MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Before Rebecca Hopwood, 76, moved back to her hometown of Hopwood, Pennsylvania, from California, she made a call to WVU Medicine Geriatrics. As a former patient, Hopwood was eager to have access to geriatric care again.

“Having a quality geriatric service has been very important toward maintaining my health,” she said, noting that without the team at WVU Medicine, “I feel certain my health would not be as good as it is.”

About 18 percent of the United States population is over the age of 65, with the number expected to increase to 22 percent by 2040, as noted by America’s Health Rankings. West Virginia ranks as the fourth oldest state in the country with 21.5 percent of its population age 65 or older.

Even though the population is aging, the number of geriatricians

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