|
Year End Issue
In This Issue:
Upcoming Deadlines
Announcements
Research & News
Funding Opportunities
Resources
Policy
The Geriatric Social Work Initiative Wishes You and Yours a Bright and Merry Holiday Season and a Very Happy New Year!
Upcoming Deadlines
Hartford Faculty Scholars and Hartford Doctoral Fellows Applications Due February 1, 2010
Hartford Doctoral Fellows: February 1, 2010
Hartford Faculty Scholars: February 1, 2010
Back to: In This Issue
Announcements
Dr. Zvi Gellis Receives Honorable Mention of 2010 SSWR Excellence in Research Award
Congratulations Dr. Zvi Gellis, Hartford Faculty Scholar (Cohort III) and HFS National Research Mentor, for receiving the honorable mention of the 2010 Society for Social Work Research Excellence in Research Award for his article entitled “Randomized controlled trial of problem-solving therapy for minor depression in home care." In conferring the honorable mention, the Society recognizes the significance of the problem addressed in the research, the rigor of the analysis and its contribution to knowledge in social work and social welfare. Dr. Gellis will be presented the award at the Presidential Awards Ceremony on Friday, January 15th at the 2010 SSWR Conference in San Francisco, CA.
Jean Shuldberg Wins HPPAE Leadership Award
Jean Shuldberg, associate professor at California State University-Chico and HPPAE Coordinator, was awarded a 2009 Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education (HPPAE) Leadership Award at CSWE's 2009 APM. The Leadership Award is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in aging education. Jean was the lead faculty for the 2004-2007 GeroRich Project at Chico and a mentor for the Cycle 1 Curriculum Development Institute Program. For more information, read the press release (PDF).
College of St. Scholastica Offers Seventh Annual Institute on Aging and Social Work
Nationally recognized experts in research methodology will lead a training institute specifically designed for social work faculty who received their doctoral degree at least three years ago in any area of social work. The institute, funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Research, and the Hartford Foundation, aims to strengthen participants’ knowledge and skills essential for developing an active research agenda and integrating scholarship with teaching. The institute is co-directed by Barbara Berkman of Columbia University and Chandra Mehotra of The College of St. Scholastica. For more information, please see the full announcement here. Deadline for applications is April 1, 2010. Food, lodging, and travel support will be provided to the 15 applicants selected to participate in the program.
Share Your Caregiving Stories
Robert Kane, MD, director of the Center on Aging at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, is writing a book to help family caregivers deal more effectively with frail older adults. In addition to discussing the challenges involved with caregiving, he would like to include positive stories from family caregivers, as well as professional caregivers, about the rewards, joys and successes of caregiving. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact Dr. Kane at: kanex001@umn.edu.
SWHPN Seeks Nominations for Project on Death in America Grant
The Social Work in Hospice and Palliative Care Network (swhpn.org) is seeking nominations for those social workers in the areas of research, education, practice and policy whose contributions have reached far and wide in providing quality care to the seriously ill, dying and bereaved. This unique Project on Death in America (PDIA) Social Work Leadership Award, made possible by the Open Society Institute, includes a monetary grant of $1,000 and an opportunity present at the the Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). The complete award description can be found at: http://www.swhpn.org/award/ Deadline: January 15, 2010.
BandwidthOnline.org: Online All the Time
Looking for help writing an abstract, creating a dynamic presentation, developing a powerful "elevator speech," or finding an image to use in a brochure? BandwidthOnline.org, the communications resource from the Hartford Foundation, has lots of tools and resources to get you on your way with these and many other communications activities. The upcoming winter break is a perfect opportunity to check out all that BandwidthOnline.org offers. Visit today!
Just in time for the Holidays—2010 Calendar
Support Student Programs and Activities by making an Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization donation of $25 or more and you will receive this colorful calendar as our thanks to you! Included inside are helpful dates and reminders, plus you will be recognized on the GSA web site for your contribution.
Back to: In This Issue
Research & News
USDA Releases Household Food Security Report Complementing MOWAA's "Senior Hunger in the US" Report
The recently released report, "Household Food Security in the United States, 2008" from the United States Department of Agriculture reinforces a recent report issued by the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) at a Congressional briefing on November 19, 2009 entitled "Senior Hunger in the United States: Differences across State and Rural Urban Areas", which indicated that the total number of food insecure older adults increased in 2008 as well. In fact, since 1990, the overall percentage of food insecure older adults has increased, and there are thousands more food insecure older adults that range from those who worry about whether they will have enough money to buy food to those who cut down on the variety and kinds of food they eat to those who skip meals altogether. To read more, download a copy of the report at http://www.mowaa.org/hungerbystate.
World AIDS Day
Over a million Americans are estimated to be living with HIV with people over the age of 50 accounting for 29 percent of persons living with AIDS. To read President Obama's proclamation for World AIDS Day, please visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-world-aids-day . World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1st. The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988 to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic. For more information about HIV and AIDS, visit the following resources:
Seniors and HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet : http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Press_Room/Products_Materials/fact/pdf/Seniors_and_HIV_AIDS.pdf
AIDS.gov: Access to U.S. Government HIV/AIDS information
www.aids.gov
HIV and AIDS in the United States: A Picture of Today’s Epidemic
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/united_states.htm
Demand for Gerontological Social Workers in Singapore Brings Change
Channel One News Asia reports that Singapore will see a rise in the number of gerontological social workers to account for the growth in demand. As more attention is being called to abuse of older people, the demand for advocates of the elderly is rising. Encouragement in the field comes at a time when more students interested in the field are coming of age. In addition, president of the Singapore Association of Social Workers Kalyani Mehta says that "given more years of experience, social workers may reach a stage of maturity where they are willing, and able, to handle elderly abuse cases."
Latinos Takle Cultural Issues Surrounding Alzheimer's Research
On the outskirts of Phoenix, Latinos gather to aid Alzheimer's research and tackle the cultural issues around research in the field. The Alzheimer's Association projects that by 2050, the current number of Latinos with the disease (200,000) will increase by 600%. While there are cultural sensitivities around the issue, this is a number that cannot be ignored and people like Jose Maria Barruel are hoping to influence their peers. To read more about this issue, please see the original article on USA Today's website here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-12-07-LatinoALZ07_ST_N.htm.
When Elders and Infants Mix, Happiness Happens
In Australia, there is a new program where the very old and very young play together. This weekly playgroup at Percy Baxter Lodges in North Geelong launched a couple of months ago and is having successful results; both the older and younger enjoy the playtime. Though none of the residents at the facility are related to the parents or babies, there is a strong bond growing there, especially important to those seniors who don't see their own families often enough. Assistant Janette Purcel says, ''It's been good for the whole facility … just hearing the children crying and laughing and playing.'' If you would like to learn more about this, please visit the playgroup's website here: http://playgroup.org.au/ .
Back to: In This Issue
Funding Opportunities
Request BEL Application Online
Get started on applying for the second cycle of the BSW Experiential Learning (BEL) grant! The FAQ, RFP, and a sample application are available online. Don't let the April 23, 2010 deadline sneak up on you!
New Funding Opportunities from NIH
The National Institute of Health has a number of grant opportunities, which include, but are not limited to the following:
Critical Illness and Injury in Aging
Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01)
Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21)
For a more complete listing on the NIH funding available for aging-related research, please click here.
Back to: In This Issue
Resources
New Website Provides Tools to Compare Nursing Homes and Analyze Quality of Care
The Brown University Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research has launched a website designed for nursing home researchers and consumer advocates looking for detailed data and sophisticated comparison tools. The interactive database, www.LTCfocUS.org, incorporates information from a number of government sources - Medicare reimbursement claims, OSCAR (CMS’s Online Survey, Certification and Reporting system), the MDS (Minimum Data Set), and Brown’s own survey of state Medicaid policies. Web site users can choose up to five variables to create charts or maps comparing nursing homes in a county or state or showing the distribution of certain characteristics. The variables include: number of beds; for-profit and chain status; percent of Medicare and Medicaid beds; Alzheimer’s units; occupancy rates; age ranges, gender and race of residents; direct care staffing (RN, LPN, CNA); acuity of care; certain MDS quality measures; source of admissions (hospital or home); and 30-day rehospitalization rates (a potential indicator of quality not found on Nursing Home Compare).
Alzheimer’s Association Releases New Guide for Culture Change for Professionals Working in a Home Setting
As part of National Alzheimer’s Awareness month in November, the Alzheimer’s Association has released a new guide for professionals working in the home. The guide contains information on the basics of good home care, a personal care guide, safety and autonomy, home safety, end of life care and special topics (abuse and neglect, emergency preparedness, etc). The guide also makes recommendations for training of professionals working in the home setting. The guide is the fourth in a series of guides developed as part of the Quality Care Campaign. This campaign is based on best available evidence on effective dementia care. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage facilities to adopt recommended dementia care practices, develop quality assessment tools based on standards, encourage quality care and empower people with dementia and their families. For more information call (866) 727- 1890 or visit www.alz.org/qualitycare.
Ask Medicare Video
There is a new video and resource guide featured on Ask Medicare (www.medicare.gov/caregivers). The video tells one family’s story, and highlights programs and resources that benefit and enhance a caregiver’s well-being. In addition, the video and resource guide provide links to services available for caregivers and care recipients through the HHS Administration on Aging, HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other state and local programs. To view the video and download the resource guide, go to the Ask Medicare site and scroll to the bottom of the page or click here for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZa5m9kd_z4 and here for the Resource Guide: www.medicare.gov/caregivers/pdfs/Resource_and_Benefits_for_Caregivers.pdf.
NEW! Abstract CD Now Available
Miss GSA’s 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting? Purchase the Abstract CD, which contains abstracts for all GSA09 education sessions. Order your copy today in the online store. (https://www.geron.org/Resources/Online%20Store)
New eLearning Course Available for CEUs from CSWE
The new online course Specialized Gerontology Curriculum: Guidelines for Design and Sustainability provides a framework for faculty to develop a specialized gero curricular structure, such as a minor, certificate, specialization, or concentration. Only $75 for Council on Social Work Education individual members ($95 for nonmembers), three CEUs are available for completion.
Back to: In This Issue
Policy
Information on Promising Practices Could Strengthen the Integrity of the Voting Process in Long-Term Care Facilities
Given concerns about the extent of assistance in voting practices to long-term care residents and the potential for undue influence or unauthorized completion of ballots by facility staff or relatives, the Government Accountability Office asked to identify the actions taken to facilitate and protect voting for long-term care facility residents at (1) the state level and (2) the local level. The recommendation given is that the Election Assistance Commission should work with stakeholders to develop guidance on voting in long-term care facilities. The EAC should also collect and disseminate information on cost-effective promising practices for providing voting access while also ensuring voting integrity. For more information on the research and recommendation, please see the original release here: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-6 .
AARP Defends Cuts in Medicare
There are a few reasons why AARP is defending cuts in Medicare. While Republicans led by Sen. John McCain were convinced that seniors would lose some of their add-on benefits, A. Barry Rand, the CEO of AARP defended cuts in a letter to Congress because " the legislation does not reduce any guaranteed Medicare benefits." David Espo wrote for the Associated Press on December 3 that "the biggest cuts are aimed at the Medicare Advantage program, in which private companies provide coverage. Studies show the government pays 14 percent more a year for each beneficiary covered in a private plan, compared with traditional Medicare." This measure passed in the Senate on December 4, 2009.
State Agencies Fail to Engage Older Workers
The Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College reports that state agencies are failing to engage older workers. State agencies are facing workforce shortages within and beyond the next ten years as 47% of state government workers are 45 and older when compared with only 37% of employees in the private sector. In order to keep older workers happy and healthy in the workplace, agencies will have to start being more flexible in their allowances concludes the study.
Euthenasia Hot Issue in the UK
In the United Kingdom, assisted suicide is becoming a hot-button issue. While Catholics are warning against "decriminalising" suicide, campaigners are claiming Supreme Court Judge Lord Phillips is too biased to make a good decision on the matter. Rev Dr John Cameron is speaking out for patients who want to end their lives "in an ethical and merciful manner". All the forces are taking the debate to the forefront of the political arena.
Back to: In This Issue |
