Gerontology Commons^™

Take A Closer Look: Combating Ageism Through The Use Of Children's Literature, Janice Buehrer

Honors Projects

This project was completed as my final honors project for Bowling Green State University in the spring of 2024. I wrote and illustrated the children's book, "Take a Closer Look," designed for kindergarten through second-grade children. The goal of the book is to be used as a value-socialization device to instill positive perspectives on aging within younger generations. The book itself is meant to be an intergenerational tool as adults read the book about older adults to children, reaching the entire lifespan.

The Relationship Between Circadian Rhythms And Neurodegenerative Disease, Christopher Simpson

Honors Projects

Neurodegenerative disease is a pervasive and insidious disease affecting a large proportion of the elderly population. Leading to the degeneration of neural tissue throughout the nervous system, it is a slow and progressive disorder. Because of its nature, it is possible that it has a connection to circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are the endogenous approximately 24-hour rhythms of the body commonly associated with the sleep-wake cycle, but they account for much more. This review aims to ascertain the relationship between the two by covering several facets of research pursued in the past five years. Beginning with establishing a basic understanding …

Activities In A Long-Term Care Facility Amidst A Global Pandemic, Kayla Valente

Honors Projects

This paper focuses on the lives of individuals in Wood Haven Health Care in Bowling Green, Ohio during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Living in a long-term care facility can be difficult any time, but since the lockdown began life has been especially challenging for the individuals in nursing facilities. I worked directly with the residents at Wood Haven during my internship with the activities department. With this position, I was tasked with creating fun and engaging activities that also kept residents safe. I will be discussing different research about activities in long-term care facilities, specifics about activities during the COVID-19 …

Technology And The Marginalization Of Older Adults: How Politeness Theory And Stereotype Embodiment Interact In Older Adults' Technology Use, Keefe Watson

Honors Projects

Marginalization of older adults is a long-time and pervasive fact of society. Technology use can make older adults feel less marginalized by connecting them socially, such as with communication technologies. However, older adults on average are less technology literate than younger adults; this can add to feelings of marginalization. In this study, I analyzed structured open-ended interviews and found unexpected instances of marginalization towards older adults related to technology; for example, older adults are most likely to withstand marginalized comments from their own adult children and family members. I applied politeness theory and the stereotype embodiment model to the coded …

Unmarried Midlife Adults And Economic Well-Being, Katie Finch

Honors Projects

Much research has been conducted on how married older adults fare in comparison to unmarried older adults. Since the amount of unmarried older adults is increasing, I found it important to see how these unmarried groups (early divorcees, gray divorcees, never-marrieds, and widoweds) stacked up against each other in terms of economic well-being. Using the 2012 Health and Retirement Study, I looked at how demographic factors and economic well-being indicators were correlated to another. The demographic factors examined included gender, marital status, race, and educational attainment. Income, poverty level, and assets were used to assess economic well-being. Similar to previous …

Preserving Personhood In Individuals With Cognitive Impairment: A Caregiver's Role, Maren Legg

Honors Projects

This project consists of an educational program for informal caregivers in the Bowling Green community on preserving personhood in individuals with cognitive impairments through caregiving experiences. The program was based on a copious amount of research regarding personhood, how personhood relates to individuals experiencing cognitive impairment, and how care provided by caregivers can be provided in a way that promotes and preserves an individual’s personality, personhood, and selfhood.

The program was developed over the span of four months and incorporates models of personhood, behaviors that threaten and preserve or promote personhood, as well as practical suggestions for strategies in how …

Food Insecurity & Aging Adults, Kimberly Morales

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

No abstract provided.

From The Ground Up: How To Effectively Merge Research And Practice To Build Impactful Community Programs, Sara E. Stemen

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

The purpose of this presentation is to guide those interested in working in community non-profits through the program development process. Furthermore, this presentation highlights the importance of using an evidence-based eye when building programs--bridging what has been learned in the classroom with real world, hands on experience. The presentation will focus on the presenter's academic and professional journey to being responsible for building a program from the ground up--focusing on what was learned along the way. In this presentation, participants will be walked through the process that guided the development of Delaware County's Caregiver Program. Information will be shared regarding …

We Are Balanced In Ohio: What Shall Follow This Major Accomplishment?, Shahla A. Mehdizadeh

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

No abstract provided.

Closing The Gap Between Skipped-Generation Households And Available Resources And Services, Daniel Ruff

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

Purpose statement (objectives) This examination seeks, • first, to sensitize gerontologists to some of the adversities and prospects faced by grandparents raising grandchildren; • second, to provide an overview of current research and theory regarding the demographic through both a phenomenological and a life-course perspective—and a more recent theoretical lens of Generational Intelligence—for inter-generational work; and • third, to suggest implications for future interventions with skipped-generation families. Descriptive narrative of the presentation Generations United reports [Family Matters: Multigenerational Families in a Volatile Economy (2011)] that more than 51.4 million Americans of all ages (about one in six) live in multi-generational …

Older Adults And Technology: Adoption And Acceptance Comes From Relationships And Encouragement From Younger Generations, Casey Schonhardt, Kate Magsamen-Conrad

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

As technology progresses, older generations are being given ‘smart’ devices and are adopting these devices to keep up with daily life. Stereotypes posit that the different generational groups perspectives on each other and the digital divide prohibit older generations from adopting new technologies. At the Wood Country Center on Aging located in Bowling Green Ohio, the small group communication class of Bowling Green State University teaches tablet classes once a week to interested older adults. Classes were observed using the STAM (Senior Technology and Acceptance Model), specifically the acceptance phase, over six weeks with narrative and phenomenological research methods. Observing …

Inclusion Of Seniors In The Design Of Assistive Technology, Margaret Rusnak

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

Assistive technology helps many older adults complete essential tasks, thus providing them a means to remain functionally independent within their communities. However, many older adults either reject the use of devices or misunderstand their intention. The gap between design and need may be bridged through the active participation of elders in the design process. Previous studies have focused on older persons’ attitudes toward adopting new technology, emphasizing how to promote and maintain usage. Recent research reveals the necessity of including older adults in the design, research, and application of assistive technology in an effort to meet the real needs of …

Building A Dementia Friendly Community, Elizabeth Marvin, Marty Williman

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

In 2007 the Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter and The Hancock County Agency on Aging began discussing ways to create a dementia friendly community. Several county agencies, businesses and organizations quickly joined in to develop mission and vision statements; coalition structure and membership; and specific goals toward creating a community that is aware, accepting, supportive and inclusive of individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Ohio. In 2007 and to date, there are few dementia capable community models from which to base efforts. Lessons learned, unexpected outcomes, and successes will be shared with the audience, as …

Awareness Of Suicide Among The Older Adult Population, Myia Makupson, Mercedes Mitchell

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

Suicide is such a big problem in the older adult population. Many of older adults deal with isolation, depression, and financial instability. When a person has all of these factors playing against them it is more likely they commit suicide. The purpose of this study was to bring awareness to the older population on how serious suicide really is. Thirty older adults participated in this study, the age range for these older adults were sixty-five to seventy-four, seventy-five to eighty four, and eighty-five and up. Fifteen adults were located in Cincinnati, Ohio and the other fifteen were located in Cleveland, …

Posters, Tracy L. Byington

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

A Look at the Geriatric Patients in the General Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

Older Adults Attitudes Towards New Communication Technologies, Ladonne Wilson

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

As the amount of New Communication Technologies (NCTs) being created increases at an exponential rate it is important to better understand how all portions of our population take advantage of newer NCTs, including older adults. This study sought to better understand older adult’s attitudes towards NCTs as a means of learning and adaption as well as maintaining independence. The researchers argued that older adult’s attitudes toward NCTs have an effect on older adult’s perceived and therefore actual usability. This study was conducted by a communication research methods course at an Ohio public university and it included surveys and interviews of …

Improving Healthcare Outcomes Through An Interdisciplinary Effort Of Social Work And Pharmacy In A “Village” Model Setting, Elizabeth Hipp, Lauren Post

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

No abstract provided.

War Veterans And Civilian Reentry: Combatting Unemployment With Entrepreneurship, Stephen Frochen

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

War Veterans and Civilian Reentry: Combatting Unemployment with Entrepreneurship

Stephen Frochen, Research Assistant and Doctoral Student, Scripps Gerontology Center

Objectives. The primary objective of this paper is to emphasize the unique professional problems that war and disabled veterans face when returning from military service to the civilian workforce. Secondary objectives include presenting employment outcomes of vulnerable war veterans groups and investigating entrepreneurship and other state and federal employment programs to uncover relevant work opportunities.

Methods. This paper describes military life and the distinct professional characteristics of veterans, particularly those with disabilities. Drawing upon the theoretical bases of group dynamics, military …

Conference Program, Oage Conference Organizers

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

You can access the program here. You will receive a full printed program at registration. This program does not include the names of award winners - you'll have to join us at the conference to find that out! :) Looking forward to seeing you on the 24th.

Learning Through Serving: Learning Service-Learning Pedagogy To Enhance Your Teaching, Paul Valdez, Laura Landry-Meyer, Kate Magsamen-Conrad, Denise Niese, Jeanette Dillon

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference

This workshop is geared toward faculty and staff at universities who would want to integrate service learning into their courses as well as community partners who would like to explore a service-learning opportunity with a campus partner. The definition of service learning and how it is different from other forms of experiential learning will be discussed. Concepts will be illustrated using a short video clip and other real life examples. The service learning criteria of Meaningful Service, Enhanced Academic Learning, and Purposeful Civic Learning will be identified. The application of these criteria will be illustrated through BGSU service-learning courses - …

Factors That Influence Undergraduate Communication Sciences And Disorders Students’ Clinical Preferences, Amanda Fry

Honors Projects

The purpose of the current study was to explore factors that influence undergraduate students’ clinical preferences. Specifically, the study examined the factors that may relate to undergraduate communication sciences students’ knowledge of, and interest in working with older adults. Undergraduate students in communication sciences programs from across Ohio were recruited for participation for an online survey. Data from 152 undergraduate students’ from 7 universities and colleges in Ohio were evaluated using descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation Coefficients. Results indicate that participants had knowledge of older adults and the adult lifespan, but did not feel prepared to demonstrate this knowledge in …