Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

Association for Gerontology in Higher Education

VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

SPRING/SUMMER 2013

AGHE President’s Message

CIRCULATION 3000

Global Aging News

Janet C. Frank, DrPH, MSG Assistant Director for Academic Programs, Multicampus Program in Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology, University of California, Los Angeles [email protected]

We held our first AGHE program planning meeting in April for the 2014 Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference. As many of you have heard, the 2014 meeting, scheduled February 27 to March 2, 2014, marks AGHE’s 40th anniversary. When I reflect on the success of the 2013 meeting and think about what is so vital that AGHE brings to each of us – the word that comes to mind is connections. AGHE not only provides the venue for us to connect to each other, but it connects us to new educational models and curricula, new ways of thinking about things, and new ways to make progress in our programs and the field. For quite awhile I have felt that the educational institutions that are AGHE members are truly the leadership “tier 1” college programs in the world (yes, we’re getting quite international now). The quality of the content that is presented at our conferences is outstanding. AGHE members are doing very important work – brilliant work – and people attend our meetings to share their great ideas and to soak up this collective brilliance. The faculty and educational leaders who attend the meetings are “connectors.” It has been a number of years since I first read The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (ISBN 0-316-31696-2) by Malcolm Gladwell (2000). If you haven’t read it, it is a must! In The Tipping Point, Gladwell (2000) defines “connectors” as: “the people in a community who know large numbers of people and who are in the habit of making introductions…. They are people who link us up with the world ... people with a special gift for bringing the world together.” Connectors are essential to social change. At the AGHE meeting, we heard about leveraging (love that wheelbarrow analogy), experienced new approaches to teaching, learned new

continued on page 9

Collaborating in the Development of Gerontology Education in Turkey Ozgur Arun, a faculty member in the Department of Gerontology at Akdeniz University, told attendees at his AGHE 2013 presentation that Turkey is among the fastest aging countries in the world. From 1960 to 2011, the population of Turkey increased almost three-fold, with the population of older adults (65+) increasing almost six-fold. The cohort of persons age 65+ is expected to reach 17 million by 2050 (Behar, 2006: 23). In 2012, the life expectancy was 74 years (TurkStat, 2012) with three-fourths of the population residing in urban areas (Koç et.al, 2010: 48). Prof. Arun, with doctoral candidate Jason Holdsworth, shared insights about aging in Turkey and how gerontologists are meeting current challenges and preparing strategies for the future. Akdeniz University is located in Southwestern Turkey in the province of Antalya. Prof. Dr. Ismail Tufan founded the Gerontology Department in 2006. It is the first and presently the only Gerontology Program in Turkey. Since 2009, gerontology programs have been offered at the undergraduate and master’s levels. In addition to traditional core disciplines in sociology, biology, and psychology, students are required to take gerontology-focused courses in the following: basic medicine, law, management, care and rehabilitation, research, practicum, and a thesis. Students also study English during their first year. A number of GSA/AGHE members have been fortunate to observe firsthand, learn from, and contribute to the development of the Gerontology Program at Akdeniz. Most recently, a group participated in the 5th International PsychoSocial and Applied Gerontology Symposium (Nov. 1-2, 2012 in Antalya, Turkey) and the 4th Turkey International Symposium continued on page 12

NEWSLETTER OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR GERONTOLOGY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Editor’s Musings Lisa Curch, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Sociology Department, SUNY- College at Oneonta [email protected]

Greetings! I hope this issue of the AGHExchange finds everyone well and safe. I know that sometimes it can be hard to feel energized at this point in the year, after the end of a spring semester of teaching, or in the midst of writing grants, or while dealing with budgetary/fiscal issues, or the many other things that being in the education business might involve. Throw on top of that: lawns and weeds that refuse to stop growing, children who refuse to stop growing, cuts in community services, climate change, continuing social inequalities – well, you get the picture. It’s easy to get stressed about your own situation, local struggles, and societal and global woes. It can take effort and practice to, as Monty Python’s Eric Idle so eloquently put it in song, “always look on the bright side of life.” (And if you have never seen the film Monty Python’s Life of Brian, please make that a summer priority.) But it is worth it to practice optimism and make it a habit. To recognize problems is important. But that is only half of it. To take steps towards addressing problems is paramount. Taking those steps is facilitated by optimism and a sense that something can be done. Optimism is a mindset, but just like any internal state, it is highly influenced by both our behavior and

IN THIS ISSUE Global Aging News.......................................1 Annual Meeting.............................................3 In & Around AGHE........................................8 Student News..............................................11 What Are They Doing Now.........................13 Geriatric Education....................................14 Teaching & Learning Resources...............15 2 Spring/Summer 2013

by our interactions with others. One small behavior that can promote feeling optimistic is to take a little time to read through this issue; hopefully, it will give you a little spark, at least as far as gerontology and geriatrics education is concerned. Janet Frank, AGHE President, in her column notes a great way to ignite a much larger spark. Rejuvenation can be found at the AGHE Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership conference – it’s that interaction with others which invigorates. You can see it in this issue in various happenings during the 2013 Annual Meeting in St. Petersburg, FL. Plan on attending next year in Denver, CO. It’s the 40th annual meeting, so you know there’s going to be a whole lot of celebrating going on, too! The theme is “Taking Educational Quality to New Heights” – what could be more inspiring? We should also be encouraged by what we see happening around the world in gerontology and geriatrics education! In this issue’s Global Aging News (formerly International News), American educators and elder advocates share what they learned from a trip to Turkey and the emerging gerontology educational scene there. And in Geriatric Education, read about an international effort to bridge aging and disability curriculums. We all know we can find inspiration among our elders. See what it means to be an active elder in the second installment of What Are They Doing Now? And of course, if we look to students, who are our professional raison d’être…well, just check out Student News. As always, if you have suggestions or comments regarding the AGHExchange, please contact me at Lisa. [email protected]. And as always, happy reading! Lisa


Annual Meeting News 2013 Annual Meeting Events & Activities In addition to a wide variety of sessions and presentations, there was plenty to see and do at the 39th Annual Meeting and Education Leadership Conference!

Opening Plenary The opening plenary began with a welcome from AGHE President Janet Frank; this opening session was in honor of the late David A. Peterson. The main event was a panel presentation and discussion, with questions from the audience. Marie Bernard (National Institute on Aging, also the 2013 Clark Tibbitts Award winner) moderated the panel and the panelists included JoAnn Damron Rodriguez (California Geriatric Education Center), Robert Applebaum (Miami University, Judith Howe (Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Bronx VAMC GRECC), and Marilyn Gugliucci (University of New England). The opening session was followed by a lovely reception in the ballroom lobby area.

New AGHE Fellows At the business meeting, AGHE recognized the 2013 Fellows. They are: Mary Cadogan (University of California, Los Angeles), Gayle Doll (Kansas State University), Karen F. Kopera-Frye (University of Louisiana at Monroe), Sandra L. McGuire (Lincoln Memorial University), Margaret B. Neal (Portland State University), and Cheryl Osborne (California State University, Sacramento).

Program of Merit The business meeting also saw the conferring of Program of Merit status on two programs. Alice McDonnell presented a Program of Merit certificate to Bradley Fisher, representing Missouri State University, who has renewed their Program of Merit status. New Program of Merit status has been awarded to the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, which was represented by Christine Ferri (left), Elizabeth Elmore (middle) and Dave Burdick (right).

continued on page 4 Spring/Summer 2013 3


Annual Meeting News Annual Meeting Update continued from page 3

Exhibit Hall The Exhibit Hall was a happening place with exhibitors, posters, the Silent Auction, coffee breaks, and the Student Committee raising money for AGHE.

Special Event The Salvador Dali Museum arranged a special experience just for AGHE attendees. The museum’s collection contains the largest compilation of Dali’s work outside of Spain. Attendees were treated to drinks and appetizers, followed by guided tours of the museum. And the museum was open just for us!

Closing Session The closing session was a stimulating presentation, highlighting AGHE’s global focus. Margaret Perkinson (Saint Louis University) moderated a panel titled “Global Aging: The Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Educational Efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Panelists included Jose F Parodi (San Martín de Porres University), Raquel Abrantes (Inter-American Center of Social Security Studies), Lilliam Rodriguez (Center of Research in Longevity, Aging & Health) and Enrique Vega García (Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization). It was a rousing ending to a motivating conference!

4 Spring/Summer 2013


Annual Meeting News 2013 AGHE Awards & Recognitions The Mildred Seltzer Distinguished Service Recognition This recognition honors colleagues who are near retirement or recently retired. Recipients are individuals who have been actively involved in AGHE through service on committees, as elected officers, and/or have provided leadership in one of AGHE’s grant-funded projects. The 2013 Mildred Seltzer Recognition recipient is Alton Dubois (Concordia University Chicago).

The Hiram J. Friedsam Mentorship Award The purpose of the Hiram J. Friedsam Mentorship Award is to recognize those who emulate Dr. Hiram Friedsam’s excellence in mentorship. The recipient of the 2012 Friedsam Award is Lesa Huber (Indiana University Bloomington). Pictured: Janet Frank (left) presenting the award to Dr. Huber (right).

The Clark Tibbitts Award The Clark Tibbitts Award is given each year to an individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of gerontology and geriatrics education. The recipient of the 2013 Tibbitts Award is Marie Bernard (National Institute on Aging). Pictured: Janet Frank (left) presenting the award to Dr. Bernard (right).

Part-Time Faculty Recognition Recognizes part-time and/or adjunct faculty for their contributions to gerontological education at an AGHE member institution. The 2013 recipient is David B. Oliver (University of Missouri – Columbia). Pictured: Jennifer Kinney (left) presenting award to Dr. Oliver (right).

Administrative Leadership Award This award honors administrators on AGHE member campuses who have made exceptional efforts in support of gerontology or geriatrics education. The 2013 recipient is Judy L. Genshaft (President, University of South Florida). Pictured: Janet Frank (left) presenting the award to Dr. Genshaft (right).

David A. Peterson Gerontology & Geriatrics Education Best Paper of the Volume Award AGHE, in conjunction with Taylor & Francis, has instituted the David A. Peterson Award for the best article in the volume of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, the official journal of AGHE, and to recognize excellence in scholarship in academic gerontology. The 2013 awards for Volume 32 are:

Spring/Summer 2013 5


Annual Meeting News Annual Meeting Awards

onorable Mention: Colleen R. Bennett (University of H Maryland Baltimore County)

Winner: Leslie Morgan

“ What’s ‘Glee’ Got To Do With It? Lesbians’ Future Care Concerns and Popular Media”

continued from page 5

“ Paradigms in the Gerontology Classroom: Connections and Challenges to Learning, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 33:3, 324-335 onorable Mention: Anabel Pelham, Donna Schafer, H Pauline Abbott, and Carroll Estes “ Professionalizing Gerontology: Why AGHE Must Accredit Gerontology Programs,” Journal of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 33:1, 6-19.

ictured: Jennifer Kinney (right) presenting award to P Bennett (left).

AGHE Essay Contest Winners

ictured: Jennifer Kinney (right) presenting award to P Anabel Pelham (left).

The K-12 Committee of AGHE sponsored a writing contest for 6th- 8th grade students in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The theme of the writing contest was “Bridging the Generations: An Important Older Person in My Life.” The selected writers and their honorees were recognized at this special event. Winners received a certificate, small gift card, and the opportunity to read the essay to the membership of AGHE. The award winners are (pictured left to right):

Graduate Student Paper Award This award acknowledges excellence in scholarly work conducted by an AGHE Annual Meeting student attendee. The 2013 awards are: inner: Kristen E. Porter (University of Massachusetts W - Boston) “ LGBT Aging Trainings Effectuate Positive Change in Mainstream Elder Service Providers?”

annah Smallwood, Corpus Christi, Honorable Mention, H “My Ahma” evin Chacko, Nativity Catholic, 2nd Place Poem “Love K Through the Ages” arina Barcinas, St. Lawrence Catholic, 2nd Place Essay K “My Grandmother in My Life” lizabeth Traina, St. Lawrence Catholic, 1st Place Poem E “Inspiration” Not Pictured: ary Shelton Pappas, St. Lawrence, Honorable Mention, M “Granddad”

ictured: Jennifer Kinney (right) presenting award to P Porter (left). 6 Spring/Summer 2013

aitlin Shannon, St. Lawrence, 1st Place Essay “My Pop C MJ Deckle”




In & Around AGHE AGHE Director’s Message M. Angela Baker, MA Director, AGHE [email protected]

Happy Spring!! We are still riding the waves of a successful Annual Meeting and leadership Conference in St. Petersburg, FL. So many of you helped make the meeting a success and we greatly appreciate your presence and participation. As I’ve mentioned in previous columns, I especially enjoy the Institutional Reps Breakfast event because it provides a unique opportunity to gather together the individuals who are at the core of our organization – the key representative from each member institution. The Institutional Rep plays an important role as the voice of our membership and we look to this collective body as a source of information on member needs and ideas. This year’s Group Discussion centered around three (3) important questions: • W hy do you come to the AGHE meeting? • W hen people ask you about AGHE, why do you say you belong? • W e all know this is a challenging time for education; would it be helpful if AGHE routinely corresponded with your administrators about the importance of Gerontology education? If, so what kind of communication would be helpful? We were not surprised to learn that most people come to the AGHE meeting to network. The AGHE annual meeting has long been considered the ideal place to connect with colleagues in the field in a warm and friendly setting. The AGHE meeting also provides opportunities to share teaching ideas and to stay current on new developments in the field. Reasons for belonging to AGHE focused on gerontology education and the fact that AGHE is the only organization committed to advancing the field of gerontology and geriatrics education. This is our mission and the reason for our existence. The final question is one that has probably not been asked much in the past and hits at the heart of how we can support our members. Responses were varied, with some Reps clearly in favor of periodic communication to administrators. 8 Spring/Summer 2013

The preferred communication vehicle is email and the content should focus on progress in the field, demographic data, acknowledgement of award recipients, etc. Comments also included suggestions for “talking points” and PR kits for Reps to use on campus to promote the field and the importance of membership in AGHE. Most Reps requested that we provide them with information that they can share with administrators. I will work with our Membership Committee and others to implement these great suggestions. On another note, I would like to thank our AGHE Volunteer, Dr. Ken Cook, who is stepping down after many years of service to the organization. Ken has been a valuable asset to the AGHE office and will be greatly missed.

Good-bye and Thank You to Long-time AGHE Volunteer! AGHE bids farewell to Kenneth Cook, PhD, who recently stepped down as a volunteer staffer after 18 years of service. He dedicated most of his time at AGHE to maintaining and updating the website, and most recently, worked with the Intergenerational Learning Committee to develop online content for the new Intergenerational Learning and Research Initiative. Dr. Cook began working at AGHE in 1995 as part of a phased retirement from AARP. Following his full retirement in September 1996, he was awarded AGHE’s Mildred M. Seltzer Distinguished Service Recognition. Dr. Cook received a PhD in psychology from The American University and MS and BS degrees in industrial psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. He was employed by AARP for 21 years, ultimately working as director of the AARP Andrus Foundation. Prior to this, he was a research psychologist and vice president of Century Research Corporation, where he provided behavioral science research and consultation to industry and government in air, traffic, and mine safety; image interpretation; military systems; and social science surveys for a variety of topics such as recreation, water conservation, and transportation. He additionally was a statistical consultant in personnel research for the U.S. Army and served briefly in personnel administration for the Chrysler Corporation. Dr. Cook maintains memberships in the Southern Gerontological Society (of which he is a past president and director), the Adult Development and Aging Division of the American Psychological Association, and the Technical Group on Aging of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. He also is a member of the Committee on Aging of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Tri-Diocesan Council on Aging in Virginia. AGHE is grateful for having been the beneficiary of Dr. Cook’s time and talents and appreciates all of his work for AGHE! We wish him all the best!


In & Around AGHE GSA Executive Director’s Column James Appleby, RPh, MPH Executive Director, Gerontological Society of America [email protected] As AGHE gears up for its 40th anniversary next year, it’s obvious that the organization’s staying power can be attributed to its’ members commitment to the field of gerontology. And looking forward, it is the initiative of these members that will be required for AGHE to thrive in the decades ahead. I would like to thank AGHExchange readers for all their contributions to date and offer words of encouragement for the future. There are many degrees of initiative that members can take, and each of them will strengthen AGHE’s chances for continued success. Below are half a dozen opportunities that will bring benefit to both AGHE and its supporters:

1. Submit an article to Gerontology & Geriatrics Education (G&GE). This has been AGHE’s official journal since 2008 and is published quarterly. G&GE focuses on the exchange of information related to research, curriculum development, course and program evaluation, classroom and practice innovation, and other topics with educational implications for gerontology and geriatrics. Additionally, all articles published in G&GE become eligible for AGHE’s David A. Peterson Award, which recognizes excellence in scholarship in academic gerontology. 2. Subscribe to G&GE. This journal is a valuable tool for anyone in the field, including faculty, students, practitioners, administrators, and policymakers. Furthermore, we currently are offering a discounted rate of $55 per year for AGHE institutional representatives. This represents a significant discount from the standard individual rate of $134 — and all subscribers receive access not only to all current issues but also to all issues dating back to 2008. 3. Make a contribution to the AGHE Endowment Fund. After seven years of fundraising, we’re on the cusp of reaching our $100,000 goal! Thanks to the efforts of AGHE Advancement Committee Chair David Burdick, PhD, The Retirement Research Foundation has awarded AGHE/GSA a matching grant in the amount of $15,000 for the AGHE Gerontological and Geriatric Education and Training Project. Under this arrangement, the foundation matched contributions to the AGHE Endowment Fund up to $15,000. Thus far, we have reached 97 percent of our goal! AGHE’s website also offers information on other donation opportunities, such as the Tree of Knowledge campaign and planned giving options.

4. Identify opportunities for AGHE to become involved in grants. This is likely the most difficult thing on this list to achieve, but a new grant could provide the greatest chance for reward by allowing AGHE to provide expanded value for its members. The above example that led to the growth of the AGHE Endowment shows how one individual can make a difference. I simply ask that people keep AGHE’s needs in mind during the course of their day-to-day business to keep an eye out for any opportunities that may arise. 5. Encourage colleagues at a non-member institution to become involved with AGHE. Help us spread the word about the benefits of AGHE participation by asking people to add their expertise to our ongoing discussions about standards, curriculum development, faculty development, public policy, and research related to educational gerontology. 6. Encourage junior faculty to attend the AGHE Teaching Institute. We’ve held this instructional session for several years at AGHE’s annual meeting and will continue when we meet in Denver in early 2014. It provides a forum in which faculty from different disciplines and at different stages of their careers can discuss and share best practices for dealing with teaching challenges.

President’s Message continued from page 1

evaluation methods, focused on competency-based education, accreditation, workforce policy development, celebrated our leaders – past and present. We connected. We connected to each other and to new ideas. We met old friends and made new acquaintances. We found out that faculty from across the globe was working on the same type of project we were and we connected with them. When people connect, there is a “buzz” and energy that is produced. People say that professional meetings, and AGHE in particular, are great because they revitalize people. Perhaps this is because we get to connect and get recharged by that energy buzz all around us. Connectivity is contagious, fun, energizing, and just plain feels good. Let’s plan to connect and have some fun at our 40th Birthday Party next year! Best, Janet

References Gladwell, M. (2000). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. New York: Little, Brown & Company. Spring/Summer 2013 9


In & Around AGHE AGHE Endowment nearly at $100K! So, What’s Next? David C. Burdick Chair, Advancement Committee School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey [email protected] AGHE’s Advancement Committee is pleased to announce that we have nearly completed the first phase of AGHE’s Endowment Campaign … but additional support is needed and always welcome. Thanks to the generosity of nearly 150 donors, recently stimulated by a $15,000 matching grant from The Retirement Research Foundation (RRF), we now have raised nearly $100,000! Crossing this milestone will trigger three things: • N ew donors will no longer be listed as “Endowment Founders” – this is your last chance to be forever listed in this special group. The current listing is at the following link: http://www.aghe.org/templates/ System/details.asp?id=40634&PID=677595 • It moves us into Phase Two of our fund-raising efforts – to seek larger individual gifts, particularly through planned giving and bequest options. • M ost importantly, it begins to “pay the dividends” initially intended, by beginning to fund AGHE initiatives through annual investment income. When initially envisioned in 2004, the endowment was seen as one way to diversify AGHE’s funding base, allowing us to set aside funds in support of priorities and innovative programs. Then, as now, the vast majority of AGHE income was generated via institutional memberships and conference revenues. Unfortunately, once AGHE pays for normal operating expenses (salary/benefits, office rental, supplies, travel, etc.), there is rarely anything left to fund projects and initiatives. Indeed, for a few years during the national recession, AGHE ran some significant deficits. With careful cost-cutting, GSA support, increasing memberships, and an improved economy, AGHE’s budgets are again balanced. The improved economy also made a big difference in our endowment fundraising efforts. For example, while it took us nearly 7 years to raise $65,000, we were able to raise over $30,000 in just the first three months of 2013. Clearly, the Match from RRF was a big boost and we owe special thanks to RRF’s board members Marilyn Hennessy and John Santos (Emeritus Member) for their kind assistance! By the time you read this, you’ll most likely of heard about other incentives designed to further grow the endowment: a 10 Spring/Summer 2013

chance to win one free conference registration for the next annual meetings of GSA or AGHE, or to win a collection of educational videos generously donated by AGHE friend James Vanden Bosch, President of Terra Nova Films. So, what’s next? The Advancement Committee, in collaboration with AGHE’s Executive Committee and GSA leadership, will develop guidelines and procedures to encourage applications for funding from AGHE committees and task forces. We’ll also try to insure that endowment investments generate adequate income to fund small projects or provide seed funding for potentially larger projects. My personal preference would be to provide small stipends to recently retired AGHE faculty to allow them to write proposals for external funding – but this is just one of many ideas we’re considering!


Student News Colleen R. Bennett, MS, MA, PhD(c) Chair, Student Committee University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)/ University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) [email protected]

I am excited to be writing to you as the new Chair of the Student Committee! Welcome to our new committee members, especially our Chair-Designee Brian Downer, from the University of Kentucky, and our new Secretary Erica Hegland, from Purdue University. The committee is eager to embark on a new year, having had a successful and productive presence at the 39th AGHE Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida! Students were involved in many events, including the 2nd Annual Fellows Mentoring event, with over 40 students and over 15 AGHE Fellows attending. This tiered mentorship event included students spanning the undergraduate to doctoral levels, with a record 13 undergraduate students in attendance! Students presented many posters and papers, as well as supporting a successful Student Symposium entitled, “Riding the Waves of Change from Student to Professional,” and an interactive student panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Graham Rowles, entitled “Excellent in Teaching: A View from the Other Side of the Podium.”

Additionally, several students participated in the studentonly Civic Engagement Pre-Conference event. Students visited The Princess Martha Active Senior Living community, meeting with residents and assisting them with grocery shopping at a nearby Publix store. Thank you to our volunteers: Brian Downer, Erica Hegland, Sara Wagner of Messiah College, and Candace Brown of Virginia Commonwealth University! Too often, students are focused on classes and studying at their respective institutions; this event provides interaction with older adults and serves as a reminder for students as to why they study aging. This event lasted several hours, and was a highlight of the Annual Meeting for participating students; the committee is excited to propose and complete another Civic Engagement service project during the Pre-Conference activities at the 2014 Annual Meeting!

The Student Committee is also pleased to report having raised over $177 through the sale of Student Committeedesigned and produced “The Future of AGHE” pins at the Annual Meeting. This money was donated to the Endowment Campaign by the Student Committee as a show of the committee’s commitment to the future of AGHE. The committee hopes this annual tradition of commemorative pins will continue and grow over the coming year. Lastly, the committee is working hard to encourage committee members to donate to the Tree of Knowledge Campaign as a bonus show of support by students for the future of AGHE.

The Student Committee has many continuing and new goals for the upcoming year. The committee has developed and proposed a joint Symposium with ESPO for the upcoming GSA Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, to bring more exposure to AGHE and the Student Committee. Similarly, the committee plans to develop and execute a Student Symposium at the upcoming 40th AGHE Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado. Over the coming year, the committee also plans to maintain development of a “Reviewer in Training” relationship with the Gerontology & Geriatrics Education journal, as well as working closely with Angela Baker and the Program and Local Arrangements Committee to ensure that all student events, specifically Student Committee-sponsored events, are non-competing at the upcoming 2014 Annual Meeting. The committee also hopes to maintain and grow the active participation of Student Committee members as representatives and volunteers on other committees within AGHE.

Many students have graduated this year and others are ready to graduate. Congratulations to Melinda Heinz, who graduated with a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University and will be joining Upper Iowa University in August 2013 as an Assistant Professor in Psychology! Congratulations to Amber McIlwain, who will be graduating in December 2013; she has accepted an Assistant Professor position in the School of Health Administration at Texas State University-San Marcos! We’d also like to congratulate Susan Santiago who began her clinical position at Rutgers University this past February! Spring/Summer 2013 11


Global Aging News Global Aging News continued from page 1

on Long Life (Nov. 5, 2012 in Nazilli, Turkey). Here are reflections from those group members: Dena Shenk, PhD, Director, Gerontology Program and Professor of Anthropology, UNC Charlotte, dshenk@uncc. edu I have now participated in the 3rd, 4th and 5th International Symposia and have developed strong relationships with colleagues and students. It is exciting to be part of the development of the programs developed by Prof. Dr. Tufan since his Fulbright year in Charlotte, NC in 2007-08. Dr. Tufan and Sultan Kilic, Akdeniz University Gerontology MA graduate, spent summer 2011 in Charlotte collecting data for our research project on aging in the Meshetian Turkish community. I am thrilled to be able to play a small role in the development of gerontology education in Turkey and look forward to my next visit for the 6th International PsychoSocial and Applied Gerontology Symposium scheduled for November 1-2, 2014 in Antalya. Nina Silverstein, PhD, Director, Undergraduate Gerontology Program, UMass Boston, [email protected] I responded to an e-mail request in 2006 to send books in English to a new gerontology program in Turkey. As cochair of AGHE’s Academic Program Development Committee (APDC), it was easy for me to honor that request and encourage many APDC members to respond as well. This lead to trips to visit the program in Turkey. The highlights for me from my 2010 and 2012 trips were: site visits, students, and daily interactions with international gerontologists from Australia, Germany, Japan, Israel, Denmark and Turkey. Prof. Dr. Ismail Tufan, the Chair of the Department, has wasted no time in implementing his vision for gerontology at Akdeniz University and best models of care for Turkey. We saw adult day health for persons with Alzheimer’s disease that included both medical and dental care on site; in some cases, retired medical and dental professionals, who volunteered their time, delivered such care and even made house calls. We also saw a model home for dementia care, adjacent to a caregiver training center, that included state of the art home adaptations to show families and professionals the availability and the use of modifications that promote aging-in-place. Karen A. Roberto, PhD, Director of the Center for Gerontology and the Institute for Society, Culture and Environment, Virginia Tech, [email protected] I feel very fortunate to have been invited to the 4th and 5th International Symposia, as I have met some wonderful faculty and students from Turkey and elsewhere. When I first met Prof. Dr. Ismail Tufan, the vision he shared with me for gerontology in Turkey was inspiring. It was amazing to see how his ambitious dreams are becoming reality in such a short time. The gerontology program at Akdeniz University blends a rigorous academic curriculum with hands-on community efforts (and a beautiful new building) and is sure to attract 12 Spring/Summer 2013

many students preparing for careers in aging. I am pleased to be a small contributor to this growing gerontological enterprise and look forward to future collaborations with my new colleagues and friends from Turkey. Bei Wu, PhD, Professor and Director for International Research at the School of Nursing, Duke University, bei. [email protected] It was an honor for me to be invited to attend the two symposia in Turkey in November 2012. I am familiar with China’s gerontology education and have conducted many aging-related projects in China. However, the firsthand experiences I gained from the trip to Turkey have significantly enriched my way of thinking of gerontology education and research in a global context. Although the level of economic development differs in East and other parts of Asian countries, these countries face similar challenges, such as caring for older adults, due to rapidly changing family structures in the context of a caregiving system that has been based historically on filial piety combined with limited availability of formal caregiving services. It would be valuable for researchers and educators in the U.S. to foster/facilitate research collaborations and educational exchanges between developing countries, using China and Turkey as examples. Linda Harootyan, MSW, Deputy Director, Gerontological Society of America, [email protected] I was invited to Turkey to represent the Gerontological Society of America; I also had the added pleasure of presenting a certificate to Dr. Ismail Tufan, since the Gerontology Department at Akdeniz University had just become AGHE’s newest member. While Turkey is rapidly aging, it is still a relatively young country. The country has a great opportunity, under Prof. Dr. Tufan’s leadership, to do things right in preparing for an aging population. Turkey has time to carefully plan for the demographic shift. Hopefully, the country will avoid some of the problems that the U.S. and other nations have experienced and benefit from the collective knowledge gained to improve gerontology education and services and programs, such as improved quality of informal and formal long-term care of older adults. Susan B. Somers, JD, Secretary General, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (IPNEA), [email protected] I had met Ismail Tufan several years earlier at GSA in San Francisco and then again later, at the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics’ Regional Meeting in St Petersburg, Russia. We invited him to be our INPEA National Representative to Turkey; he was overwhelmingly approved by his peers. Certainly, it was no surprise to experience firsthand what compassion and dedication he possessed with respect to vulnerable older persons, but hearing him speak at the Congress

continued on page 13


Global Aging News What Are They Doing Now? A column on our retired colleagues and their life in retirement. I have been gone from active participation in AGHE for five years now, since I “retired” from full time teaching in June 2008. I moved almost 6,000 miles from my home and college in Maryland when I “retired.” And I keep putting that in quotes because, thanks to the training and experience given to me by my old community college, I was still teaching up to three subjects a semester for them online. This spring I was awarded the Anne Arundel Community College Student Association’s Online Teaching Excellence Award. Unfortunately, at the same time, the State of Maryland has passed a new law that does not allow anyone to work in Maryland who does not live in Maryland or one of the contiguous states with which it has income tax reporting agreements. How about them apples, as my mother used to quip. But, meanwhile, in our adopted home of Hilo, Hawai’i, through our wonderful senior center, I have been able to take classes in ukulele and hula with amazing teachers. I was very blessed to have been invited to join that hula teacher’s regular performance group and enjoy most our monthly performances at a local nursing home and to greet cruise ships that stop here. I was honored to have been given my Hawaiian name recently by my hula teacher. I have also been able to return to piano lessons at last with another superb teacher who is not a bit fazed by my clumsy old lady hands and always has a cup of tea ready for me when I arrive for a lesson. Ukulele and piano are my Zen times. I have also learned to snorkel and to stay out of the sun after about 10 a.m.! Sorry, folks; this is the rainy and lava rock side of the Big Island. Lots of greenery and flowers, but no sandy beaches. But I still think I have the dream “retirement” with all the opportunities for cultural enrichment open to all seniors here and loving it. I still miss AGHE meetings and the opportunity to work with the great people there, especially those on the Community College Task Force. I watch the goings-on through the AGHExchange and wish everyone the best. Mara Kent-Skruch [email protected]

Editor’s Note: If you are a retiree (or know of one I could contact), I would love to hear from you! Just send an email to: [email protected].

Global Aging News continued from page 12

revealed a depth of understanding of the phenomena of elder abuse and its consequences second to none. INPEA could not have found a better advocate for Turkey’s older persons!

( L-R) Bei Wu, Susan Somers, Dena Shenk, Linda Harootyan, Karen Roberto enjoying Istanbul - photo by Nina Silverstein

References Arun, O. (2013). Turkey Among the Fastest Aging Countries in the World. Presentation at the 39th AGHE Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference, February 28-March 3, 2013, St. Petersburg, Florida. Behar, C., (2006). “Demographic Developments and ‘Complementarities’: Ageing, Labor and Migration.” Turkish Studies, 7(1): 17-31. Holdsworth, J. (2013). The Gerontology Program at Akdeniz University: A Profile of Students, Faculty, Curriculum, and Vision. Presentation at the 39th AGHE Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference, February 28-March 3, 2013, St. Petersburg, Florida. Koç, İ., Eryurt, M.A., Adalı, T., & Seçkiner, P., (2010). Türkiye’nin Demografik Dönüşümü. Ankara: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Nüfus Etütleri Enstitüsü. TurkStat, (2012). Address Based Population Registration System. Ankara: Turkish Statistical Institute. The Global Aging Committee produces the Global Aging News column. It is part of the Committee’s mission, of globalizing gerontology and geriatrics education, to highlight issues of global aging and education by authoring articles that focus on such issues. Spring/Summer 2013 13


Geriatric Education Bridging an Aging and Disabilities Curriculum Jennifer Mendez, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Wayne State University School of Medicine, [email protected] Barbara LeRoy, Ph.D. Director, Developmental Disabilities Institute, Wayne State University, [email protected] Edward F. Ansello, Ph.D. Director, Virginia Center on Aging, Virginia Commonwealth University, [email protected] The population of people over the age of 60 worldwide is forecast to reach 1.5 billion by 2050 (National Institute on Aging & World Health Organization, 2011). Similarly, the World Health Organization and the World Bank both estimate that there are over one billion people with disabilities, variously defined, throughout the world. Additionally, many individuals with disabilities can now expect to live nearly as long as their peers without disabilities, increasing the diversity within aging populations. The greater longevity of these populations will present unprecedented opportunities and challenges for families, communities, businesses, governments, and, of course, higher education. Increases in populations of adults with lifelong disabilities, as well as the increased life expectancies of adults with late-onset disabilities, will result in greater numbers of individuals with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental health disorders, and have implications for family and community care providers. Consequently, this dual phenomenon of global aging and increased longevity for individuals with disabilities demands a significant emphasis on public health and education. Recent changes in federal agencies and programs are bringing aging and disability sectors together. For example, Health and Human Services has combined the Office of Aging and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities into the Administration for Community Living. This new title also reinforces the national vision of individuals being able to live within the community with supports and services throughout their lifespan. Similarly, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare is funding demonstration projects to integrate disability and aging health and community services into managed care programs. These population, policy, and practice changes will require new professionals who have been well trained in an interdisciplinary approach to service provision across aging and disability populations to meet the care giving needs. This offers an opportunity for AGHE to take the lead in developing thoughtful curriculum responses to these opportunities. Core values to be transmitted to these professionals through a new aging and disabilities curriculum should include: appreciation of heterogeneity; health and 14 Spring/Summer 2013

well-being; community inclusion and participation; choice and self-directed long term supports and services; income security; and sustained relationships. Related to these values, training should focus on: how providers and societies can meet the needs of populations aging with and aging into disability; preventing and managing age- and disabilityassociated secondary conditions and chronic diseases; designing sustainable policies to support healthy aging and community living as well as long-term and palliative care; identifying strategies to address the strains on pension and social security systems; preparing age- and disability-friendly services and settings, and fostering meaningful relationships within extended communities. The organizers and participants of the 2011 Growing Older with a Disability (GOWD) Conference, a part of the Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT), held in Toronto, Canada June 5-8, 2011 developed a declaration and are inviting governmental, non-governmental, professional, and consumer stakeholders to join in supporting and implementing this plan of action. The Toronto Declaration (2012) succinctly calls for the bridging of aging and disability across policy, practice and research to best serve and advocate for all older citizens in this new millennium. To endorse the Toronto Declaration, you can send your full name, organization name, and your contact information to torontodeclaration@marchofdimes. ca. You can review the Declaration itself at http://www. marchofdimes.ca/dimes/images/emails/FICCDAT/Toronto_ Declaration.pdf. To get more information (e.g., the Declaration in other languages, a list of endorsers, and dates/places of presentations and activities about the Declaration), go to the main website https://www.confmanager.com/main. cfm?cid=1793&nid=15919.

References Bickenbach, J., Bigby, C., Salvador-Carulla, L., Heller, T., Leonardi, M., LeRoy, B., Mendez, J., Putnam, M., & Spindel, A. (2012). The Toronto Declaration on Bridging Knowledge, Policy and Practice in Aging and Disablity. Retrieved from: http://www. marchofdimes.ca/dimes/images/emails/FICCDAT/ Toronto_Declaration.pdf National Institute on Aging & World Health Organization. (2011). Global Health And Aging. Retrieved from: http://www.nia.nih.gov/research/publication/globalhealth-and-aging The Geriatric Education Committee produces the Geriatric Education column. It is part of the Committee’s mission to respond to issues of geriatric education by authoring articles that focus on issues to advance geriatric education and teaching.


Teaching & Learning Resources Film Resource: The Elder Project From the Elder Project Website (http://icarusfilms.com/fanlight/eld.html): The National Film Board of Canada followed seven elders over a period of two years, recording their experiences as they faced potential physical and mental decline and the possibility of transitioning into more dependant living situations while trying to maintain their quality of life. While each person has different social, economic, health or cultural circumstances, all share the desire to grow older with dignity and a sense of control over their future. The elders share their views on issues that affect them: the loss of mental or physical abilities, the death of a close friend or spouse, moving closer to family members and more. Through a series of short, episodic and candid stories, we hear about their needs and desires in a personal, experiential and very revealing way. The film does not try to provide facts on care for older adults but rather uses storytelling to provide the social side of the aging experience from the point of view of the elders themselves. The film is over two hours long and is divided into six stories of 20 to 35 minutes each (two of the elders were filmed together). Each elder’s story is further divided into chapters of approximately five to eight minutes.

Launch of Intergenerational Learning & Research Web Page You are invited to preview AGHE’s newly developed intergenerational bibliography web page! This new initiative provides an international forum for the exchange of information pertaining to educational and programmatic resources related to the intergenerational field of study. Intergenerational Web Page Features • Up-to-date bibliographies in 13 concentrated areas including: education, technology, communication, civic engagement, workplace, workforce, international, policy, recreation and leisure, family relations, service learning, attitudes, and classics. • Intergenerational Articles, Books, and Syllabi • National and International Intergenerational Programs • Links to the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, the Osher Lifelong Learning Program, and other valuable resources • Opportunity to interact by posting comments on discussion page How to Access This Valuable Resource Visit: http://www.aghe.org/Intergenerational Happy Intergenerational Surfing!

Healthy Aging Conference Sponsored by New Center on Aging A new Center on Aging was established last year (201213) at California State University San Bernardino. The Center on Aging is a university-wide, interdisciplinary unit sponsored by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Sociology; Dr. Julian Montoro-Rodriguez and Dr. Dale Lund direct the Center. Its main goal is to unite people and resources to respond to the needs of a rapidly aging population in Southern California. CSUSB also offers an undergraduate certificate in gerontology. To see more details please check the website: http://centeronaging.csusb.edu.

The Center is sponsoring a collaborative “Healthy Living, Healthy Aging” Conference on November 14th-15th, 2013. This event will bring together multiple stakeholders across the San Bernardino and Riverside counties in order to promote healthy living and aging through preventive health programs, reduction of disparities in education and access, and creation of healthy community initiatives for sustainable healthy aging. For more details, please check the website at http://www.healthyagingconference.org/.


Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Dulles, VA Permit 201

Association for Gerontology in Higher Education Suite 901 1220 L Street NW Washington, DC 20005 Dated Materials Please Expedite

The AGHExchange (ISSN 0890-278X) is published three times per year—Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer—by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE). Copy must be received by the Editor no later than August 1, November 1, and April 1. AGHE member institutions or other interested institutions or individuals are invited to submit information for publication to the Editor, Lisa M. Curch, PhD, SUNY-College at Oneonta, Department of Sociology, 10-B Schumacher Hall, Oneonta, NY, 13820. Telephone: (607) 4363380. E-mail: [email protected]. E-mail submissions are preferred.

AGHE President

Non-members may be placed on the AGHE mailing list for $25.00 for one year, $30.00 non-U.S., $12.00 student/retiree, to receive the AGHExchange, information on the AGHE annual meeting, and other mailings. Checks should be made payable to AGHE and sent to the AGHE office at the address below.

Lisa M. Curch, SUNY-College at Oneonta

AGHE is an organization of academic institutions and affiliates involved in education/training, research and service related to gerontology. Requests for publications or address change should be sent to the AGHE office. General information and rates for advertising in the AGHExchange or purchasing the AGHE mailing list may be obtained from its office by contacting:

Janet C. Frank, University of California, Los Angeles AGHE Director M. Angela Baker AGHE Program Associate Dominic Frazier Editor Associate Editors Colleen Bennett, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Kelly Fitzgerald, Western Kentucky University Christine A. Fruhauf, Colorado State University Lynne Hodgson, Quinnipiac University Jenny Mendez, Wayne State University Julie Seifert, Northern Wisconsin Technical College Tamara Wolske, University of Indianapolis Graphics Production Michael Lally

Voice: (202) 289-9806

Proofing

Fax: (202) 289-9824

M. Angela Baker, AGHE

Web: www.aghe.org