What's New at CBH
“We’ve Come a Long Way in 11 Years”
In 2012, the Riverside Health System merged the Center for
Excellence in Aging and Geriatric Health (CEAGH) into the Lifelong
Health and Aging Related Services division to allow for CEAGH's
mission to be applied at even greater levels. Now known as the
Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health, CEALH
continues its non-profit work to fulfill its mission to improve the
quality of life for older adults by integrating academic, clinical,
and health services research with the capabilities of local service
providers to develop and implement innovative community-based and
health care system initiatives that can be replicated and sustained
by the Riverside Health System. CEALH places special focus on
applied research for operationally sustainable programming to meet
the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community, a
critical element of population health management. CEALH's ability
to bring community partners together with the common goal of
improving health care for older adults is critical as the baby-boom
age wave continues to grow and accompanying public policy is put in
place to improve the nation's approach to health care.
CEALH has recently revised a new Mission and Vision
Statement:
Mission & Vision
Mission: To integrate interdisciplinary aging research with
clinical capabilities to develop innovative programming that can be
applied and sustained by Riverside Health System, the community,
and other providers of aging-related services to improve care and
better meet the needs of a growing older adult population.
Vision: To lead the development of model communities that will
promote the well-being and independence of people as they age
through translational research and widespread application.
The Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health
currently operates around four strategic activities that enable it
to research and develop programming targeting aging-related issues
and population health management for those with serious and
advanced illness. These activities are:
- Clinical Research
- Health Services Research and Development
- Services Promoting Wellness and Independence
- Community Outreach and Engagement
Clinical Research
CEALH has an active engagement in the selection and completion of
clinical trials (i.e. drug trials) that support its mission. Led by
the Clinical Research Director and supported by a staff of doctors
and clinical research coordinators, the clinical research division
actively engages in trials focused on meeting the needs of the
community and increasing the quality of patient care.
Health Services Research and Development
The Health Services Research and Development Department has been
in existence since the inception of the organization. Also known as
the "Aging Research Department", it was a key component in the
founding and development of CEALH because of its focus on serving
older adults through applied research and collaboration with
service providers, health systems, and academic institutions. This
department adds significant value through its ability to generate
revenue in the form of grant funding and private contracts with
service providers, through addressing community needs (e.g.,
caregiver support), and through examining programs and protocols
that can be translated into enhanced service delivery and improved
health outcomes for residents of the Peninsula and
Williamsburg.
Services Promoting Wellness and
Independence
CEALH currently provides two services that are targeted at
increasing the wellness of older adults and enabling their
independence. These programs are:
Driver Rehabilitation Clinic: CEALH offers one of the most
comprehensive driver rehabilitation clinics in Hampton Roads. Led
by a licensed Occupational Therapist, who is dually credentialed as
a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist and a DMV-Licensed
Commercial Driving Instructor, the clinic offers driving
assessments and retraining in order to help older adults make good
decision about their driving abilities. The service helps to ease
the transportation challenge among older adults, serves as a
recognized expert in the field, and helps reduce the dangers of
having medically compromised drivers on the road.
Geriatric Assessment Clinic
CEALH offers comprehensive, interdisciplinary evaluations to
older adults who are concerned about their ability to remain
independent or are suffering from common geriatric syndromes like
dementia, memory loss, falls, frailty, etc. The assessment is
provided by a team comprising an MD/DO, Neuropsychologist,
Registered Nurse, Social Worker, and Physical Therapist. The
4-hour, two-day assessment provides results that help physicians to
make recommendations intended to enable their older patients to
remain healthy and independent. This service also provides valuable
information to caregivers as they struggle to provide necessary
care for a parent or loved one.
Community Relations
The Community Relations team at CEALH works to foster
relationships with organizations, foundations, and the general
population in order to expand upon the mission of CEALH. The
Director of Community Relations is now involved in efforts to form
regional partnerships for the provision of Chronic Disease
Self-Management Programs and Effective care transitions from acute
care settings.
Where We Have Been
CEALH was originally called The Center for Excellence in Aging and
Geriatric Health (CEAGH) and was incorporated in 2002 under the
guidance of The Crossroads Group. This group was a collaboration
between community and government organizations that had identified
a gap in the conversion of research into application for the older
adult population. A number of organizations conducted aging-related
research and health systems across the country focused on providing
geriatric and palliative care with a limited level of clinical or
health services research, but a hybrid of the two models was rare.
The Crossroads Group solicited like-minded institutions in the
Williamsburg area to combine their resources in the development of
a center that would foster both academic and clinical research in a
way that would allow for direct application to the older adult
population. This founding group included: The Crossroads Group, The
College of William & Mary, Eastern State Hospital, Eastern
Virginia Medical School, the Peninsula Agency on Aging, the
Riverside Health System, Sentara Healthcare, and Virginia
Commonwealth University Medical Center.
In 2007, the Riverside Health System established an endowment at
CEAGH allowing for the Center's financial stability in challenging
economic times. Riverside then began to manage the Center's
payroll, hiring, accounts, and related administrative
support.
For more information about CEALH and our history visit us online
at http://www.excellenceinaging.org
Mr. Jackson has served as Executive Director of the
Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health since
2009.Previously Mr. Jackson served as Geriatric Services Manager
for the Hampton Newport News Community Services Board.
He serves on the Leadership Council for the Peninsula
Alzheimer's Association and on the Advisory Board for the Peninsula
Agency on Aging. In August 2011 Mr. Jackson was appointed by the
Southeastern Virginia Alzheimer's Association to serve as
ambassador to Congressman Rob Wittman. Mr. Jackson also serves as
the Vice-Chair for the Senior Services Coalition.
Additionally, he serves on the Geriatric Mental Health
Planning Partnership, a state wide advocacy group that seeks
solutions to the issues of access to treatment for older adults for
mental health and substance use disorders.
Mr. Jackson holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of
Richmond and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Old
Dominion University. He resides in Williamsburg with his wife Dr.
Donna Haygood-Jackson, the Senior Assistant Dean of Students at the
College of William and Mary.