGES programs.  The Foundation granted $25,000 in each of the two years as challenge funds to match dollar-for-dollar funds raised by UPHEC locally in the UP to support the AGES program - - a total of $50,000.  Additional funding is being raised from area community foundations, corporations, associations and individuals to meet this goal and support local students placed in AGES internships.

AGES Panel Presented at UP Nonprofit Conference

The AGES program was recently promoted at the Upper Peninsula Nonprofit Conference on "Keys to Collaboration" at Northern Michigan University in Marquette on October 19.  A panel presentation was presented about activities conducted and partnerships built around the UP over the past two summers by AGES Project Director Carolyn Weissbach and AGES partners from Northern Michigan University's Seaborg Center (Susan Nazarko) and PortagePointe long-term care facility in Hancock (Julie Beck) while information about this past summer’s program was exhibited.  

AGES Project Efforts Recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

AGES Project Director Carolyn Weissbach was presented with an honorable mention award from the Claude Pepper Awards Program sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Care Network based on her work with the AGES program. She was one of 42 Michiganders, including two other UP residents, who received this recognition for helping improve the lives of the State's elderly population on September 14 at the BCBS of Michigan Senior Advisory Council's 17th annual conference in Mt. Pleasant.  Two other senior Michigan residents were presented with the Claude Pepper Award for their contributions in advocating and working on behalf of seniors.

Summer 2008 AGES Program Dates Announced

UPHEC is already busy making plans for next year’s AGES program.  Long-term care placement sites are being cultivated, program materials are being developed and funds are being raise to support Summer 2008 AGES interns.

Dates of interest for the Summer 2008 AGES program are:

1. March 3, 2008 – Summer 2008 AGES Internship Applications Released
2. May 2, 2008 – Application Deadline
3. May 2 – May 23, 2008 – Applications Reviewed and Interviews Conducted
4. May 28, 2008 – Applicants Notified of Acceptance Decisions
5. June 11-13, 2008 – AGES Pre-Internship Orientation in Marquette
6. June 23 – August 8, 2008 – Summer 2008 AGES Internships

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

AGES Summer 2007 Offering a Success

The Summer 2007 AGES offering was very successful.  UPHEC oriented, trained and placed 38 UP high school juniors and seniors at 13 public and private long-term care sites in students’ home communities throughout the region.  Several intern-alums have started their pre-med, nursing, physical therapy and physician assistant studies this fall.

AGES participants assisted in providing activities and basic care, offered companionship for elderly residents and job shadowed health professionals during their internships.  Participating long-term care sites included:

1. Alger County
   - TenderCare – Munising

1. Baraga County
   - Bayside Village – L’Anse

1. Chippewa County
   - War Memorial Hospital Long-Term Care Facility – Sault Ste. Marie

1. Delta/Dickinson/Menominee Counties
   - Pinecrest Medical Care Facility – Powers

1. Houghton/Keweenaw Counties
   - Houghton County Medical Care Facility – Hancock
   - PortagePointe – Hancock

1. Iron County
   - Iron County Medical Care Facility – Crystal Falls

1. Luce County
   - Helen Newberry Joy Long Term Care Facility – Newberry

1. Marquette County
   - Eastwood - Negaunee
   - Jacobetti Home – Marquette
   - Marquette County Medical Care Facility - Ishpeming
   - Mather - Ishpeming
   - Norlite – Marquette

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