The Southern Gerontologist
Vol. XXVIII, No. 1, Winter 2017
Greetings!
I am excited to soon be hosting the Southern Gerontological 38th Annual Meeting in Asheville, NC! We have an action-packed agenda for meeting attendees with plenty of fun opportunities to experience Asheville. I would like to highlight some of what we have planned. This is SGS’s first year of offering pre-conference workshops. We have two wonderful workshops scheduled for Thursday April 6th, including one on financial exploitation and another workshop that will fulfill part of the requirements to become a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Later that evening, the Presidential Opening Session entitled, “Applied Gerontology: Academic and Community Partnerships for Health” will be held featuring three innovative teams of researchers and community-based organizations that are working collaboratively to help improve health and wellness for older adults. As part of this panel, meeting attendees will hear about their important efforts, lessons learned in the collaboration, and an opportunity for the audience to ask questions. Following this session, our students will present their posters. Be sure to get to the conference early this year as you do not want to miss all that we have planned!
Friday April 7th is a full day and includes a Presidential Welcome Session titled “The Power of Place.” I’m pleased to announce that we will be hosting a specially planned lunch designed to highlight specific issues with respect to the LGBT population. The goal of this ‘lunch and learn’ session is to convene experts in research, policy, and practice to discuss key issues in the older LGBT community from an intersectional perspective, exploring the complex role of sexual and gender identity, race/ethnicity, and region on the aging experience. On Friday evening, we will celebrate at the Presidential Gala and Awards Ceremony, which will be hosted at The Venue in downtown Asheville. During the Gala and Awards ceremony, guests will be entertained, enjoy a delicious meal, and get to try some of Asheville’s finest locally crafted beers.
Saturday April 8th is a day full of excellent concurrent sessions, working committee luncheon (come join a committee), the close of our silent auction, and a night of networking and dine-arounds. SGS guests have the option to purchase tickets and enjoy a special evening aboard the La Zoom comedy city tour bus. We will conclude our conference on Sunday April 9th with two concurrent sessions of applied workshop intensives, followed by a distinguished panel with the Council of Presidents Session titled “Gerontology and SGS: The View from the Back Seat.”
I am looking forward to hosting you all in the beautiful mountain city of Asheville, North Carolina!
With warmest regards,
R. Turner Goins, SGS President 2016-2017
Welcome from the Program Chairs
The theme for the 38th Annual Meeting of the Southern Gerontological Society, “New Horizons in Aging: Advances in Research and Practice,” provides an opportunity for academicians and applied practitioners to share success stories and plan future endeavors to address the demands of our changing demography.
The program this year offers a diverse range of pre-conference workshops, posters, panel sessions, workshops, and plenary sessions. These are four content rich days you don’t want to miss. Thursday’s registration starts early in the morning at 7:30am with our first ever pre-conference workshops beginning at 8:00am, and the day concludes after the Presidential Opening Session with the Student Poster Session, from 8:00 to 9:30pm. Don’t forget to drop off your silent auction item between 11:00am and 6:00pm, before visiting the Exhibit Hall.
Why is SGS Friday always such a great day for students, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers? Meals are included all day Friday with conference registration! The morning starts at 8:00am, with a poster session and light breakfast selections. Three concurrent sessions follow. Everyone is invited to the LGBTQ Lunch & Learn, directly after the President’s Opening Address. Be prepared to make difficult decisions choosing between the concurrent sessions starting at 1:30pm, and at 3:30pm. Once again, everyone is invited to dinner at the Presidential Gala & Awards, beginning at 6 PM, at The Venue in Downtown Asheville. It’s another long day, but we feed you well.
The SGS Annual Business Meeting, with breakfast included, begins at 8:00am on Saturday, with concurrent sessions following from 10:00 to 11:30am. You can pick up a boxed lunch and join a committee/committee workgroup, or choose to explore Asheville’s restaurants for lunch. Make sure you make it back in time for another round of concurrent sessions at 1:30 and 3:30pm. Then the action really begins! The final bids for the Silent Auction start at 5:15pm. You don’t want to miss this, even if you haven’t placed a bid. You do have to be present to win auction items. The student Meet and Greet starts at TGI Fridays around 5:30pm. We then meet at 6:15 for Dine Arounds and the LaZoom Tours. Check out “LaZoom Tours – City Comedy Tour” on their website. There is only a 40-person limit per bus, and it’s only $25 per person - tickets for the tour can be purchased directly from our SGS registration booth. We have lots of options for the Dine Around in Asheville, the culinary star of the Appalachian South. Be back from Dine-Arounds to enjoy Movie Night as SGS has received the licensing rights to present a special documentary screening of "The Age of Love: It is Never too Late to Date". The movie screening will start just before 8:30pm.
But wait! You don’t want to miss Sunday’s workshops and Council of President’s Closing Session. It’s been a long weekend, but where else can you go to be with such a diverse group who are passionate about aging issues? You start with a continental breakfast, and then choose between four excellent one- hour workshops and the closing session is always riveting.
Bert Waters & Elizabeth Tait
2016 SGS Program Co-Chairs
Welcome to Asheville!
What a panorama of experiences ….a single list hardly covers half of the opportunities that await our annual meeting guests but here is just some of what this wonderful city has to offer: Waterfalls! Rivers! Beautiful mountains! Canopy adventures! Hiking! Shopping! PubCycling (really – it’s a bar on a bike)! Rafting! Boating! Spas! Fly fishing! More shopping! The Biltmore House! The Blue Ridge Parkway! Downtown (saunter Asheville’s Urban Trail and check out the Flat Iron by the Flatiron Building or the Cat on Wall Street’s cat walk)! More shopping! The River Arts District! Amazing music! Drum Circles! Take Asheville’s African-American history tour and hear voices from the past & present; or see Asheville from the Grey-line bus tours – with frequent on/off stops in all the right places. We have even arranged for a Saturday night City Comedy LaZoom Bus tour of Asheville for those who would like to join us. Be sure to reserve your space on the bus as SOON as you arrive at the conference. Tickets are $25.00 and limited in number.
Do you enjoy beer? Asheville boasts more breweries per capita than any U.S. city. Roughly 100 local beers can be enjoyed in Asheville, served on draft and in bottles. Each of our breweries has its own unique atmosphere and personality and the same could be said for the beer.
Do you enjoy fine cuisine? From casual to sophisticated, there are restaurants for all tastes. In downtown Asheville, choose from 60+ locally-owned restaurants with cuisine from around the world. Many feature "farm-to-table" seasonal specials with local food.
Do you enjoy Shopping? From the nearby outlet mall to downtown to the Biltmore village to the world renowned Folk Art Center – Asheville has it all
Oh sure, the chamber sums up Asheville as a city in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, known for a vibrant arts scene and historic architecture, including the dome-topped Basilica of Saint Lawrence, the vast 19th-century Biltmore estate, the Downtown Art District filled with galleries and museums, and the River Arts District, former factory buildings now housing artists' studios – but take it from me: Asheville is an amazing place. You’ll want to see / do / taste / experience it all. Then, you WILL want come back. Again, welcome to Asheville!
Elizabeth Tait
Assistant Professor, Master of Health Sciences (MHS) Program
School of Health Sciences
Western Carolina University
Financial Exploitation: Understanding and preventing today’s scams and older adult financial abuse. A Southern Gerontological Society – Pre-Conference Workshop Event:
Elder abuse is a menacing problem that victimizes older adults and often goes unreported. While there are many different types of elder abuse, one specific form of abuse that is growing exponentially is financial exploitation. Through innovative technology and strategic criminal targeting, older adults are more vulnerable to financial abuse than any other type of abuse.
Please join us for this important and informative workshop where participants will learn about the extent and nature of various types of elder abuse with a particular focus on financial exploitation. Information will be provided on the dynamics of scams and techniques abusers use to victimize older adults and techniques for identifying and responding to this type of abuse.
All who attend this workshop will benefit from the information presented. We strongly encourage those who work directly with older adults (Adult Protective Service Managers, Social Workers, Personal Bankers, Financial Advisors/Planners, and Law Enforcement Officials) to join us.
SESSION PRESENTERS
Dr. Anita N. Blowers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and Graduate Director of the Gerontology Program. Her current research focuses on elder abuse and neglect, older offenders and the criminal justice system, sentencing, criminal justice policy and the scholarship of teaching. Dr. Blowers has published in numerous criminal justice and law review journals as well as a variety of book chapters.
David Kirkman, JD, retired earlier this year from his position as Special Deputy Attorney General in the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division. He was an enforcement attorney there for three decades and managed the Department’s Elder Fraud Unit for the last twelve years. David represented North Carolina on several consumer protection executive committees of the National Association of Attorneys General and on numerous state, federal and international law enforcement task forces that addressed cross-border fraud, telemarketing fraud, money laundering, fraud-induced wire transfers, home repair fraud, elder fraud and internet fraud. David served on the North Carolina General Assembly’s Legislative Task Force on Elder Fraud and co-chaired the Task Force’s subcommittee that drafted and helped pass Senate Bill 140 (2013 session), legislation that enhanced the ability of banks to cooperate with law enforcement in stopping elder fraud activities and which also made it easier for local prosecutors to charge and convict elder fraud criminals.
Tammy J. Smith is the White Collar Resource Prosecutor for the NC Conference of District Attorneys. She oversees the statewide Financial Crimes Initiative, produces trainings and conferences in the area of financial crime and carries an active caseload of financial crime cases. Prior to joining the conference of District Attorneys, she worked with the legal division of the Administrative Offices of the Courts. While in that role she served as Public Records officer for the Judicial Branch.
WORKSHOP DETAILS:
Workshop Date: Thursday, April 6, 2017
Workshop Time: 1:00pm until 4:30pm
Location: Vanderbilt 1 Room at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Biltmore,
Asheville, North Carolina
115 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC
Continuing education contact hours (NASW-NC): 3 hours
Cost: $65.00
Cost includes CEU credit hours, snack, and beverages
Attendees must be pre-registered to attend this workshop. Pre-registration can be completed through the Southern Gerontological Society’s website at www.southerngerontologicalsociety.org or by calling the Management Offices of SGS at (866) 920-4660.
We strongly encourage workshop attendees to remain after the workshop to enjoy the kick-off evening activities of the Southern Gerontological Society’s 38th Annual Meeting titled “New Horizons in Aging: Advances in Research and Practice”.
National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Training
Whether you want to increase your knowledge or pursue certification as a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), this class is for you.
Who should attend?
Nurses, CNAs, social workers, activity professionals, geriatric care managers, licensed nursing home and assisted living administrators, adult day staff, and any front line staff and health care professional working with persons diagnosed with dementia.
This course is sponsored by the Southern Gerontological Society.
Information that will be covered in the seminar
· Overview of dementia, including diagnosis, prognosis and treatment
· Communication
· Feelings and depression, aggressive behaviors, catastrophic reactions
· Difficulties like repetitive behaviors, paranoia, hallucinations, wandering, and hoarding
· Intimacy issues and sexuality
· Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting, nutrition
· Pain management
· Staff and family support, environment, activities
· Diversity and cultural competence
· Spiritual care; end of life issues
· Elder abuse
Become a Certified Dementia Practitioner
By attending the conference pre-session, attendees get a discounted application fee of $25 (normally $100) for the two year certification. Please note, however, that taking the class does not guarantee certification. This class meets one of the requirements for becoming a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Applicants must be certified or licensed in a health care profession or related field to apply for CDP certification, meet all requirements of the national organization, and be approved for certification by NCCDP. For more information on certification, other eligibility requirements, and an application go to www.nccdp.org or contact the NCCDP/ICCDP Office at (877) 729-5191 or nccdpcorporate@nccdp.org.
Instructor: Denise Scruggs, ADC, CDP & CADDCT
Denise Scruggs is a Certified Activity Director (ADC), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) and a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT) for the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners/ International Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Denise has more than 24 years of experience in dementia care, both personally and professionally. Her experience includes work in activities, social work, family caregiving, consulting, and memory support program management spanning long term care, adult day care, assisted living, memory care, consulting, and education. She was also a caregiver for two family members with dementia.
Denise currently serves as the Director of the Beard Center on Aging and is a member of the advisory committee for the Lindsay Institute for Innovations in Caregiving and the Dementia Awareness Resource Team in her locality. She has been a dementia care trainer for NCCDP for nine years, and most recently was an invited presenter at the Institute for the Advancement of Senior Care’s national Memory Care Forums in Austin, Texas and San Diego, California.
For more information: Call (434) 544-8456 or email scruggs.dr@lynchburg.edu.
WORKSHOP LOCATION AND SCHEDULE
When: Thursday, April 6, 2017, 7:30am – 8:00am check-in & refreshments, 8:00am-4:30pm training
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina in the Stuyvesant Room
How: There are 2 ways to register:
1) Registration for this event can be purchased through the SGS Annual Meeting Conference Registration at www.southerngerontologicalsociety.org. For attendees who wish to also attend the full conference, this workshop can be added to the conference registration.
2) Call or email the Southern Gerontological Society Association Manager, Ms. Lee Ann Ferguson at (866) 920-4660 or admin@southerngerontologicalsociety.org. Ms. Ferguson can process registration and payment by phone.
Costs: Training Cost: $165 per participant, which includes all training materials and lunch. Payment and registration for this workshop must be made by March 1, 2017.
Cancellation Policy: There is a $50 cancellation fee. Attendee substitutions can be made should a participant find they are unable to attend.
GRITS Nomination Guidelines
The Southern Gerontological Society has a history of recognizing outstanding gerontologists in the field of aging, and this year will not be an exception. Nominations are being accepted until March 10th. The process is fairly simple: state why you believe this person or organization is worthy of the award, and ask two other individuals to write a brief letter supporting the nomination. My and others' experiences of the nomination process have been that your colleagues and friends will be more than happy to write a letter of support for the nominee and wonder why they didn’t think of nominating that person or organization themselves. I encourage all SGS members to seriously consider nominating someone for the awards.
The SGS award academic categories range from student awards—where the individual is in the beginning of their career—to the Gordon Streib Distinguished Academic Gerontologist Award—where the individual has established themselves in their career as a leader in the field.
The Rhoda Jennings Distinguished Older Advocate Award was created to recognize a senior adult/retiree who is living their life striving to better the lives of others. This award was named after Rhoda Jennings, an extraordinary advocate for older adults. The recipient of the Older Advocate Award does not need to be a member of SGS. I would hope that all SGS members have an older adult that stands out in their minds as an example of “what I want to be when I grow up.” Why not recognize this person by nominating him/her for this award?
The Best Practice Award is for an organization/business/advocacy group/program to be recognized for their work in supporting senior adults. I know that I have certain organizations or groups I refer senior adults and their family members to because of their great work. Do you? If so, show your appreciate by nominating them.
To nominate, go to southerngerontologicalsociety.org/awards
LaVona Traywick, Awards Chair
Help support SGS Through the 2017 Silent Auction
The Auction is our way to raise funds for the SGS Student Support Scholarship, and it also provides an opportunity to acquire those gift items for you and your loved ones without having to leave the premises. This event is lots of fun and provides an opportunity to meet people you may have missed at the presentations. As usual we will have many wonderful items on which to bid and we will continue to have our "Buy It Now" option for those who may not be staying for the entire time.
Here are some FAQs to assist you in your buying/donating decision process:
What kind of things may I donate?
Bring anything you think will appeal to SGS meeting participants. Some of our more popular items are: books (autographed ones are nice), jewelry, chocolates, college/university items, collectibles, gifts for children, handmade crafts, gift cards from national store chains (especially bookstores), items that represent your state or region, items you "won" at previous auctions that you may wish to pass on, or anything with an aging theme. Sometimes we even have a donation of a weekend at a beach condo or theme park tickets! You will receive a receipt for your donations that you can use to deduct the full, fair market value of the item on your 2017 income taxes.
How does the Silent Auction work?
The donated items are displayed on tables, with a bid sheet beside each item. When you find an item you like, write down your bid, making sure your bid is above the required minimum. Throughout the conference, you will want to periodically check your bid, and if someone is bidding against you, RAISE YOUR BID! At the close of the Auction, the highest bidders get their items and make their payment (cash, check or credit cards are accepted).
Where do I take the items I bring for the Auction?
The Auction set-up time begins Thursday, April 6 1:00P-5:00P, in the Amherst Room at the DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville Biltmore. Bring your items then or anytime during the Annual Meeting but the sooner the better for more bidding action! One of our Silent Auction volunteers will check in your items and give you a receipt that you may use for your tax deduction.
When will the Silent Auction take place?
The Auction is open through the Annual Meeting as follows: Thursday, April 6 (Auction set-up and intake) 1:00P-5:00P; Friday, April 7 9:00A-5:00P; and Saturday, April 8 9:00A-5:00P with FINAL BIDDING beginning at 5:00P. However, the Amherst Room will be closed during the Joint A Committee Luncheon Friday 11:30A-1:00P, and during the Lunch & Learn--LGBTQ Aging Issues session Saturday 11:45A-1:00P. The Silent Auction tables will close promptly at 5:15P on Saturday after the Final Bidding. Be sure to visit the tables during your coffee breaks or when you are visiting the exhibits to place your bids.
How will I know if I win the items I bid on?
It is preferable that you be at the Silent Auction when it closes on Saturday at 5:00P or if you can arrange for someone to represent you. As each of the tables is "closed," take the items you have won to the cashier and pay for them (cash, checks, MasterCard and Visa are accepted). If you can't be present at the closing, check at the SGS registration desk later in the afternoon to see if your bids were successful; or come to the registration booth on Sunday anytime between 8:00A and 10:00A. ANY ITEMS NOT CLAIMED BEFORE THE CLOSING SESSION ON SATURDAY MORNING WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF LIVE AT THAT TIME.
Let's make the 2017 Silent Auction a great success so that our scholarship fund can continue to grow! The Auction generated $2,750 in funds during our Annual Meeting last year in Charlottesville. If you aren't able to participate in the Annual Meeting, but would still like to donate a Silent Auction item, you are welcome to mail the item to the SGS office to be included! Contact Lee Ann Ferguson, Association Manager, at admin@southerngerontologicalsociety.org or call 866-920-4660.
Greetings! - SGS Association Manager News Updates
Hi everyone!
The last few months have really blown by and here we are, just a month to go before we see each other in Asheville, North Carolina! I'm so thrilled to once again share great news about the progress of SGS. SGS continues to make great strides through the help and hard work of our committees. Our membership committee is actively engaged in pursuing new ideas about membership and member benefits and our membership continues to expand! The SGS program committee has done an exceptional job on this year's conference content. The publications committee has been hard at work in their search for a new editor for our journal, the Journal of Applied Gerontology. The budget and finance committee is actively engaged in making sure SGS considers sound investments for SGS's future. The student committee has been busy prepping special experiences for our students, both at the conference and before, with "Student Pre-Conference Prep" virtual conferences (the next is scheduled for March 6 at 1pm). Our Council of Presidents, nominations committee, and awards committee are working hard to manage SGS's future directions, officer elections, and to honor those who have enriched the field of gerontology. And last, but not least, the SGS Bylaws committee has been working on updating language and policy in our Policy & Procedure Manual and Bylaws.
Managing an organization when there are so many actively engaged people doing such great works is simply a joy. Our committees are always looking for new members and I would encourage all to consider joining us for the committee lunch hour on Saturday, April 8th in Asheville. We need YOU to help continue making SGS successful.
Please be on the lookout for the annual SGS elections ballot! The nominations committee is currently working on the ballot and it will be sent by email link to all active SGS members.
The full conference program will be released soon. Wonderful material continues to get added but we will have full details and schedules out by March 8.
My very best to you all.
Sincerely,
Lee Ann S. Ferguson
SGS Association Manager
CALL FOR EDITOR APPLICATIONS Journal of Applied Gerontology
The Southern Gerontological Society is inviting applications for the position of Editor of the Journal of Applied Gerontology. The incumbent will succeed Dr. Joseph E. Gaugler, who will be retiring from the editorship of the Journal in 2017.
Preferred qualifications for the position include:
- · Experience as a journal editor or editorial board experience
- · A publishing record that includes publications in refereed journals
- · A history of involvement in research involving applied gerontology
- · An understanding of and commitment to the mission and strategic plan of the journal
The Editor tenure is three years with optional renewal for an additional three year term. The Editor reports to the Publications Committee of the Society. The editor is responsible for soliciting manuscripts and managing the peer review process for the Journal. Further Information is available from the Publications Committee Chairperson, Dr. Constance L. Coogle (contact information provided below).
For an Applicant to be considered, the following materials must be provided:
- · Letter of intent outlining vision for the Journal of Applied Gerontology
- · A current vita
- · Reprints or photocopies of no more than three of the applicant’s most significant journal articles
- · A statement from an administrator of the applicant’s institution or organization describing support for the appointment
Please send applications to:
Constance L. Coogle, Ph.D.
Chair, SGS Publications Committee
Virginia Center on Aging
Virginia Commonwealth University,
PO Box 980229
Richmond, VA 23298-0229
Phone: (804) 828-1525
Email: ccoogle@vcu.edu
Council of Presidents (COPS) Column
The Past-Presidents’ symposium, “Gerontology and SGS: The View from the Backseat,” for the SGS annual meeting in Asheville aims to stimulate discussion of the future of Gerontology and SGS. Symposium presenters are asked to share personal and professional insights looking forward from the backseat. I enjoy “ruminating” from the backseat, free from analysis of eminent threats while driving.
None of you wants to hear “I walked to school two miles through 2 feet of snow” stories but I recall biannual Midwest Council for Social Research in Aging training seminars. Pre- and post-doctoral fellows from Midwestern campuses, program faculty, and invited mentors shared insights about gerontological research unbounded by disciplinary affiliation. Although the program faculty were sociologists, invited mentors were accomplished scholars representing other disciplines including anthropology, economics, political science, history, and psychology among others. I looked forward to these gatherings as an opportunity to learn from others free from disciplinary constraints.
Two years into my appointment in a sociology department, as the sole gerontologist on campus, half of my time was allotted to develop educational programs in gerontology. About five years later that half time was redirected for a 15-year period to direct a multi-disciplinary research center on aging housed in the medical school. While the appointment fed my own interest in education and research on aging through work with colleagues in clinical and other disciplines, colleagues in my home department questioned whether I was “doing sociology.” Nonetheless, my multidisciplinary interests continue to the present, looking at the relevance of emerging paleoanthropological, genetic and neuroscience research results for the intersection of aging and cognition.
I also recall Association for Gerontology in Higher Education committee meetings discussing strategies to enhance the relevance and legitimacy of educational programs. The subtext was strategies to improve the competitive position of gerontology educational programs in the allocation of campus resources. In the absence of a professional accrediting body, we discussed results of AGHE’s national assessment of educational programs leading to “standards and guidelines” underlying program of merit designation stratified by undergraduate and graduate certificate or degree-granting status. The later emergence of doctoral programs in gerontology appeared to define a path to disciplinary legitimacy.
Looking forward from the backseat, I wonder whether the disciplinary quest will lead to “circling the intellectual wagons” undermining multidisciplinary inquiry that led many of us into gerontology. As a sociologist, I reveled in GSA and SGS annual meetings as educational venues spanning disciplines. Will the quest for disciplinary legitimacy foster theoretical and methodological stagnation undermining the unique SGS mission including academic and community partnership? Pending approval of the proposed symposium, I invite you to join the discussion in Asheville.
Jim Mitchell
Eastern Carolina University
SGS Past President - 2009-2010
Council of Presidents (COPS) COLUMN: Generation, History and Social Security – Dr. Ed Rosenberg
20 January 2017
I am writing this having just listened to Donald Trump’s inaugural speech. It was short, focused, and unsurprisingly negative and disconnected from reality, a reprise of his campaign stump speech. It was also jingoistic and, in the end, as are all political speeches, only words.
One of my favorite political columnists, the late Molly Ivins, proposed three rules for evaluating politicians: look at the record, look at the record, and look at the record. To date, little in Mr. Trump’s speech squares with his record as a businessman or politician or with his nominations for cabinet posts and other positions. There is nothing to suggest he will put America first, or make it great again, unless it first puts Donald Trump first and makes him greater, again. But by the time you read this, we’ll have had some time to look at Mr. Trump’s record as President. Perhaps he’ll be surprising the doubters. Perhaps he’ll prove me wrong, my fears unfounded. I fervently hope so.
As of this writing, though, the smart money says Mr. Trump will differ from prior Republican presidents only in public demeanor. His economic agenda will be to cut taxes for rich individuals and big businesses and to slash spending for social programs. In this way he copies Ronald Reagan’s trickle-down, supply-side approach, which George H. W. Bush (Bush I), who served as Reagan’s vice president, called “voodoo economics.” Of course, this didn’t deter Bush’s son, George W. Bush (Bush II), from also copying Reaganomics... with the same disastrous results.
So I am concerned about social programs, about supports for those who need support. And as a gerontologist, naturally I’m thinking about Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other programs that help older adults avoid or escape poverty and keep their adult children from becoming impoverished as they assist their aging parents.
The older population is swelling to an unprecedented degree due to the aging of the Baby Boomers. Gen Xers, who followed the Boomers, and millennials (a/k/a Gen Y), born between the early 1980s and 2000, are moving into higher education and the labor force. They – not the Boomers – are the drivers of America’s future economy and polity and, just as importantly, future morality and values. For it’s morality and values that we enact formally into policy and law and informally into societal norms. Those policies, laws and norms will shape the lived experience of older adults for decades to come. And, consequently, the lives of younger adults as well.
Thus it’s important to know what these younger generations are like – what their morals and values are, how they see America, why they see it that way, and what this portends for current and future older Americans.
There are too many relevant generations and aging-related programs to address in this column, so as an example I’ll focus on one generation – the millennials – and one program: Social Security. How does Social Security fit into millennials’ values, what do they know about it, what do they think about it? If their knowledge of Social Security is inaccurate, so will be their consequent attitudes about it, and the expression of their attitudes through behaviors like caregiving and voting will be inefficient and misdirected.
What are key traits of millennials? What do they know about the older population, about Social Security? How do they feel about both? What misinformation do they accept about older adults and Social Security? Are millennials’ attitudes/beliefs truly generational or more based on age or life stage? What role can SGS play regarding the intersection of generation, history and Social Security?
As gerontology educators and practitioners, SGS members “have a skin in this game.” This is especially the case for SGS’s younger professionals and student members, many of whom are themselves millennials – between their late teens and early 30's. Where better to begin examining the critical intersection of Social Security, millennials and contemporary American society than with, say, informal discussions or even focus groups of emerging gerontology practitioners and educators at our next SGS conference?
Older SGS members can serve as resources, both for their expertise and for having lived through much of the evolution of Social Security that younger members know only through their studies and research. But – and I’m speaking as an older SGS member – it’s the younger members whose perspectives, attitudes and ideas are arguably more important. It’s the younger SGS members who’ll be teaching, researching, training, interacting with and guiding their generations as they confront Social Security’s challenges and advocate for the most rational and beneficial solutions. They’re the ones to dispel Social Security myths, misperceptions and misinformation spread by those who would morph the program’s primary focus from public service to private profiteering. They’re the ones who know how their generation thinks, what it responds to, what will move it to action that establishes and maintains generational equity.
Thus SGS’s younger practitioners and academics, and student members, too, have a crucial role to play in reaching younger generations in the SGS region, in providing them accurate information, in helping them discern reality from “alternative facts” and scare-mongering. So, SGSers under 40... let’s talk! Tell us what will work. I’m listening.
10 February 2017
Unfortunately, the pessimism I began this column with hasn’t been dispelled. In today’s New York Times, Nobel-winning economist Paul Krugman wrote, “We’re only three weeks into the Trump administration, but it’s already clear that any hopes that Mr. Trump and those around him would be even slightly ennobled by the responsibilities of office were foolish. Every day brings further evidence that this is a man who completely conflates the national interest with his personal self-interest, and who has surrounded himself with people who see it the same way.”
Mr. Trump’s likely economic proposals... as I’ve noted, we’ve seen them before, from Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Cut taxes for wealthy people and businesses, increase defense spending, yet miraculously reduce the deficit and balance the budget. The math doesn’t work and hasn’t, as Krugman once wrote, “in the history of the universe.” Here’s the “miracle” that makes it work: slash human services spending. Watch out, folks. It’s coming. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Great Things Are Around the Corner
Submitted by Denise Scruggs, SGS Membership Committee Chairperson
Do you want to be more involved? Are you looking for leadership opportunities? Or do you want to network with other gerontology professionals?
If you answered yes to any of the questions, stay tuned for the possibility of many exciting opportunities and changes in membership in the upcoming year.
Throughout the past year, the Membership Committee has worked tirelessly to review membership practices, identify barriers to joining, and look at membership benefits. As a result, the committee has been involved in the following activities.
· A membership survey was developed and will be distributed online this spring to gather feedback on a variety of topics including: reasons for joining, perceived benefits of membership, future membership plans, annual meeting attendance, website utilization, and overall satisfaction with SGS membership.
· Although 2017 membership is at the highest numbers in over 10 years, it is felt that the organization still has room to grow. It is also felt that we can increase corporate, student, and organizational memberships by changing our fees structure and making our memberships more affordable. Among other changes, the Committee is recommending that annual corporate membership rates be reduced from $500 to $250 with a free one-year online subscription to the Journal of Applied Gerontology added as a benefit. There are many more changes to come!
· SGS State Representative positions are being developed. These new leadership positions will increase visibility of SGS in each state, promote association activities, and offer both networking and leadership opportunities for members. SGS State Representatives will serve as local contacts and liaisons between SGS and academics, practitioners, and students within each of its 14 states. Additional information will be available at the annual meeting. Consider becoming a representative for your state!
· The Membership Committee will step up membership marketing activities during the annual meeting in Asheville. Committee members will staff a booth at the meeting to increase visibility and generate interest in State Representative positions. An association PowerPoint is also being updated and will be available to use with community groups.
Plan to stop by our booth in Asheville. Give us your feedback by completing and returning your survey, and most importantly consider serving as one of SGS’s first State Representatives.
Students: Tips to Make the Most of Your Conference
By Deborah J. Yoder & Jennifer A. Bellingtier
The SGS Student Committee has been hard at work preparing for this year’s annual meeting in Asheville, N.C. We are excited to announce two Pre-Conference Prep workshops for help preparing a poster or paper presentation and a number of opportunities to engage with peers and mentors at the conference.
The Pre-Conference Prep workshops will be hosted Monday, February 27th at 11am-12pm and Monday, March 6th at 1pm-2pm via virtual RingCentral meetings. Students are encouraged to call or log in for: tips on conference presentations, what to expect at the conference, a chance to get to know each other, and ways to connect at the annual meeting. We are excited to share our past experiences and expertise with you, and help you make the most of your conference experience.
The student poster and paper awards deadline has been extended to March 10th, and everyone who has submitted a poster or paper is encouraged to apply. This is a great opportunity to be recognized for your work and to receive financial support for continued study. Winners will be acknowledged at the Presidential Gala on Friday night. This is always one of the highlights of the conference and not to be missed!
While you’re submitting your own work, take a few minutes to consider who has helped you most and nominate them for a mentor award. As students, we need the support of our professors and faculty and really appreciate those who go above and beyond. Take this opportunity to nominate someone who has been particularly generous with their time and energy and help them get the recognition they deserve.
While in Asheville, be sure to stop by the student networking lounge to meet fellow students and mentors, and to pick up some SGS student swag. We will also be hosting a happy hour meet and greet Saturday night. We would love to meet you and hear your thoughts- what works well for you and the type of support you would like to see in the future. We look forward to meeting you and building a strong community within student-friendly SGS, one of the few professional organizations that makes students a priority.
The student committee will be meeting at the April 8th luncheon to organize our priorities for the coming year and the conference at Lake Lanier, Georgia from April 11th through April 14th, 2018. We would like to hear from as many students as possible so, please, join us!
Please do not hesitate to reach out to your student representatives as you prepare for the conference. We are here to help!
May We Propose...
This year brings the implementation of a new idea for our Newsletter. In each edition we will be providing a forum for the presentation of brief abstracts or summaries of ongoing research. This edition features research currently in progress or recently completed by our student members.
Tyler Corson, PhD candidate in the Gerontology track at the School of Allied Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University (703) 678-6876
My dissertation research, currently in the data collection phase, focuses on the impacts of mental illness (SMI). The study examines stigma as a primary stressor with Pearlin's Stress Process Model of Caregiving to investigate the potential connection between caregivers' perceptions of SMI stigma and their desire to relinquish their caregiving roles. Relinquishment decisions have important emotional and practical impacts for both caregiving dyad members, as well as potential implications for public systems (e.g., homeless shelters, emergency departments). In a complimentary phenomenological study, I am interviewing SMI caregivers about their personal experiences with stigmatization. The purpose of my research is to identify points in the caregiving stress process that influence care relinquishment, and to inform the discussion about how to best invest scarce public resources to alleviate the most burdensome stressors.
Cards Against Inhumanity--VCU Gerontology Students Combine Anti-Ageism and Entrepreneurship
Even a few minutes spent in the greeting card section of any store will reveal dozens of harmful, ageist messaging aimed at pathologizing age. Multiply that number of cards by each store that carries them, and the scope of ageist messaging can seem overwhelming.
Students in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Gerontology master’s degree program are working to shift the narrative within the $7 billion greeting card industry. Launched in September 2016, Wise Guys Greeting Cards will offer greeting cards with messages that promote positive aging.
“The mission of WiseGuys greeting cards is to provide greeting cards for adults 65+ that are affirming, realistic, and embrace aging,” co-founder Lori Kvam says.
The company presented at an Aging 2.0 pitch event in Richmond, which encourages entrepreneurship in the space around aging and technology. Aging 2.0’s Richmond chapter is a collaboration between the Greater Richmond Age Wave and Genworth Financial.
“Wise Guys is a fantastic business idea because the current greeting card model is clogged with ageism to the point that it’s almost impossible to find a card for anyone older than 30 that isn’t offensive at some level,” says Aging 2.0 Richmond Ambassador Catherine MacDonald. “As an organization, we were eager to give these students a platform for their efforts.”
The positive aging cards are still in the development phase, but Kvam says the workflow is clear. “The greeting card designers are older adults who develop messages and designs which embrace aging as a positive part of life.”
Following their students’ lead, VCU Gerontology plans to host a “shred party” for ageist cards on April 28th as part of its core “Disrupt Ageism” mission. The department put a special focus on ageism beginning with the leadup to its 40th anniversary celebration last year.
“When we inflict ageism upon others, we’re hurting both them and ourselves,” says Department Chair Dr. E. Ayn Welleford. “Birthday cards are such an insipid conveyor belt of ageism that most of us weren’t thinking about them. We’re proud that our own students have put our mission into action.”
The next Aging 2.0 Richmond “Global Startup Search” event will take place at Genworth Financial in Richmond on March 15th. For more information, go to agewellva.com.
Our next edition will be featuring work by our professional members and the Fall edition will contain submissions by our academic members. If you have any research you are participating in, and are excited about sharing with our membership, feel free to submit a short summary or abstract to us and we will spotlight it in our next Newsletter.
Deadline for submissions for the Spring edition is May 1st, 2017 and for the Fall Edition is October 1st, 2017. We look forward to sharing your work.
Those who wish to submit must be current SGS members with dues paid.
SGS Seeks Student Interns
Internship Description
Southern Gerontological Society (SGS) is looking for qualified interns to join our association management team for either the Spring or Summer of 2017. SGS is a network of the South's most respected gerontology professionals. Southern Gerontological Society members are educators, aging network personnel, researchers, health professionals, students, and policy makers. SGS provides the bridge between research and practice, translating and applying knowledge in the field of aging.
The selected intern will work to help maintain daily SGS functions such as member communication, membership retention and recruitment, and work with social media campaigns. The intern will also be tasked with work related directly to the coordination of SGS’s annual meeting program development, communication with program committee chairpersons, and the development of the program schedule and program marketing materials.
This intern should be prepared to work in a multi-tasking, independent environment, and will finish the internship having gained broad experience in various aspects of gerontology and non-profit management. This is an unpaid internship. The intern will be provided assistance with travel to the annual meeting based on current SGS reimbursement rates (and time of year in which the internship is completed). Hours of the internship are flexible and this internship will be managed through weekly virtual meetings, emails, and phone calls. Travel to the office of SGS is not necessary.
Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
Assist with communication to members of SGS through social media marketing campaigns.
Assist with organization and execution of the SGS Annual Program to be held April 6th to April 9th, 2017 in Asheville, North Carolina or other upcoming meetings.
Assist with the preparation and delivery of conference materials, including call for presentation, pre-conference brochure, conference program, and website promotional content.
Assist in the creation of signage, circulars, mock ups, e-mail campaigns, online promotion, etc.
Assist in the distribution or delivery of marketing materials.
Enter membership, registration, exhibitor, and sponsorship information into contact management systems.
Offer support in direct communication with the vast multi-state network of Southern Gerontological Society members to promote conference attendance, and membership recruitment and retention.
Research and communicate with potential conference sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers.
Work with SGS student representative and representative-elect to coordinate special select student topics sessions to be held at the SGS annual meeting.
Work with SGS student representative and representative-elect to coordinate special select student topics sessions to develop “student resources” website content for the Southerngerontologicalsociety.org website.
Requirements
Southern Gerontological Society is looking for an undergraduate or graduate student who is focused, preferably, on Gerontology. This person should have excellent verbal and written communication skills, with extensive knowledge of Web and social media. PowerPoint, Access, Word and Excel experience is a bonus, and will be considered when choosing the best applicant for this internship position. Faculty support of a “remote-site” internship is necessary. Please discuss this option with your internship supervisor before applying to make certain you have their support.
Majors given preference for this internship include:
Concentration in Gerontology preferred
Human Development and Family Studies
Healthcare or Business Administration; Non-Profit Management
Public Health
Sociology
Psychology
Marketing
To apply for this internship, please submit an internship proposal to include details about personal strengths and goals, and current resume, along with current contact information to:
Lee Ann S. Ferguson, Association Manager
Southern Gerontological Society
PO BOX 160
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Fax: 866-920-4649
For questions, please call 866-920-4660
Proposals/resumes may be sent to us via email at: admin@southerngerontologicalsociety.org
Welcome NEW Southern Gerontological Society Members!
Please help us welcome our newest SGS members who have joined the organization between December 5th, 2016 and February 6th, 2017:
Mary Alyce Clark Webster, Student, Florida
Anna Laura McAfee, Student, Arkansas
Tyler Corson, Student, Virginia
E. Douglas Beach, Non-profit Organization, Ohio
Sabrina M. Andrews Bethea, Student, North Carolina
Christin Boykin, Student, North Carolina
Joseph Wheeler, Retired, North Carolina
Amanda Thomas, Student, North Carolina
Teresa Sweaney, Individual, Virginia
Tina Kinard, Individual, North Carolina
Alison H. Climo, Individual, North Carolina
Carla R. Jones, Student, North Carolina
Ana Herrera, Student, North Carolina
Toya Hauf, Individual, North Carolina
Christina Peoples, Student, North Carolina
Marla A. Monserud, Individual, Texas
Jessica D. McCarty, Student, Alabama
Cynthia Wilkerson, Student, North Carolina
Tarang Parekh, Student, Virginia
Angela Boles, Student, North Carolina
Eugenie Stephenson, Student, Maryland
Lia Miller, Individual, North Carolina
Corinne Auman, Individual, North Carolina
Rachael Dolan, Student, North Carolina
Weizhou Tang, Student, South Carolina
Cathy Turner, Student, North Carolina
Martha A. Lamb, Retired, North Carolina
Sheryl Gerrard, Student, North Carolina
Mary Beth Boyes, Non-profit Organization, Virginia
Upcoming in JAG - Volume 36, issue 4:
Original Articles
Older Patients’ Recall of Lifestyle Discussions in Primary Care
Shoshana H. Bardach, Nancy E. Schoenberg, Britteny M. Howell
Clinician Perspectives on Challenges to Patient Centered Care at the End of Life
Shoshana H. Bardach, Edward J. Dunn, J. Christopher Stein
Oncologists’ End of Life Treatment Decisions
How Much Does Patient Age Matter?
Minnie Bluhm, Cathleen M. Connell, Nancy Janz, Kathleen Bickel, Raymond DeVries, Maria Silveira
Middle-Aged and Older Adult Health Care Selection
Health Care Bypass Behavior in Rural Communities in Montana
Scott R. Sanders, Lance D. Erickson, Vaughn R. A. Call, Matthew L. McKnight
Managing Chronic Illness
Nursing Contact and Participant Enrollment in a Medicare Care Coordination Demonstration Program
Mark Toles, Helene Moriarty, Ken Coburn, Sherry Marcantonio, Alexandra Hanlon, Elizabeth Mauer, Paige Fisher, Melissa O’Connor, Connie Ulrich, Mary D. Naylor
Mixed Methods
Views and Expectations of Community-Dwelling Thai Elderly in Reporting Falls to Their Primary Care Physicians
A Mixed-Methods Study
Chitima Boongird, Ratchneewan Ross
Brief Report
Age-Associated Alcohol and Driver Risk Differences in Older Adult DUI Offenders
Michael Malek-Ahmadi
GGM update
In October of 2016 Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (GGM) was accepted into PubMed Central. The Editors and SAGE are hugely proud of this milestone as it is a public recognition of the high quality content published by the journal. GGM is already listed in the Database of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and is a member of the Committee on Publications Ethics (COPE).
GGM is an interdisciplinary, peer reviewed, open access journal sponsored by the Southern Gerontological Society. The journal published original research and reviews that cover a range of topics within the gerontology and geriatric fields. GGM also welcomes letters to the editor, case studies, brief reports, and more. SGS members receive 25% off of the APC when they submit their own work to the journal.
In spring of this year GGM will begin publishing a series of teaching case studies on the topic of “Managing Aberrant Behavior In Patients With Dementia”, developed by editor Dr. Ronald Hamdy. Up until now used exclusively in the classroom, these excellent learning tools will now be available to all. They will be published on a monthly basis, so keep an eye out for them.
Dana Bradley and Pamela Pitman Brown are the SGS representatives to the Editorial Board. SGS member James Peacock is also the Board. The journal is edited by Tamara Baker, PhD (University of Kansas), Ronald C. Hamdy, MD (East Tennessee State University), and Ravishankar Jayadevappa, PhD (University of Pennsylvania). Natalie Gerson (Natalie.katz@sagepub.com) is the main GGM contact at SAGE Publishing.
Southern Gerontologist
The Publications Committee is looking for ways to tighten the bond between the journal (JAG) and the newsletter. We can consider a piece on the most cited articles. Standard content of the newsletter includes: a President’s Column; information about the Annual Meeting; upcoming articles in JAG; member news; a welcome to new members and membership info; a calendar to include upcoming conferences and programs; officers; and a Student Rep update.
Periodic content includes: highlights from the Council of Presidents; editorials; updates from states; featured articles/books/websites; awards and nominations; and obituaries. The newsletter editors would appreciate contributions from the Board related to the latter items.
Contact the editors of the Southern Gerontologist to share news or article ideas
or provide feedback. Member news and events are welcomed.
Chih-Ling Liou, Ph.D, email: cliou@kent.edu Office: 330-244- 3551
Kelly Munly, Ph.D, email: kam6832@psu.edu Office: 301-379- 2891
Sherry Lind, MGS, email: lindsr@miamioh.edu Office: 513-484-3829
Thank You to Sherry Lind!
Kelly and Chih-Ling would like to recognize and thank Sherry Lind for stepping into the role of both managing and formatting editor, essential roles to support the quality and timely presentation of each edition. Her dedication is much appreciated!
2017 Newsletter Schedule
The Southern Gerontologist Newsletter will publish 3 times annually. Should you have information you wish to submit for publication, please note the 2017 newsletter schedule deadlines and publication dates are as follows;
Post-Conference (Spring) Edition:
Deadline for news: May 1, 2017
Distribution by June 1, 2017
Fall Edition:
Deadline for news: October 1, 2017
Distribution by November 1, 2017
Past editions of JAG can be accessed by SGS members through the Sage website. The Southern Gerontologist can be found on the Southern Gerontological Society’s website in the members’ area. Past editions of the Southern Gerontologist are available on the website and are distributed to the membership via email.
By-laws Committee
The SGS Bylaws Committee is charged with soliciting, developing, and presenting to the Board of Directors proposed changes to the Society’s bylaws (and, as necessary, the Policy & Procedures Manual).
Any SGS member is entitled to propose Bylaws changes. If you wish to do so, please send the proposed change, with your rationale, to Bylaws Committee chair Dr. Ed Rosenberg, Department of Sociology, Chapell Wilson Hall, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, or email it to RosenbergE@appstate.edu.
Conference Calendar
February 26- March 1, 2017
Environment for Aging Expo & Conference
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
http://www.environmentsforaging.com/
March 2-5, 2017
2nd Interventions in Aging Conference
Understanding Mechanisms & Compressing Morbidity in Aging Humans
Cancun, Mexico
https://www.fusion-conferences.com/conference48.php
March 9-12, 2017
AGHE’s 43rd Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference
The Future is Here: Educating a New Generation of Professionals in Aging Worldwide
Miami Marriott Dadeland, Miami, FL
http://www.aghe.org/events/annual-meeting
March 20-24, 2017
ASA’s 17th Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging
Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago, IL
April 6-9, 2017
Southern Gerontological Society 38th Annual Meeting
New Horizons in Aging: Advances in Research & Practice
DoubleTree by Hilton in the Biltmore Village, Asheville, NC
http://www.southerngerontologicalsociety.org.
April 21, 2017
The 41st Annual Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference
The Faces of Aging: Building Communities
University of Toledo Main Campus Student Union
Toledo, OH
http://oage.org/conferences/conference-info-2
April 21-23, 2017
The 28th Annual Virginia Geriatrics Society Conference
Aging Well from Top to Toe: High Touch to High Tech
Richmond, VA
http://vgsconference.org/index.php
June 11-13, 2017
2017 Annual Optimal Aging Conference
Approaching Aging as a Life-Long Journey
Louisville, KY
http://www.optimalaginginstitute.org/conference-2017
June 26-28, 2017
2nd International Conference on Aging & Gerontology
San Diego, CA
http://aging.conferenceseries.com/
July 23-27, 2017
21st IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Global aging and health: Bridging science, policy, and practice
San Francisco Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, California
July 29- August 2, 2017
41st Annual Conference & Tradeshow of National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Savannah, GA
Please be sure to send your calendars events to us to include and be sure to post them on our membership forum as well!
SGS Contact Information
There are many opportunities for members to contribute to the organization and its progress in bridging those gaps that do exist between research and practice. Please let us know how we can include you!
Southern Gerontological Society
Email: admin@southerngerontologicalsociety.org
Website: www.southerngerontologicalsociety.org
Location: PO Box 160, Taylorsville, NC 28681
Phone: (866) 920-4660
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southerngerontologicalsociety
Twitter: @sgsmgr