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Aging News and Notes
JUNE 2014
Map Out a Plan to Approach Alzheimer's

When facing Alzheimer's disease, there are a lot of things to consider. Alzheimer's Navigator helps guide you to answers by creating a personalized action plan and linking you to information, support and local resources.

You can move at your own pace to:

...Create your private profile and complete the Welcome Survey.

...Take short surveys pertaining to your needs with:

  • Planning for the Future
  • Working with Doctor/Healthcare Professionals
  • Caregiver Support
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Home Safety
  • Driving
  • Knowledge of Alzheimer's

...Review your action plan to get more information, support and local resources.


Sophia Terazawa '13, who majored in psychology with a minor in aging studies, has had her article, "The Language of Loss: Modeling a Transformative Narrative of Grief," published in the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. Terazawa's fictional narrative is based on the true experience of her undergraduate Fieldwork in Gerontology course at Longview, a senior retirement community with which Ithaca College has had a 15-year partnership.

 

As the journal's abstract describes, "Through its silences and suffering, the language of loss speaks through Jacob, a grieving widower, as the author compiles her field notes to make sense of his pain...[She] shares her perspective on helping the client cope with the death of his wife."

 

"Every week I met with a man [at Longview] who had just lost his wife," Terazawa said. "'Jacob' was a pseudonym, and the narrated interactions with his family were loosely based on my past experiences with grieving people in hospice. However, his visceral reactions, anger, and resentment were very real. Much of the dialogue and observations from our time together were taken directly from my weekly journal that I kept for [Professor Elizabeth Bergman's] fieldwork course." 

Explore the Better Living Design Institute 

The Better Living Design Institute™ (BLD™) promotes, educates and encourages wide adoption of Better Living Design™, the design approach to improve how homes are built and remodeled in America. The BLD Institute™ has been informed and supported by over 30 other organizations, companies, universities and leaders in the universal design field. Homes in America are not currently designed and built to accommodate everyone in the household across their changing lives, and life stages. With the Boomer population in America continuing to grow, and indicating a strong desire to stay in their homes, the need for more livable home design becomes increasingly important.

The institute's website is worth a look. Sections are organized to appeal to designers, builders, and remodelers; to homeowners; and to those seeking products, manufacturers, and retailers.
Elizabeth Bergman, Aging Studies, Presents Research on Hospice Bereavement Services
Elizabeth
Bereavement services are an important part of end-of-life care with potential to ameliorate distress among bereaved caregivers. However, little is known about individuals' preferences regarding structure, content, and delivery of services.

Elizabeth Bergman, assistant professor of aging studies, recently presented "Exploring Bereavement Service Use Preferences and Motivations" at the 36th annual meeting of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), held April 23-26, 2014, in Baltimore. She presented survey outcomes from 60 bereaved hospice caregivers. Professor Bergman conducted the research in collaboration with Marna Metcalf, MA, a grief counselor with Hospice of Central New York.

Aging Studies Student, Alumni Receive Competitive Internship and Fellowships

The quality of Ithaca College's Aging Studies program is evidenced by the recognized accomplishments of its current students and alumni. The most recent honors include a competitive summer internship for a rising sophomore, and  Hartford Fellowships in Geriatric Social Work to two IC grads.

Zoe Eisenberg '17, an Aging Studies major, was awarded an undergraduate internship with the Risk and Resiliency Internship Project, associated with the NYC Elder Abuse Center. Risa Breckman, NYCEAC's executive director, said this about Zoe:

"With her clear dedication to issues affecting older adults and genuine enthusiasm towards learning about the perspectives of aging offered through the Risk and Resiliency Internship program, Zoe was a stand-out."

Two alumni, Rachel Stephenson '14 (aging studies major) and Nova Hubbard '14 (writing major and aging studies minor), have each been awarded funds for their graduate studies from the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Initiative. Rachel is enrolled in Binghamton University's social work program, while Nova will be attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work.

Kudos are due these accomplished young women!
Look for Our Next Newsletter in August! 
Our Mission
The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute provides high quality education to students and professionals, empowering them to positively impact the lives of older people.  
In This Issue
MAP OUT A PLAN FOR ALZHEIMER'S
GRADUATE PUBLISHES ARTICLE ON FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE
BETTER LIVING DESIGN INSTITUTE
PROFESSOR BERGMAN PRESENTS RESEARCH
STUDENT AND ALUMNI RECEIVE HONORS

Quick Links

 

 When Is It OK to Lie to Your Aging Parents?     

 

3 Big Ideas for Successful Aging in America              

  

Sensory Changes in Aging Adults  

     

Dished: Grind Dining Redefines Menus in Memory Care    

   

 Sexuality and Aging Today Blog at Widener University  

 

Medicaid Shared Living Programs (Dept. of Labor)    

 

NIH Senior Health: End of Life    

 

Transforming Aging with Tech 

 

More About the Gerontology Institute 

 

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