VA’s Lead Geriatrician to Receive Top Award and Deliver Lecture at Annual Meeting

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that its chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care, Dr. Richard M. Allman, is receiving the Edward Henderson Award and will present the Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecture at the American Geriatrics Society’s (AGS) 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting this week in San Antonio.

The organization is recognizing Allman for his longstanding and valued contributions to geriatric care as a distinguished clinician, educator and researcher.

Allman’s lecture, “Building, Sustaining and Promoting Age-Friendly Health Systems,” will focus on the role of leadership, research, education and quality improvement in developing and maintaining better systems for older adult care. More than 2,500 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, health-care administrators and others are convening at AGS’ annual meeting.

“We value the important contributions Dr. Allman is making to improve the health, well-being and livelihood of our older Veterans,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “The award and lecture underscore his tenacious and forward-looking leadership, advocacy and dedication to patients’ needs, and what families and the community should do to care for Veterans when they are older.”

A board-certified geriatrician, Allman’s career has focused on improving care for older adults at the local, state and national levels. His research has informed these efforts with focus on a multitude of pressing issues, particularly with regard to mobility, cardiovascular health and health disparities among older adults. In his role with VA’s Veterans Health Administration, Allman oversees the policy, planning and programs, and services for geriatrics, palliative care and long-term services.

More than 4.3 million of the almost 9 million Veterans enrolled in VA health care are over age 65. VA offers geriatrics and extended care services in outpatient, hospital, nursing home, home and/or community-based settings. Two-thirds of enrolled Veterans use VA health services, and utilization increases with age for long-term services and supports. The number of enrolled Veterans over age 85, the age group at highest risk for needing help with activities of daily living, is expected to increase 42 percent over the next decade. With this expected growth, VA’s emphasis on improving health, independence and well-being will ensure current and future Veterans will benefit from an age-friendly health system.

For more information about VA’s geriatrics and extended care, visit https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/.