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Editor's NoteMichele Stanley, PT, DPTSeptember is a huge month for theAGPT and GeriNotes community:(1) S eptember 22, 2018. The annual Falls Prevention AwarenessDay (FPAD) raises awareness abouthow to prevent fall-related injuriesamong older adults. alls Prevention Awareness Day NaFtional Council on Aging (NCOA) n/falls-preventionawareness-day/ Take pictures and write up yourown FPAD event to share!(2) S eptember 23-29, 2018: Inspiring Wellness: Active Aging Weekwww.activeagingweek.com(3) C elebrating partnership with 80 international organizations participating in the Global Call to Actionon Fragility Fractures h )30325-5/fulltext We live in a big world with multiple cultures, customs, and peoplebut at least if we are fortunate, weall age. It is appropriate that we takeour place on the team to prevent thefractures associated with poor health(which often means older people)and to demand the best possible carethat current evidence demonstrateswhen one of us does experiencethat fracture. In conjunction withthis initiative, this issue of GeriNotes explores the way that elderly receivecare elsewhere in the world and opportunities for physical therapists tobroaden their cultural horizons andbecome active members of global health teams. Some interestingreading if you are intrigued, jointhe Global Health for Aging Adults(GHAA) SIG – report inside.(4) A nother BIG deal this month: EllenStrunk guides our understanding ofthe HUGE change coming to theskilled nursing facility near you onOctober 1. Will this end or justchange the working physical therapist’s productivity woes (similarchanges also in inpatient rehabilitation facilities and home health agencies – different time tables)? Thisis a good time to think about whatoutcomes measures really mean.(5) L ook for the poster prepared bythe Cognitive and Mental HealthSIG, designed as a handy clinicalreference on delirium –a first forthe GeriNotes publication. Doesyour SIG have a hot button topicthat you would like to highlight foreveryone’s awareness? Contact theeditor for a “how-to.”(6) “ GET LITerature: The Latest Examinations and Interventions forthe Older Adult” GeriNotes proudlyannounces the advent of a regularcolumn by our own Dr. CaroleLewis. GET LIT will feature different patient populations and relevantevidence-based measures for assessment and treatment, presented inan inspiring and thoughtful way.(7) L ast, but not least, get the summaryreport of what happened at theHouse of Delegates this summer –they were busy! Ellen Strunk is ourAcademy delegate and invites questions and comments. Please see thefull report of action on all the billson the AGPT website.By the way, the heavy lifters from AGPTwith the fragility project are: Kate Mangione, PT, PhDmangione@arcadia.edu Sherri Betz, PT, DPTsherri@therapilates.com Greg Hartley, PT, DPTg.hartley@miami.eduReach out to them with thanks andcongratulations.Love a Good Story?Looking for 2-3 members who can create videos to highlight the AGPT.Previous video experience is helpful.Contact Rania Karim: karimr@marshall.edu4GeriNotes, Vol. 25, No. 4 2018

2018 Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy ElectionThose elected will take office at the AGPT Member Meeting in February of 2019 at CSM inWashington, DC. Online voting will begin on October 1, 2018, and continue thru October 31, 2018.Please watch your email and www.geriatricspt.org for more details. Contact karen.curran@geriatricspt.orgto request a paper ballot. Per bylaws, only PTs and PTAs are eligible to vote.TREASURER (VOTE FOR 1)Kate Brewer, PT, MPT, MBAPresident and Owner,Greenfield Rehab AgencyWhat skills andexperience do youbring to this position to assure maintenance of complete and accuratefinancial recordsfor the Academy ofGeriatric Physical Therapy?I am honored to be considered for theposition of Treasurer for the Academy ofGeriatric Physical Therapy for anotherterm. In order for our component tobe effective for the membership weserve, we must be thoughtful and detailed when keeping financial recordsand managing the resources of the organization to allow us to meet our goalsand plan for continued growth. Asthe owner and President of GreenfieldRehabilitation Agency, I am responsiblefor the financial operations and management for over fifty clinic locations thatserve the geriatric population. I havemany years of experience on ensuingaccuracy and appropriate planning toallow an organization to address currentneeds and plan for future growth andexpansion.In addition to my past term as Treasurerfor the Academy, I have served as Treasurer for my State Chapter which hasprovided me with the tools necessary tooperate within APTA’s overarching goalswhile still planning for the unique needsof our component. I would bring valueto the AGPT and their leadership teamthrough my experience to help us conGeriNotes, Vol. 25, No. 4 2018tinue to promote this valuable and vitalpart of the practice of physical therapy.How would you communicate recommendations for Board members toimprove budget planning in each oftheir specific areas of responsibility?The resources of the Academy should beplanned and utilized for activities thatare synchronized to the strategic plan.Any financial outlay should have a transparent link to a goal that the Academyhas identified so the membership canplainly see why the funds are being spentand the outcome that is looked for. Thefinancial support is necessary to ensureactivities are executed, essentially themeans to accomplish the outcome weare looking for.If a board or committee member isstruggling with how to improve howthey budget for their activities, I wouldencourage them to align their plannedactivities to show how they support thestrategic plan and it will fall into place.If it does not, perhaps that activity needsto be re-evaluated.DIRECTOR (Vote for 2)Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPTBoard Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist, Certified Exercise Expert for AgingAdults, Master Trainer, TeamSTEPPSEducation1995 BS/MA inPhysical Therapyfrom Touro College,Dix Hills, NY2007 DPT fromTouro College, BayShore, NYAdjunct Professor, Touro College, BayShore, NYClinical Educator, Catholic HomeCare, Farmingdale, NYPosition/Employer: Physical Therapist, Central Arkansas Veterans HealthCare SystemWhat experiences would you bring tothe position of Director that make youa strong candidate?When I was asked to run for office to bea director in the Academy of GeriatricPhysical Therapy, my first thought was,do I have the skills to successfully servein this role? I answered the call with aresounding, YES! I believe I am a strongcandidate as I have been a physicaltherapist for over 22 years working witholder adults in multiple practice settings. I have served in supervisory rolesalways looking to improve the qualityof care the patients are receiving. I haveserved on the nominations and practicecommittees of the Academy of GeriatricPhysical Therapy for over 8 years andhave served as Chair of Practice foranother component organization of theAmerican Physical Therapy Association.My passion has always been for the betterment of practice our patients receivewhile at the same time advocating forthe clinician providing the care to beproperly valued and respected. I have facilitated and co-authored many practiceresources including toolkits for the carefor incontinence, sleep disorders, painmanagement, and mental health/cognitive disorders.As your director, I strive to advocatefor the older adult and our profession5

to remove barriers to care and promotebest practice. More recently, I have beengetting involved at the policy level toshare the value of physical therapy tothe stakeholders responsible for access tocare. I plan on continuing this work tohelp our patients get access to the bestcare possible.What current or future Academyactivities would you like to advanceas a member of the Board of Directorsand how do you plan on achievingthis?As your director, I would like to see theAcademy partner with other organizations with similar mission and visionstatements to advance ideas to movefrom sick care to well care adding primary prevention for our older membersof society. As the government makescuts to reimbursement for rehabilitationservices across the post-acute care continuum, physical therapists must followthe evidence to new opportunities inprimary disease prevention through thepower of physical activity.Spreading this message couldn’t be easierwith the use of modern day social media. Engaging society through Facebook,Twitter and other applications, are keyideas to disseminate best practice information to clinicians.What is the greatest challenge facingthe geriatric practitioner and how canthe Academy help?I believe the biggest challenge facingphysical therapists working with olderadults is the fact that physical therapistsare professionals that are viewed as amodality such as an order for a medication. It is the fact that PT is ordered,rather than being consulted, which mustchange. For physical therapists to realize the vision to transform society, wemust demonstrate our value to societythrough the quality of care provided andoutcomes made. For this to happen, wemust transform ourselves to root out unwanted variability in practice, utilize thebest available evidence to achieve our patient’s goals in the most efficient mannerpossible. The Academy has the structurein place to move us towards best practicefor the betterment of society.6Susan Wenker, PT, PhDBoard Certified Clinical Specialist inGeriatric Physical Therapy – EmeritusCertified Exercise Expert for Aging AdultsCurrent PositionAssistant Professor(CHS)Department of Family Medicine andCommunity HealthDoctor of

ric Physical Therapy). Engage with us on these platforms to make your expe-rience even better! The AGPT wants to hear from you! We want to help you grow, learn, engage, volunteer, and collaborate to be the best PT or PTA your patients/clients and our society deserve! #bettertogether,