Gerontology Commons^™

Careers In Aging: Increasing Interest And Investigating Career Paths, Paul Cunnington

Masters Theses

This qualitative study explored the perspective of young professionals on how to increase interest in choosing a career in the field of aging and how their own career path led to their current employment in the field of aging. Fifteen professionals in the field of aging, ranging in age from 23 to 34, participated in semi-­‐structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results confirmed prior research that professionals working in the field of aging come from a variety of disciplines. Participants noted attractive aspects of a career in the field of aging, including flexibility and mobility. To increase …

Protect Your Retirement Income: Documents To Keep And Questions To Ask, Pension Action Center, Gerontology Institute, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Pension Action Center Publications

No matter what kind of pension or retirement plan your employer offers, you should keep certain documents indefinitely to ensure that you receive the retirement benefits you have earned.

This fact sheet was produced as part of the Pension Action Center’s investor education program, made possible thanks to a grant from the Investor Protection Trust, a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education, and support from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Data Mapping On Ageing In Low- And Middle-Income Countries In Asia And The Pacific, Bussarawan Puk Teerawichitchainan, John Knodel

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Population ageing is an increasingly important demographic, social, and economic issue for researchers and policy makers throughout developing Asia prompting a need for data to monitor change and formulate evidence-based policies. There have been increasing endeavors in the Asia-Pacific region to collect information specifically related to older persons through representative surveys. These surveys are either broadly comprehensive or focus on particularly important domains, especially health. However, there is no systematic accounting of what the datasets address; to what extent different sources overlap or complement one another; how comparable they; and what data gaps remain. In addition, other data sources not …

Reporting Practices, Knowledge And Opinion Of Policy Regarding Drivers With Dementia Among Arkansas Neurologists And Geriatricians, Erika Martin Gergerich

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: States have various policies regarding a physician's ability or responsibility to report at-risk drivers with dementia to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Some states have mandatory reporting policies, others have optional reporting policies and some have no policy regarding this issue. Arkansas has no reporting policy regarding drivers with dementia to the DMV. Therefore, physicians in Arkansas face the risk of liability if they report a patient against their will to the DMV in good faith. Neurologists and geriatricians are often in a position to diagnose and treat individuals with dementia. Research Questions: The following three research questions …

The Effect Of Balance-Based Torso-Weighting On Mobility, Gait, Balance, Postural Control, And Falls Efficacy In Mobility Limited Older Adults, Jennifer L. Vincenzo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Exercise is a known intervention to prevent fall risk among older adults; however, adherence is poor. Therefore, it is of interest to determine if other interventions improve function and decrease fall risk among older adults. Balance-Based Torso-Weighting (BBTW) is a non-exercise intervention that improves functional measures among adults with multiple sclerosis, yet the effectiveness of BBTW has not been assessed among older adults without progressive neurological disorders. We conducted a double-blind, randomized study to analyze the effect of BBTW on functional measures and falls efficacy among community-dwelling, mobility limited older adults after 5 days of wearing BalanceWear® for 4 hours …

Food Insecurity & Aging Adults, Kimberly Morales

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

No abstract provided.

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

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

No abstract provided.

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 (2015)

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 …

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

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

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 …

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 (2015)

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 …

Building A Dementia Friendly Community, Elizabeth Marvin, Marty Williman

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

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 …

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

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

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 …

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

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

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 …

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

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

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 (2015)

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 (2015)

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 (2015)

No abstract provided.

Conference Program, Oage Conference Organizers

Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference (2015)

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.

Spatially-Weighted Ethnic Density And Residential Segregation: Effects On Health Status Among Older Mexican Americans, Sung Han Rhew

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that living in communities with high densities of persons from their own ethnic group improves the overall health of older Mexican Americans. One hypothesis is that residing in high ethnic density areas allows characteristics of Mexican culture such as strong social ties and social cohesion, to have a beneficial effect. The majority of investigations focused on ethnic density effects, however, have utilized relatively loose interpretations of what constitutes the appropriate social-geographic area to be studied. Moreover it is not clear how certain dimensions of residential segregation are protective or harmful toward health, particularly when measuring ethnic residential segregation …

Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act (Passed Jan. 4, 2015), Emily G. Brown Jd, Ellen Bruce Jd

Pension Action Center Publications

The Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act, passed on January 4, 2015, creates an automatic enrollment payroll deduction IRA. The purpose of the program is to promote increased retirement savings participation for employees in the private sector. This fact sheet answers some basic questions about how this new program will affect workers and their employers in Illinois.

Helping Elders Living With Pain (Help), Suzanne Leveille, Tongjian You

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The HELP study, which is a two-year study supported by a R21 grant from National Institute on Aging, is a direct extension of our previous work examining attentional demands of chronic pain in the older population. The HELP study is designed to compare two different exercise programs - simple body exercise and mind-body exercise, in their effects on pain symptoms, cognitive function, dual-task walking ability, and levels of pain-related biomarkers in community-dwelling older adults with multisite pain who are at risk of falling.

From Data To Community Action: A Case Study Building On The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Community Profiles, Nina M. Silverstein, Brittany Gaines, Darlene Adams, Dorothy Wideman

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The Healthy Aging movement is a driver in the promotion of Evidence-Based programs such as Chronic Disease Self- Management (CDSMP) programs related to falls prevention and diabetes. Such programs are critical in any recommendations for short or long term interventions to communities to address challenges to aging well.

Mapping Boston's Assets To Improve Livability For Older Adults: Boston's Age Friendly Community Initiative; And Building Bonds To Last A Lifetime: Creating Community Among Beverly’S Aging Population, Bernard A. Steinman, Abigail Butt, Ceara Somerville, Hayley Gleason

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The Boston Age Friendly Community Initiative is working with the City of Boston to document a comprehensive and inclusive baseline assessment of needs within domains that influence health and quality of life of older adults. In a separate project, UMass Boston worked with the City of Beverly Council on Aging and Senior Center to develop a database that would allow the Senior Center to locate and contact both new and long-time resident seniors in the hopes of building a better relationship with them.

Pension Action Center: Protecting Your Retirement, Louise Cataldo, Michele Tolson

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The Pension Action Center (PAC) is a one-of-a-kind organization serving New England and Illinois that touches the lives of thousands of low- moderate income people, who often have nowhere else to turn when they need help understanding and obtaining their retirement benefits.

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 (2015)

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 - …

Perubahan Iklim Dan Dampaknya Terhadap Sistem Perlindungan Anak Pada Masyarakat Tradisional Di Kupang (Nusa Tenggara Timur) Dan Palu (Sulawesi Tengah), Sofyan Cholid, Santy Yanuar Pranawati, Restri Rahmawati

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

The Facts about climate change and its impact on the ecosystem across the world has been taking greater attention from scholar, government, scientist, activist, as well as civil community. Based on IPCC report 2007, sea level rise and human development contributed to the lost of coastal wetland and mangroves as well as flooding in coastal areas. This research focused on describing the climate change impacts on children well-being in the society who strongly depend on natural resources, and what kind of the adaptation process and the changing occurred in child protection framework. The methods used include time line, tree problem, …

Peran Kelompok Rentan Dalam Penanggulangan Bencana Dan Pengurangan Resiko Bencana Di Desa Tangguh Bencana (Studi Deskriptif Satuan Tugas Desa Tangguh Bencana Di Desa Gunung Geulis, Kecamatan Sukaraja, Kabupaten Bogor, Syadza Alifa, Arif Wibowo

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

This research discusses about the role of vulnerable groups who are being Task Force in disaster management and disaster risk reduction efforts in Gunung Geulis Village, Bogor Region. This study examine the process of formation of the Task Force, the role of vulnerable groups into the Task Force, and the supporting factors and inhibiting factors of the vulnerable groups into the Task Force. This study is a descriptive study with qualitative methods. The methods used are observation, in-depth interviews, and the study of literature. The end results show that the involvement of vulnerable groups as Task Force has been suitable …

Evaluasi Program Penguatan Perempuan Usaha Kecil (Puk) (Evaluasi Sumatif Terhadap Program Penguatan Puk Yang Dilakukan Asosiasi Pendamping Perempuan Usaha Kecil Di Solo), Agung Cahyanto, Ety Rahayu

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

This research is a study summative evaluation PUK Strengthening Program in Solo with a quantitative approach. The goal is to measure outcome indicators and analyzes the factors that influence the achievement of outcomes based on aspects of the process and input. The analysis was done by means of univariate and bivariate with cross table, Chi Square and Kendall Tau. The results showed that the outcome indicators has not been achieved. Factors that influence the outcome of the process aspect are ability to identify and solve problems, quality of production, volume of business, business innovation, profit exhibitions, as well as participation …

Sosialisasi Program Anti Bullying Dalam Rangka Menciptakan Sekolah Damai, Djoemeliarasanti Djoekardi

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

The phenomena of bullying, particularly in education has happened for a long time. However, for various reasons does not appear on the surface. Bullying has negative effects on its victims. It can affect undesirable traits in a child’s development in the future, especially if they are dominated by negative emotions. In association with schools, an anti- bullying program is needed in order to create a peaceful learning process at schools. This research was conducted at 3 high schools in Jakarta. Based on previous findings, it can be seen that teachers and students does not understand bullying behavior and it’s negative …

Upaya Rehabilitasi Sosial Dalam Penanganan Gelandangan Dan Pengemis Di Provinsi Dki Jakarta, Astrini Marlinda, Getar Hati

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

This article discusses about the social rehabilitation efforts in handling the homeless and beggars in Jakarta at Panti sosial Bina Insani (PSBI BD 2) Cipayung. Researcher conducting a qualitative descriptive on this study.The findings from this research show that social rehabilitation efforts in homeshelter is not maximized so that the homeless people and beggars in Jakarta tends to return to the street after getting coaching in this homeshalter. This research provide a recommendation to the government to provide a homeshalter which focused for homeless and beggars social rehabilitation, give strict punishment to the homeless and beggars who are back on …