BU’s Center for Aging & Disability Education & Research Wins National Award for Innovative Training Program

The Boston University Center for Aging & Disability Education & Research (CADER) has been selected by Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging as a winner of the Promising Practices Award, which highlights organizations that are moving away from conventional practices by developing and implementing new and innovative approaches in aging well or long-term care and senior living communities. CADER was chosen as a winner based on their training program for professionals who work with older adults. The training teaches people to recognize and respond to older individuals with behavioral health concerns—an area often unaddressed in aging services.

“The Promising Practices Award honors CADER for their successful training that fills a need for workers in aging service,” said Cate O’Brien, AVP, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging. “This program—and programs like it—have the potential to significantly impact older adults with behavioral or mental health challenges.”

To date, CADER has trained 100 workers in 56 Massachusetts Councils on Aging (COAs), and their program is used by over 700 Area Agencies on Aging staff across the country as well as clergy members in Massachusetts. Program evaluations show statistically significant improvements in all competencies, including a 235% increase in the competency “Identify standardized screening and assessment tools that are appropriate for use with older adults.” 

“One of the greatest barriers to the provision of mental health services is the lack of a sufficiently trained workforce,” points out Bronwyn Keefe, Research Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Social Work and Director at CADER.

A full complimentary report on the 2017 Promising Practices winners and honorable mentions, Innovation at Work 2017 is available for download here.

CADER has been a leader in online training since 2002 by leveraging the resources of one of the nation’s leading research universities with the latest in online learning technology. Over 20,000 workers and more than 450 agencies and organizations around the country have participated in CADER programs. More information can be found on the CADER website, or contact us at 617-358-2626 or email cader@bu.edu. 

Share this content