In Our Community
Department of Geriatrics Community Service
College of Medicine
The Department of Geriatrics collaborates with the Division for Student Affairs to engage medical students in providing community services to senior independent living facilities in the Tallahassee area. Students work together to provide patient education on the topic of the month. Presentation formats may include a slide show, Jeopardy game, skits, etc. Presentations are 15-20 minutes followed by a question and answer period. Examples of presentation topics include: gait assessment (Get up and Go), vision screening, fall prevention, Osteoporosis, and stroke.
Department of Geriatrics Intergenerational Picnic
College of Medicine
The student Geriatrics Interest Group (GIG) hosts an annual fall barbecue. This event is planned by about 10 students with support from 6 geriatrics department faculty and staff. It is attended by 80-100 first and second year students and 50-60 older adults. Senior attendees include residents from a low income independent living facility and the senior mentors program. Admission is free to older adults.
Activities include intergenerational dining, games, and prizes for older adults. Students are offered an opportunity to submit a reflection paper describing insights gained from interacting with a senior person engaged in recreational activities. The reflection addresses what skills (psychological, social and physical abilities) relating to successful aging were observed and what student preconceived notions or misconceptions about older adults were identified.
African-American Alzheimer's Caregiver Training and Support Project
College of Medicine
African-American Alzheimer's Caregiver Training and Support Project (ACTS2) offers free skills-building and support services to caregivers of loved ones with dementia and other interested parties. Our program of services includes: (1) telephone-based, faith-integrated, group skills building and support for distressed African-American caregivers of older adults with dementia residing in Florida, (2) telephone-based, problem-solving consultations to all dementia caregivers across the U.S., (3) telephone-based, nationwide referral to dementia care resources for all interested individuals across the U.S., and (4) dementia awareness training through social media and in-person presentations across Florida and the U.S.
Center for Accessibility and Safety for an Aging Population
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
The Center for Accessibility and Safety for an Aging Population (ASAP Center) is a multidisciplinary collaboration organized to conduct research in the primary area of transportation engineering, as well as performing educational and outreach programs. The center aims to provide safe and accessible transportation to the aging population, with support by a strong research team from various disciplines including civil engineering, urban planning, geography, psychology, and health care management. Current research projects include safety investigation of older drivers and pedestrians at roundabouts, multi-modal emergency transportation operations with a focus on an aging population and improving cutaway bus safety for older passengers.
Claude Pepper Elder Law Clinic
College of Law
The Claude Pepper Elder Law Clinic is a holistic, interdisciplinary clinic focused on boosting the wellbeing and resilience of low-income older adults through legal advocacy and community education. Students enrolled in the clinic learn the basics of elder law while also working directly on cases and policy issues.
Dementia Outreach Expansion and Supportive Care Worker Training through Statewide Partnerships 2024 – 2029
College of Medicine
This project incorporates formal collaborative partnerships between North and Central Florida Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Partnership (NCF-GWEP) and multiple state agencies’ initiatives towards expanding dementia training and outreach. Activities include dementia sensitivity training for transportation providers, rural-focused dementia-friendly community planning, family care partner education and outreach, and healthcare professional training opportunities.
FSU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic
College of Nursing
The nation’s first college-based, nurse practitioner-led lifestyle medicine clinic focused on addressing chronic conditions using evidence-based, whole-person care. Our FSU College of Nursing NP faculty are now accepting new patients for services including Lifestyle Medicine, Primary Care and Psychiatric Mental Health.
FSU REACH
College of Medicine
REACH offers educational resources on aging-related healthcare and social topics for older adults, their care partners, community lay persons, public service professionals, and healthcare professionals and trainees. We also build linkages between community-based programs and organizations to help older adults and their care partners find and receive the care they desire. REACH is part of the Department of Geriatrics’ Health Resources and Services Administration Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Partnership grant.
FSU SeniorHealth™
College of Medicine
FSU SeniorHealth™ provides primary care and geriatric consultations to individuals 65 and over in the Tallahassee area. Recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System Participant by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, FSU SeniorHealth™ providers aim to provide care consistent with the 4 Ms Framework: encompassing What Matters most, Medication review, and goal setting in the areas of Mentation and Mobility to optimize our patients’ health and well-being.
FSU Speech and Hearing Clinic
College of Communication and Information
The FSU Speech & Hearing Clinic (L.L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic) provides services for individuals with communication disorders of all ages. We are dedicated to providing evidence-based assessment and treatment to residents of Tallahassee and the surrounding area. Speech, language, and hearing assessment and treatment services are available for children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Services are available to anyone in the community who contacts the Clinic, regardless of affiliation with Florida State. Services are provided based on scheduling availability, the needs of the client, and the training needs of the program.
Safe Mobility for Life
College of Medicine, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
The Safe Mobility for Life Coalition’s mission is to implement a strategic action plan to eliminate fatalities and reduce serious injuries while increasing the safety, access, and mobility for Florida’s aging road users. FSU College of Medicine and FSU Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy are active members of this coalition. We focus on educating older adults and stakeholders on how to achieve safe mobility for life, with a focus on developing a personal transportation plan.
Arts in Medicine
College of Medicine
Arts in Medicine strives to utilize dance, music, and the visual arts to enhance the well-being of specific patient populations in Tallahassee. Volunteer opportunities are available to graduate students associated with the Florida State University. Along with supporting the Tallahassee community, AIM aspires to educate future healthcare professionals and leaders on the power of arts in clinical practice. Aging-related programs include: Dance in Medicine, which uses dance as a tool to enhance the wellbeing of patients with Parkinson’s in the community; Music in Medicine, which uses research-based methods to reduce anxiety in people of all ages and improve memory in older adults; and Visual Arts in Medicine, which provides research-based methods that promote creativity, strengthen social connections, and enhance wellbeing.
Department of Geriatrics Community Service
College of Medicine
The Department of Geriatrics collaborates with the Division for Student Affairs to engage medical students in providing community services to senior independent living facilities in the Tallahassee area. Students work together to provide patient education on the topic of the month. Presentation formats may include a slide show, Jeopardy game, skits, etc. Presentations are 15-20 minutes followed by a question and answer period. Examples of presentation topics include: gait assessment (Get up and Go), vision screening, fall prevention, Osteoporosis, and stroke.
Department of Geriatrics Intergenerational Picnic
College of Medicine
The student Geriatrics Interest Group (GIG) hosts an annual fall barbecue. This event is planned by about 10 students with support from 6 geriatrics department faculty and staff. It is attended by 80-100 first and second year students and 50-60 older adults. Senior attendees include residents from a low income independent living facility and the senior mentors program. Admission is free to older adults.
Activities include intergenerational dining, games, and prizes for older adults. Students are offered an opportunity to submit a reflection paper describing insights gained from interacting with a senior person engaged in recreational activities. The reflection addresses what skills (psychological, social and physical abilities) relating to successful aging were observed and what student preconceived notions or misconceptions about older adults were identified.
Opening Minds through Art
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people living with dementia. OMA is designed to provide opportunities for creative self-expression and social engagement for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. OMA’s mission is to “Build bridges across age and cognitive barriers through art.” The local OMA program in Tallahassee is offered by Claude Pepper Center.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
OLLI at FSU is a scholarly and exciting program of classes targeted to mature adults who want to learn in a stress-free environment where there are no tests and no required homework: It's learning for the fun of learning! No college required!!
OLLI – short for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – is a network of programs that partner with universities like FSU. We offer a world of discovery for older adults who share interest in a variety of subjects, from composers to current events, religion to roman art, maps to myths – and more! Classes are held during three 6-week semesters, covering Fall, Spring and Summer. OLLI classes meet on campus at the Claude Pepper Center and at several offsite locales (museums, nurseries, historic sites, etc.), as well as a number of senior living facilities. Selected classes are also offered on Zoom or in hybrid form.
Tallahassee Senior Choir (Senior Singers)
College of Music
The Tallahassee Senior Choir is a community program in partnership with Tallahassee Senior Center. It is directed and conducted by Dr. Kimberly VanWeelden. Graduate Music Therapy students also assist and lead the choir. No audition required. The Senior Singers perform 13-15 concerts per academic year in the community. Performances are held at local nursing homes, adult day cares, assisted livings, memory cares, and retirement communities. The ensemble also performs two times per year at Tallahassee Senior Center.
Be Prepared for Emergent Situations Involving Persons with Dementia
College of Medicine
People living with dementia interact with the world differently and can experience memory loss, mood swings, and confusion. In emergency situations, how first responders and care partners interact with them can help de-escalate an already stressful situation. These training videos were created for first responders, care partners, and other professionals to show how to use de-escalation and communication strategies with persons living with dementia. They also share tips and resources to reduce recurring incidents.
Claude Pepper Center - Infographics
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Infographics developed by Claude Pepper Center include the following: Resources for Caregivers; Benefits of Social Media for Older Adults; Increasing your Longevity; Nutrition, Exercise, & Successful Aging; Older Adult-Friendly Volunteer Opportunities; Benefits of Companion Pets, Healthy Aging; and Maintain Lean Body Mass.
Claude Pepper Center - Translational Data Platform
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Translational Data Platform (TDP) offers interactive maps and dashboards that integrate data related to behavior, occupation, health, and economy in the State of Florida. These tools allow users to compare and contrast variables from Florida populations with other regions across the United States. The main focus of our work is age and aging, and how they interact with health and policy. Our maps and dashboards are constantly updated with the latest public data from authoritative sources, including our own peer-reviewed research.
Claude Pepper Elder Law Clinic - Tip Sheets
College of Law
The tip sheets by the Claude Pepper Elder Law Clinic are focused on boosting the wellbeing and resilience of low-income older adults. Students enrolled in the Clinic learn the basics of elder law while also working directly on cases and policy issues. Tip sheets include the following: Elder Abuse; Nursing Home Contracts; Voting Rights; Guardianship in Florida; Nursing Home Evictions, and Common Frauds and Scams. The webpage also offers information and forms on Advance Directives, Living Wills, and Health Care Surrogate Designation.
Flip the Script on Pain
College of Medicine
Flip the Script aims to empower people, especially older adults, to speak up about pain. By learning more about pain and how to manage it, patients and families can stay hopeful and feel confident in working with their health care team to develop a plan for the best relief. Our downloadable resources will help you learn more about pain and safe pain management options as well as spark new ideas for questions to ask your health care provider.
FSU REACH - 4Ms Printable Resources
College of Medicine
Our resources follow the 4Ms of Age-Friendly Care: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. 4Ms is a framework for healthcare systems, like hospitals and clinics, and community services organizations to provide care that is safe, reliable, and effective. Check out our resources for helpful information on health topics like preventing falls, medication safety, and programs that may be available in your area.
FSU REACH - Utilizing and Promoting Social Engagement for Loneliness in Older Adults
College of Medicine
The Tallahassee Senior Center’s award winning UPSLIDE Program teamed up with REACH to create a Facilitator Guide for their Friends Connection Groups. The Friends Connection groups can be offered virtually or in-person to provide meaningful social interaction, information sharing, and have been found to increase participant’s quality of life. This ready-made guide can help senior centers, housing communities, church or faith-based organizations looking to decrease loneliness and social isolation among their participants.