AIM Nursing Home Consortium

Nursing homes participating in the AIM consortium will have the option to become a clinical site location for the USI Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy Assistant, and/or Administrator-in-Training programs.

1. BSN: Host Bachelor of Science in Nursing students for clinical rotations to provide hands-on experience in geriatric care. More about USI Nursing here. Learn about requirements and limitations here.
2. OT: Host Occupational Therapy students to support their clinical training in age- and dementia-friendly practices. More about the USI OTD program here. Learn about requirements and limitations here.
3. OTA: Host Occupational Therapy Assistant students for practical training in enhancing mobility and daily living skills for older adults. More about the USI OTA program here. Learn about requirements and limitations here.
4. AIT: Host Administrator-in-Training students to develop leadership skills in managing age- and dementia-friendly nursing home environments. More about the USI AIT program from their website by clicking undergraduate or graduate. Learn more about requirements and limitations here.

If you would like to participate in one of our opt-in initiatives, please complete the survey on the right side of the webpage.

Some opt-in initiatives will have participation limitations based on funding and capacity.

Nursing homes participating in the AIM consortium will have the option to participate in the following evidence-based programs:

1. Coming soon! Age- and Dementia-Friendly Information Session: USI will provide nursing homes with essential knowledge on creating supportive environments for older adults, including those living with dementia, from a subject matter expert (SME) on your topic of choice based on our developed curriculum. We look forward to announcing the curricula that are ready at future AIM meetings.
2. Alzheimer’s Association Project ECHO® Educational Series: Engage staff in specialized training sessions to improve dementia care practices.

There are 2 upcoming Project ECHO education series being hosted by the Alzheimer's Association that will start in October. Spots are limited and filling up quickly!

1. 1. Alzheimer's and Dementia Care ECHO Program for Care Navigation
      Who can be involved: This program is open to individual care navigators nationwide,
      including those at GUIDE and non-GUIDE sites. Ideal participants include Social Workers,
      Community Health Workers, Nurses, Behavioral Health, Case Managers, Nurse
      Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Healthcare Administrators, Nutritionists, Physical
      Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, and Nurse Managers.
   2. Alzheimer's and Dementia Care ECHO Program for Primary Care
      Who can be involved: This opportunity is specifically catered to care teams in primary care,
      family medicine, and internal medicine. Geriatric and other specialty clinics are welcome on a
      case-by-case basis.

There are 2 upcoming Project ECHO education series being hosted by the Alzheimer's Association that will start in January. We wanted to share these resources with you, as they are free; however, recruitment for these programs begins in September.

1. 1. Alzheimer's and Dementia Care ECHO Program for Professional Care Providers in Nursing Homes
      Who can be involved: This program is open to professional care provider teams for people
      living with Alzheimer's and other dementia in Nursing Homes. Ideal participants include
      Nursing Home Administrators, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Social Workers, Activity
      Coordinators, and Resident Care Coordinators.
   2. Alzheimer's and Dementia Care ECHO Program for Professional Care Providers in Assisted Living
      Who can be involved: This program is open to professional care provider teams for people
      living with Alzheimer's and other dementia in Assisted Living or Lifeplan Communities. Ideal
      participants include Nursing Home Administrators, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Social
      Workers, Activity Coordinators, and Resident Care Coordinators.

1. Alzheimer’s Association essentiALZ® Staff Training and Certification: Certify staff in essential Alzheimer’s care techniques to enhance their caregiving skills. Learn more about essentiALZ® staff training and certification here.
2. A Matter of Balance Coach Training: Become a certified A Matter of Balance coach so you can help older adults learn practical strategies to manage falls and reduce the fear of falling. Many older adults experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. A Matter of Balance (MOB) is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. More information about A Matter of Balance here. The most recent MOB coach training took place August 26, 2025, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET at Generations Area 13 Agency on Aging and Disability. More trainings to come in Spring 2026.
   
3. *Offered August 2025 Circle of Friends® Facilitator Training: Prepare staff to lead programs aimed at reducing loneliness and fostering social connections among residents. More information about Circle of Friends® here. More information about the upcoming Circle of Friends facilitator training and MAIA Pre-Conference here.
4. Dementia Live® Simulation: Certified USI Dementia Live® coaches deliver immersive dementia training experiences on-site or at USI that enhance empathy and understanding. More information about Dementia Live® here. Note: Dementia Live simulation location must be within 30 minutes of USI.
5. *Offered May 2025: Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care® Trainer Certification: The University of Southern Indiana’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) hosted a free two-day Positive Approach to Care® (PAC) Trainer Certification for those providing staff education in nursing homes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 13-14 on the USI campus. Aftercompleting pre-work, the 2-day workshop, and post-work, participants were certified as independent PAC Trainers.
6. Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care® Trainer in-service: USI has staff that are Positive Approach to Care® (PAC) Certified Trainers. They can come on-site and provide a PAC training session for staff to know how to better care for older adults, especially those living with dementia. More information about PAC here.
7. Administrator-in-Training Preceptor Training: Online training scheduled for January 21, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern Time. In as little as 8-hours, you could complete an Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) board-approved preceptor educational program. If you are a Health Facility Administrator, this state approved course fulfills your required educational hours for preceptor eligibility. You receive 8 CEUs for attending. The training is very interactive even though it is virtual. It's not just a lecture! Note: This training is required by the state for nursing homes to precept AITs, but residential facilities do not need to undergo this training in order to precept AITs.

If you would like to participate in one of our opt-in initiatives, please complete the survey on the right side of the webpage.

Some opt-in initiatives will have participation limitations based on funding and capacity.

Nursing homes participating in the AIM consortium will have the option to host the following evidence-based programs:

1. A Matter of Balance Class: Offer classes to residents focused on improving balance and preventing falls. More information about A Matter of Balance here.
   
   There are upcoming MOB classes for older adults: FREE classes, but spots are limited! MOB classes are offered weekly at various locations. You can potentially become one of those locations by expressing interest and meeting the conditions.

Please note: The USI GWEP is geographically limited to serving 12 Indiana Counties and 3 Kentucky counties for MOB classes for older adults. The counties include the following for Indiana: Greene, Knox, Daviess, Martin, Pike, Dubois, Gibson, Posey, Perry, Spencer, Warrick, Vanderburgh. The counties include the following for Kentucky: Union, Henderson, Webster. However, if you would like to become a MOB coach, you can be from any region, as long as you travel to the training yourself. Locally, training is hosted at Generations: Area 13 Agency on Aging and Disability in Vincennes, IN. The USI GWEP is happy to pay for the MOB coach training but is unable to pay for travel to the training. This training is another opt-in initiative provided through the USI GWEP AIM Nursing Home Consortium.

1. Coming soon! Circle of Friends® Class: Facilitate social engagement classes to help residents build meaningful connections and reduce loneliness. More information about Circle of Friends® here. We are currently in the pilot phase of this program. At this time, it is not yet available as an opt-in initiative.
2. Coming soon! Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Homes: Implement AI technologies to enhance resident care and operational efficiency. If nursing home staff are unavailable to undergo facilitator training but want a Circle of Friends program for their residents, efforts will be made to arrange a class with our currently certified coaches if requested as such. However, there are geographic and capacity limitations. We are currently in the pilot phase of this program. At this time, it is not yet available as an opt-in initiative.

If you would like to participate in one of our opt-in initiatives, please complete the survey on the right side of the webpage.

Some opt-in initiatives will have participation limitations based on funding and capacity.

Coming soon!

1. Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Level 1 or Level 2 Age-Friendly Health System Recognition: USI will support nursing homes in achieving recognition for implementing age-friendly health system practices. More information about IHI Age-Friendly recognition here.

Listed below are some excellent resources provided by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement:

• Nursing Home Basics: The Benefits of Age-Friendly Care for Residents and Staff
• Age-Friendly Health Systems: Guide to Care of Older Adults in Nursing Homes
• Age-Friendly Health Systems: A Workbook for Nursing Home Teams

If you would like to participate in one of our opt-in initiatives, please complete the survey on the right side of the webpage.

Some opt-in initiatives will have participation limitations based on funding and capacity.

Coming soon!

1. CNA Pre-Apprenticeship Program: Provide foundational training for individuals preparing to enter the Certified Nursing Assistant workforce.
2. CNA Apprenticeship Program: Offer structured apprenticeship opportunities for CNAs to gain practical experience and advance their careers.

Some opt-in initiatives will have participation limitations based on funding and capacity.