News & Highlights
2005 DeFriese Award Winners Chosen
The UNC Institute on Aging is pleased to announce the 2005 winners of the Gordon H. DeFriese Career Development in Aging Research Awards. Sharon Wallace Williams, PhD, is this year's faculty/staff awardee. Dr. Williams is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences of the Department of Allied Health Sciences. She is also a Research Scientist in the Center on Aging and Diversity at the UNC Institute on Aging. Jean Munn, MSW, is this year's doctoral student awardee. She is a student in the School of Social Work and is presently one of seven fellows in the national John A. Hartford Doctoral Fellowship Program in gerontology. Ms. Munn is serving as a graduate research assistant and research coordinator at the Program on Aging, Disability and Long Term Care of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Read the full news release.
IOA Appoints Business Manager
In March, the UNC Institute on Aging appointed Robin Burke as Business Manager, replacing Wendy Mann.
Robin has been Assistant Business Manager for the Institute for several years, and has been employed full-time at the IOA since 1999.
Read the news release.
Scholarships Available to LTC Policy/ Advocacy Conference
The long term care policy event and legislative advocacy day scheduled for April 18-19 in Raleigh, NC has scholarships available for volunteers working on long term care issues. Contact Helen Savage by email or at 919-508-0262.
Former CPHAR Fellow Appointed to Faculty at UVA
Dr. Ishan Canty Williams, who has completed a term as a postdoctoral fellow in the Institute's CPHAR (Carolina Program in Healthcare and Aging Research) program, has accepted a position as research professor at The University of Virginia.
Careers in Aging Week is April 11-15
The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) and The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) are proud to present the 4th Annual "Careers in Aging Week." During the week of April 11-15, 2005, colleges and universities will conduct individual programs to introduce a broad audience to the wide-ranging career opportunities that exist in aging and aging research. The project's web site has a full list of participating institutions.
International Aging, Disability Conference Set for 2006
The Third International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence will be held in St. Petersburg, Florida, February 1-4, 2006. The organizers have posted a Call for Papers and Abstracts at www.icadi.phhp.ufl.edu. Hosted by The University of Florida Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology and Aging in partnership with federal agencies, corporate sponsors, and partner organizations, the conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, business leaders and people involved in aging policy issues. The deadline for submitting a proposal is September 1, 2005.
Aging & Health Promotion News
ASA debuts physical activity module. The ASA's new module for healthcare and aging services providers, Physical Activity for Older Adults: Exercise for Life!, is now available on the Live Well, Live Long health promotion web site. Learning phases include: defining the problem, the nuts and bolts of physical activity, physical activity in your community, Exercise for Life! Physical Activity Program and Facilitator's Guide, and evaluating your physical activity program.
AFAR profiles obesity in older adults and boomers. The American Federation for Aging Research has released a report, Boom, Boom, Boom: Obesity Among Baby Boomers and Older Adults, focused on recent research demonstrating "important associations between obesity and the most serious age-associated diseases including cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, a growing list of cancers, and... even Alzheimer’s disease". The report represents the beginning of a public policy discussion of the public health implications of the obesity epidemic as it relates to aging.
April 4-10 is National Public Health Week. National Public Health Week: Empowering Americans to Live Stronger, Longer is sponsored by the American Public Health Association. This year, APHA is dedicating the national observance to empowering Americans to stay strong and healthy throughout their later years. APHA is asking seniors and their families to assess their current health status, identify potential risks and create a plan for maintaining optimum health. On the event web site are some great features such as a tools page, state events listing pages, and state fact sheets. Check out the one for North Carolina.
Featured Web Site
APA Online: Aging Issues
www.apa.org/pi/aging/
The Office on Aging is a coordination point for American Psychological Association activities pertaining to aging. The Office serves as an information and referral source on aging issues; develops and disseminates information pertaining to older adults to psychologists, other professionals, policymakers and the public; and is involved in efforts to bring what psychology knows into discussions on the issues facing older adults. On the web site, find recently published newsletters, fact sheets, resource guides and news from the public policy office.
This web site and others have been selected for inclusion in AgeLib, the IOA's Digital Library of aging resources. Search AGELIB now.New Library Resources
These are selected new additions to the AgeLib Digital Library. The links below will open a new window displaying the AgeLib record.
Global aging: the challenge of success
view the record
National Center for Patient Safety 2004 falls toolkit
view the record
State strategies to promote independence among older residents
view the record
Using the evidence base to promote healthy aging
view the record
New & Notable
Konetzka, R. Tamara, Stearns, Sally C., Konrad, Robert T., Magaziner, Jay; Zimmerman, Sheryl. (2005). Personal care aide turnover in residential care settings : an assessment of ownership, economic, and environmental factors. Journal of Applied Gerontology 24(2): 87-107.
Shanahan, Michael J.; Hofer, Scott M. (2005). Social context in gene-environment interactions: retrospect and prospect. Journals of Gerontology, Series B 60B (Special Issue I):65-76.
For a list of items recently published by North Carolina faculty, see New & Notable Publications.
Upcoming Events in NC
April 5, 2005
"Careers in Aging: Where to Begin?"
Elliott University Center, UNCG, Greensboro, NC
3:30 p.m.
April 6, 2005 CPHAR Seminar
The UNC Alumni Health Survey: health and disease in mid-life and its relationship to aging
Speaker: Dr. Ilene Siegler, Duke University
9-10:30am
April 7, 2005
Conversations with Octogenarians and Nonagenarians
UNC School of Medicine Program on Aging Spring Lecture Series
12:00 pm; 106 Berryhill Hall
April 12, 2005
Careers in Aging Week panel discussion with Master's program graduates
Sponsor: UNC Charlotte Gerontology Program
5:00 - 6:30 pm
April 13, 2005
"Meaning and Change in Clinical Aging Research"
Speaker: Dr. Stephanie Studenski
Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Distinguished Guest Lecture Series
12-1 p.m.
April 13-15 2005
Annual Training Conference of the North Carolina Association on Aging
Blockade Runner Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
April 14, 2005
"New Technologies and Innovation: Can We Improve Quality of Life?"
Speaker: Pat Sprigg, CEO, Carol Woods Retirement Community
UNC School of Medicine Program on Aging Spring Lecture Series
12:00 pm; 106 Berryhill Hall
April 18-19, 2005
Long Term Care Policy Event: Battling for Better Care
Sponsored by: AARP, UNC Institute on Aging, Friends of Residents in Long Term Care
Brownstone Holiday Inn Hotel, Raleigh
April 20, 2005 ECRA Seminar
Working with the Community
Panel arranged by Center for Aging and Diversity
9-10:30am
April 27, 2005 CPHAR Seminar
Theoretical Issues in Critical Gerontology
Speaker: Dr. Rick Moody, AARP
9-10:30am
Other Events
May 2005
Older Americans Month
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