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Abstract
Public Health is defined as “the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed obesity as one of the top ten public health concerns facing communities today. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of adults are considered obese or morbidly obese. Out of that one-third, approximately 41% are adults aged 60 or older who will require at least one nursing home level of care stay in their lifetime. The purpose of this project was to develop a quality improvement educational program aimed at improving knowledge regarding rehabilitative management and care of bariatric clients targeted to social service staff employed in skilled nursing facilities. The goal was to increase awareness of need, knowledge of strategies, safety, and cost savings for the facility. This project focused on social service professionals who are members of the Rhode Island Leading Age Social Work Group. The educational intervention was comprised of a presurvey, an educational seminar, a postsurvey, and an evaluation of the program during regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Six social work professionals who work in long term care facilities participated in the program.