Improving a system of care for elderly persons in rural areas

This article describes a community initiative to improve the care of elders in largely rural areas. An organization development framework guided pilot projects in two communities, with support from a regional geriatric program. Two interdisciplinary teams, representing primary service agencies in the communities, have been trained to serve as local resources in geriatric assessment and intervention. Through the resource teams, the communities are developing a more integrated and coordinated approach to care for the elderly population. The process has yielded valuable insights into the implementation of system change.