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Ripples

The e-Newsletter of the Geriatric Social Work Initiative (GSWI)
Volume 7, Issue 4
April 30, 2008

Welcome to Ripples, an e-newsletter designed to keep interested deans and directors, faculty members, students, practitioners and others informed about the work of the Geriatric Social Work Initiative (GSWI). We welcome your feedback and encourage you to contribute any story ideas, stories, resources, news and other content to subsequent issues of the newsletter. To make a contribution, please contact Joe Hayes at jhayes@geron.org. If you have been forwarded this newsletter by a colleague and would like to subscribe, please reply to this e-mail and type the word “subscribe” in the subject line. Please be sure to visit our website at www.gswi.org.

In this Issue...
Announcements
Research & News
Funding Opportunities
Resources
Policy

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to the following…

• Harriet Cohen, Texas Christian University, Hartford Faculty Scholar, Cohort VII, for being promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.
• Terry Koenig, University of Kansas, Hartford Faculty Scholar, Cohort V, for being awarded tenure and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. 
• New Hartford Faculty Scholars, Cohort IX, click here.
  
• New Hartford Doctoral Fellows, Cohort VIII, click here.

HGSWI Translational Research Conference
On April 4-6, 2008, geriatric social work scholars and fellows from across the country met in Chantilly, Virginia to attend the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Translational Research Conference. While the focus of the conference was translational research, the event doubled as a celebration, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Geriatric Social Work Initiative.  Approximately 150 past and present Hartford Doctoral Fellows, Hartford Faculty Scholars, and National Program Committee Members attended this unique career development opportunity. To view the conference program, slide presentations, and pictures from the conference, visit the post-conference page at, click here.

High Number of Gerontology Submissions to the CSWE Annual Program Meeting
The Gero-Ed Track had the highest number of abstract submissions among the 38 CSWE Annual Program Meeting (APM) tracks this year, pointing to a sustained strong interest in gerontology at the 2008 CSWE APM. Abstract proposals are currently being reviewed, and results will be sent to submitters by Friday, June 6. The Gero-Ed Center hopes to see you in Philadelphia, October 30 – November 2, 2008, for the 54th APM. Reserve your hotel room early on the CSWE Attendee/Exhibitor Housing Web site in order to lock in the discounted conference rate. (If you are a student, please visit the special Student Housing Web site.)

The Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services
The 23rd annual Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services (OCAPS) Conference, "Elder Abuse: Hidden Victims, Hidden Crimes" will take place on May 12 & 13, 2008 in Columbus, OH.  This year’s topics include: Aftermath of Trauma, Suicide Prevention, Differential Diagnosis of Delirium, Dementia & Depression, Compassion Fatigue, and more. To learn more about the conference and to download the brochure, click here.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
The International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) and its partners are hosting a two day conference, June 16-17, 2008 in Ottawa, Canada that will focus on learning and understanding about elder abuse and the importance of the 1991 UN Principles for Older Persons. Aside from the conference, other events including cultural, educational, art and social activities will take place, all of which are designed to increase understanding that elder abuse is a social and human rights issue that can be prevented. For more information on the conference and how to access the Resource Tool Kit, click here.

National Geriatrics and Palliative Care Conference
The 3rd National Geriatrics and Palliative Care Symposium is scheduled for June 19-21, 2008 at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco, CA. The symposium is designated to bring together health care providers caring for elderly patients and those with advanced illness across all venues and to improve communication with patients, their caregivers and families. To learn more, click here.

National Caregivers Conference
The 2008 National Caregivers Conference takes place October 29th, 2008 at the Sheraton of Woodbridge Place in Iselin, New Jersey. The annual event focuses on education, family supports, mental health, and more. Lee Woodruff, freelance writer and wife of Bob Woodruff, is the keynote speaker. Together they authored the book In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing. To learn more about the conference, click here.

RESEARCH & NEWS
Older People are Nation’s Happiest
According to a recent University of Chicago study, Americans grow happier as they grow older. The study also discovered that baby boomers are less happy than other generations, African Americans are less happy than whites, and men are less happy than women. The study shows that happiness has the ability to rise and fall between eras, and that, with age the differences narrow. To learn more about this happiness study, click here.

More Socially Engaged than you Think: Seniors and Volunteering
A new study shows that older people remain vital and active members of society as they age, despite popular notion that they are more likely to be socially isolated. About three-quarters of older adults between the ages of 57 and 85 socialize with their neighbors, attend religious services, volunteer or attend meetings of other organized groups on at least a weekly basis. Those in their 80s were twice as likely as those in their 50s to engage in one of these activities. To learn more about seniors and their engagement, click here.

Healthcare System Unprepared for Aging Boomers
According to a federal study released mid-April, the American medical system is unprepared for the flood of aging baby boomers. This study predicts crisis-level shortages in healthcare workers and serious gaps in training, particularly those certified in geriatrics.  Estimates show that there is currently one physician certified in geriatrics for every 2,500 older Americans. To learn more, click here.

New Games to Bridge the Gap: Connecting Family Members to Relatives with Dementia
Generations of family members have bonded over Old Maid or Monopoly. Now researchers have demonstrated that some newer games can be a bridge to family members with dementia. Researchers have designed several of these games that are not designed to boost memory in people with brain disease, but with the intention to improve the quality of life.  In a study of 33 families, satisfaction was higher after playing a game with a relative with dementia than after a visit that involved no game-playing. To learn more, click here.

Social Worker Shortfall Predicted
According to the National Association of Social Workers, competition, poor pay and the high cost of education has driven students away from social-work programs at a time when many social workers are retiring, causing a shortfall among state and local agencies. Despite this, the demand for social workers is increasing due to expanding community agencies, the growing older adult population, and returning military veterans. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employment of social workers is expected to increase 18 to 26 percent by 2014, a rate faster than other occupations. To learn more, click here.

Street Dangers and Aging Pedestrians
Transportation Alternatives, a New York City advocacy group, recently performed a study of 200 elderly residents of the Upper West Side concerning pedestrian safety in their neighborhood, where 13 percent of the population is over 65. Due to the uncertainty of being able to cross an intersection safely, findings suggested that many older adults are afraid to venture outside, and as a result run a greater risk of becoming isolated, malnourished and depressed. To learn more, click here.

Technology to Keep Older Adults Healthy at Home
An AARP study found that older adults and family caregivers are willing to use new technologies than can allow people to remain independent. Like older adults, caregivers also say that they would be willing to use new technologies to meet their needs in the caregiving role; however, more than 8 in 10 think they will have difficulty persuading the people they care for to use these items. To learn more, click here.

Late in Life, One More Chance to Beat Addiction
One federal study estimates the number of older addicts in the United States will rise to 4.4 million by 2020, up from 1.7 million in 2001. As a result the demand for senior specific, adult rehabilitation centers will need to increase. Senior Hope, a substance abuse center for older adults is one of only three centers in New York out of 1,500 treatment programs that focus exclusively on seniors. To learn more about the advantages of senior specific substance centers, click here.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Hartford Doctoral Fellows Program
On the verge of beginning your doctoral dissertation? If so, this program may be just what you need to take your career to the next level! The Hartford Doctoral Fellows Program is funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York City and administered by The Gerontological Society of America. The program offers grants of $25,000 a year for up to two years, supplemental academic career guidance and mentoring, professional development through institutes held at three annual meetings, and cohort building and peer networking. Application deadline is August 1, 2008. For more information, click here.

BSW Programs: Complete Your BEL Program Application Today
The Friday, May 16th application deadline for the Gero-Ed Center’s BSW Experiential Learning (BEL) Program is rapidly approaching, but there is still time to request and complete an application. This unique BSW-only funding opportunity will support undergraduate faculty to design experiences for their students to interact with older adults. All accredited BSW programs are encouraged to request an application today from the BEL Program Web page. If you have any questions, please e-mail the CSWE Gero-Ed Center.  Deadline for BEL Program Applications: Friday, May 16, 2008

Gustav O. Lienhard Award
The Gustav O. Lienhard award is presented annually by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in honor of Gustav O. Lienhard, Chairman of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Board of Trustees from 1971 to 1986. The award--a medal and $25,000--recognizes individuals for outstanding achievement in improving health care services in the United States. Support for the award is provided by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To learn more, click here.  

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation: Family and Informal Caregiver Support Program
The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) under its new Family and Informal Caregiving Program that will provide $9 million in grants to community-based organizations.  The Foundation will make between 12 and 230 grants ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 per year for a maximum of three years for organizations and projects that provide resources for caregivers in innovative ways and facilitate partnerships among agencies and organizations.  The deadline for grant applications is June 12, 2008.  For more information, click here.

RESOURCES
“What’s New” on Kaiser State Health Facts
The Kaiser Family Foundation has updated its state health facts webpage. New updates include: Demographics and Economics, Health Costs and Budgets, Health Coverage and Uninsured, Health Status, HIV/AIDS, Managed Care and Health Insurance, Medicare, Providers and Service Use, and Women’s Health. To access these facts, click here.

Interested in a Career in Aging? Sites to Help
Three websites offer those interested in aging careers an opportunity for success—AgeWork.com, Careers in Aging, and ExperienceInAging.com.  AgeWork.com is designed for job seekers and employers alike, allowing one to view and post jobs as well as view and post resumes. Careers in Aging, funded through a grant from the Andrus Fund, offers insightful tips and resources to beginning a career in aging. Lastly, ExperienceInAging.com is a new web service created by AGHE that exclusively focuses on internships and fellowships with one of its goals to provide a single, national source of qualified students to aging-related organizations

Book: The Alzheimer’s Action Plan: The Experts’ Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems
Duke dementia expert Dr. Murali Doraiswamy and Lisa Gwyther, founder of Duke's Alzheimer's Family Support program and President of The Gerontological Society of America, have collaborated on a new book titled, The Alzheimer’s Action Plan. The book is designed to provide information for people and families dealing with the disease. The book offers insights in how best to determine if one is suffering from Alzheimer’s, the most effective medical treatments, gaining access to the latest clinical trials, and much more. To learn more, click here.

Book: Mindfulness-Based Elder Care
Drawing on years of experience as a geriatric social worker and mindfulness-based stress reduction practitioner, the author, Lucia McBee, LCSW, MPH has taken Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program and adapted it to the particular needs of elders, their families, and professional caregivers. Mindfulness practices focus on abilities, rather than disabilities, in order to provide paths to the inner strengths and resources that we all possess. McBee's Mindfulness-Based Elder Care conveys the benefits of mindfulness through meditation, gentle yoga, massage, aromatherapy, humor, and other creative therapies to this special population. To learn more, click here.

Spotlight On Aging Research: New NIA Newsletter
The National Institute on Aging has recently created the inaugural newsletter, Spotlight on Aging Research (SOAR): News and Notes from the National Institute on Aging. The goal of the newsletter is to keep the research community, aging services providers, health care professionals, policy makers, media, and others informed about the Institute’s programs, people and achievements. To learn more about SOAR and how to subscribe, click here.

POLICY
Baby Boomer Health Care Crisis Looms; GSA Bolsters Call for Stronger Workforce
America's aging citizens are facing a health care workforce too small and unprepared to meet their needs, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) titled "Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce."
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the nation's largest organization devoted to aging research, fully supports the publication's call for a labor pool of adequate size and competency to care for a rapidly increasing over-65 population. To learn more, click here. 

Health Care and Elections
With the presidential election coming up in November 2008, this Kaiser Public Opinion Spotlight on Health Care and Elections provides an examination of recent public opinion data as well as historical trends in order to give some insight into the potential role health care might play as an election issue.  Prepared by Kaiser public opinion researchers, the Spotlight compiles and analyzes public opinion data from Kaiser surveys and other sources – including exit poll data from the 2008 presidential primary elections as well as from presidential and midterm elections as far back as 1992. To learn more, click here.

2008 Presidential Candidates: Side-by-Side of Health Care Proposals
The Kaiser Family Foundation with the assistance of Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., has prepared a side-by-side comparison of the Presidential Candidates’ positions on health care.  The presidential candidates vary greatly in the extent to which they have discussed health care issues to date. This comparison highlights information on the candidates’ positions related to access to health care coverage, cost containment, improving the quality of care and financing. To view this easy-to-read comparison and to learn where the candidates stand, click here.

Prevention Efforts Can Increase Health Care Costs?
The common belief that preventing a disease is cheaper than waiting for the disease to appear and then treating it, is now being questioned.  This belief is often held closely to politicians, who view prevention as an underused weapon in the battle against health care costs. A Washington Post article reports that there are many reasons prevention usually does not save money, but perhaps the most important is that preventative measures target many more people than would ever develop the disease being prevented. To learn more, click here.

Impact of Rising Energy Costs on Older Adults
With energy prices hitting an all-time high, older Americans are disproportionately affected by these higher energy costs. As a share of income, households headed by a person 65 or older spend more on energy-related expenditures than their younger counterparts. The key public program that provides energy assistance to low-income households is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Approximately 40 percent of low-income households that are eligible for LIHEAP have household members aged 60 or older. Funding for the LIHEAP program has not kept pace with recent increases in energy costs of older Americans. To view this Congressional Research Service report, click here.

Why So Slow to Adopt Certain Proven Treatments? A Look at Mental Health Practices
Ever wonder why it takes so long for proven treatments to be implemented? For the past twenty years strong advances have been in the treatment of mental illness, yet providers have been reluctant to adopt these proven treatments. This paper argues that research must better understand the barriers to wider dissemination and adoption of improved treatments and medications for mental illness. It also identifies informational, financial, and profitability barriers to widespread adoption. To learn more, click here.

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