INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM TRAINING IN GERIATRICS - REACHING OUT TO SMALLAND MEDIUM-SIZE COMMUNITIES

Since 1989, six teams in the state of Michigan have been involved in a team training program designed to promote the development of geriatri c services in small to medium-size communities, The program was enthus iastically received by participants, but after 18 months, only half of the teams had implemented clinical services for older adults. Monitor ing the progress of the teams over 18 months and analyzing the activit ies of two teams revealed that financially stable and supportive spons oring agencies and the community were critical factors in the implemen tation of interdisciplinary clinical services in geriatrics. Future te am training programs trying to promote the development of geriatric se rvices in small to medium-size communities should try to address these issues through community organization interventions.