Volume 6 Number 4 Spring 2000
The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute newsletter is designed to keep the campus and community informed of institute activities and other events related to the field of gerontology.
Our address is ICGI Newsletter, Ithaca College, 407 Center for Health Sciences, Ithaca, NY 14850; phone (607) 274-1965; www.ithaca.edu/aging.
Notes from the Director, John A. Krout
This issue of our newsletter highlights our commitment to community education and provides an overview of activities that Ithaca College Gerontology Institute staff members have planned for the spring. These activities include training for frontline workers as part of the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center (FLGEC) project, geriatric interdisciplinary team assessment training for allied health faculty and rural practitioners through the Allied Health Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training (AHGITT) grant, and our annual conference, which focuses this year on women and healthy aging. We are also pleased to provide you with brief updates on ICGI initiatives and to profile a longtime contributor to the growth of the institute, Professor William Scoones.
As the 1999–2000 academic year draws to a close, we want to thank the many Ithaca College faculty, staff, and students whose energy and talents drive the success of our activities. Thanks, also, to the community members who participate in our programs and projects. Please continue to keep us informed of your interests and ideas.
Longview Residents in the Classroom
In October 1999 four Longview residents—Muriel Crane, Mary DeMong, Leo Rift, and Hugh Travis—accepted an invitation from associate professor Janice Levy’s photojournalism class to go on an apple-picking excursion to Littletree Orchards. Neal Tarallo ’82, owner of Ithaca Photo, provided point-and-shoot cameras to the group, and after a short lesson on the camera’s operation, the group set off on what would prove to be the start of a bigger adventure.
Based on the success of the apple-picking outing, Levy, chair of Ithaca College’s Department of Cinema and Photography, developed a special one-credit-hour course en- titled Longview Photo Workshop. All four Longview residents who went on the excursion last fall registered for the workshop.
Muriel Crane, a retired high school math teacher, has lived at Longview for two years. Crane and her late husband traveled throughout the world, so photography has always been an interest of hers. Crane was excited to sign up for the workshop after the fun she had on last fall’s apple-picking expedition. She enrolled in the class to learn how to take better pictures, but she was surprised at how much more she accomplished.
Working in the darkroom was one surprise; she had no idea how much work was involved in developing film. The biggest surprise, however, was the informality of today’s classroom setting, especially compared to her own school days at Columbia Teachers College. College students today often call professors by their first names, Crane found. "That was something we never did," Crane said. "It was always Mr., Miss, or Mrs." The most difficult part of returning to college for Crane was the travel to and from campus. She doesn’t drive much these days, and the winter weather posed a challenge; fortunately, carpooling among the Long-view residents was the solution.
Crane observed that the younger students in class were kind and compassionate, and she found it a great pleasure to work with young people again. There was a definite give and take, as the two generations learned not only from the professor, but also from one another. Professor Levy commented that the students and Longview residents were all good teachers.
Levy paired Longview residents with Ithaca College students. Crane could not say enough good things about her partner, Loryn Kleveno ’01. One of Kleveno’s photographs accompanies this story. Intergenerational programming at IC is still fairly new, but if the Longview Photo Workshop is any indication of things to come, we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
Hillary Clinton Visits Longview
"Ithaca," said Hillary Rodham Clinton, "is on the frontier and is breaking new ground." She made the remark during a recent afternoon stop at Longview in Ithaca. Clinton chose to come to Longview, a residential community for older adults that hosts a Head Start program, because of her interest in children and intergenerational programming. At Longview she visited with representatives of the Head Start program, met several students from the Montessori school in Ithaca, and spoke to Longview residents and staff.
The first lady also toured the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute space at Longview, where she spoke with Ithaca College president Peggy R. Williams _and her husband, David Williams, several IC students, and representatives of the Gerontology Institute. Director John A. Krout outlined for the _distinguished visitor the programming that the Gerontology Institute coordinates with Longview.
Clinton was impressed by the unique partnership between Ithaca College and Longview. "I am so pleased to be here in Ithaca," she said, "and to see a place as special as Longview, where a college is cooperating with a residence center."
Faculty Spotlight: William Scoones
The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute is fortunate to have the support and assistance of faculty members throughout the College. This is part of a series of articles highlighting professors with an interest in gerontology.
William Scoones, special assistant to the provost and a Gerontology Institute advisory council member, joined the Ithaca College community in 1969. He plans to retire this summer. Bill is in our spotlight this issue because of his important role in the creation of the Gerontology Institute.
Bill first became involved in gerontology as dean of the School of Allied Health Professionals (which later combined with the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation to form the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance). In 1985 he was appointed to the interdisciplinary committee that conducted a five-year review of the gerontology minor, and a year later he joined the board of directors of Ithacare. He also served on a multi-agency task force that investigated the needs of older adults in Tompkins County. It was at this busy time that Bill got hooked on gerontology.
When Ithaca College received its first grant for advanced gerontology programming in 1986, Bill helped to develop the gerontology advisory council, the speaker and film series, and the faculty summer grant program, as well as many other initiatives. The groundwork that Bill laid is still in place and has served as a foundation for the Gerontology Institute’s current programming.
Bill is married and has two children, Jacqueline and Jonathan; his wife, Helen Scoones, runs one of Ithaca’s delightful bed-and-breakfast inns, the Hanshaw House. Bill played hockey regularly until he was 61 and continues to take a few turns around the rink. When he reflects on his impending retirement, Bill looks forward to living on his own schedule, rather than one imposed by others. He intends to travel, read, and attend the concerts, lectures, and sporting events that he never had time for in the past. Bill will continue to contribute to the Gerontology Institute as a volunteer.
NETCSA Workshop For Athletes 50 and Over June 23–25, 2000
The Northeast Training Center for Senior Athletes (NETCSA) is offering a comprehensive weekend workshop specifically for athletes 50 years of age and older. The program will offer a mix of athleticism and fun. It is designed to provide participants with learning experiences for the mind and body, helping them to develop the physical strength, skills, and mental awareness necessary to achieve peak performance and prevent injury. A multidisciplinary faculty will conduct seminars on training techniques and will provide individual evaluations of strength and fitness. Areas of instruction will include basic concepts of strength training and conditioning, nutrition, injury prevention, and sport psychology for peak performance.
For further information please call John Sigg at (607) 274-3152 or visit the NETCSA Web site at www.ithaca.edu/netcsa.
Women Aging Wisely Conference
On May 19, 2000, the Gerontology Institute will present a one-day conference devoted to women’s health and aging, Women Aging Wisely: Innovations in Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Treatment. Through lectures and workshops, this conference will explore how women can stay healthy as they age. Speakers from a variety of disciplines will address health conditions and diseases common to older women, traditional and alternative treatment options, and lifestyle changes that contribute to lifelong wellness. The information provided will be valuable to professionals in the field of aging, those who care for older women, and any woman who wants to age wisely.
We are pleased to have as cosponsors the Ithaca College Division of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions and the State University of New York at Binghamton Decker School of Nursing.
Registration cost is $50 for the full-day program including lunch, $30 for a half day with lunch, and $25 for a half day without lunch. The registration deadline is May 12. Information on the conference or on continuing education credits is available from the Gerontology Institute at (607) 274-1965. Program information is also available on our Web site at www.ithaca.edu/aging. Complete conference registration brochures have been mailed.
Wellness Education Conference
On May 25, 2000, the Broome County Senior Citizens Wellness Team will host a one-day wellness education conference at the State University of New York at Binghamton. The conference, designed for individuals 55 years of age and older, will give older adults the opportunity to educate themselves about healthy living. Toni McBride of Cornell University will be the keynote speaker. A variety of workshops will address fitness, stress management, mental health, and other topics of interest.
The creation of the Broome County Senior Citizens Wellness Team was one success of the Southern Tier Wellness Conference for Seniors, hosted by the Gerontology Institute in May 1998. The goal of the 1998 conference was to train teams of older adults from communities throughout New York State in health awareness and to teach them how to take their knowledge back to their own communities and develop local programs.
The Gerontology Institute is proud to support this wellness education conference. For more information please call (607) 778-2086 or (607) 763-6383.
Gerontology Certificate Student Spotlight: Carolyn Peterson
Carolyn Peterson sometimes perceives her career path as serendipitous, but her family and friends see her new focus in gerontology as a perfectly logical direction. They remind her that as a young girl she was often found up the block visiting with older neighbors, or that as an Ithaca councilwoman (1983– 91) she served as liaison to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Tompkins County Senior Citizens’ Council. In the early 1990s Carolyn developed and taught an exercise program for older adults at the Courtside Racquet and Fitness Club, where she worked as program director. The Young at Heart program proved to be quite a success—the classes were some of the most popular and well-attended at the facility. This rewarding teaching experience made Carolyn decide to focus on working with the well older adult population, and she started thinking about continuing her education in gerontology.
The Ithaca College gerontology certificate program met Carolyn’s educational needs. It provides a series of courses focused specifically on aging and is designed to be completed on a part-time basis. She found the staff at the Gerontology Institute and the Division of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions especially helpful as she planned her course of study, filled out the myriad forms necessary to enroll in courses, and navigated campus.
Returning to college after raising a family and working for many years proved to be relatively easy. Spending time with her children, now ages 23 and 28, and their friends made her comfortable and familiar with the twenty-something generation that would become her classmates. Carolyn started the certificate program just as her daughter was completing undergraduate study, and seeing her through this experience also helped ease the transition. Carolyn has found her Ithaca College classmates open and friendly. She plans to complete the certificate in gerontology during the 2000–2001 academic year; she is considering pursuing a degree in gerontology sometime in the future.
Carolyn now holds the position of senior circuit coordinator at the Tompkins County Senior Citizens’ Council in Ithaca. She also continues to teach exercise classes for older adults at the senior center and at several other locations in the Ithaca area. Her focus on exercise and aging is an especially meaningful combination for Carolyn. She has learned that many of the decrements associated with aging are actually due to lack of exercise and that exercise can be beneficial for older adults with some chronic conditions. Carolyn enjoys sharing her skills and her love of being active with individuals learning about the benefits of lifelong fitness.
If Carolyn’s story piques your interest in gerontology, please contact Pamela Mayberry at (607) 274-1965 to talk about how the gerontology certificate might work for you.
Recent and Upcoming Publications
Beissner, Katherine, Jennifer Collins, and Heidi Holmes. "Extremity Strength and Range of Motion as Predictors of Function in Older Adults." Forthcoming in Journal of Physical Therapy.
Bonavia, Mattie. "Gerontology in the New York State Family and Consumer Science Curricula: A Ten-Year (1989–1999) Review." Forthcoming in Journal of Family and Consumer Science (April 2000).
Groger, Lisa, Pamela S. Mayberry, and Jane K. Straker. "What We Didn’t Learn Because of Who Would Not Talk to Us." Qualitative Health Research 9.6 (1999): 829–835.
Krout, John A., Phyllis Moen, Jean Oggins, Heidi Holmes, and Nicole Bowen. "Reasons for Relocation to a Continuing Care Retirement Community." Forthcoming in Journal for Applied Gerontology.
Pogorzala, Christine H., and John A. Krout. "A Comprehensive Inter-generational Programmatic Partnership: Initial Issues and Outcomes." Forthcoming in Gerontology and Geriatrics Education.
Savishinsky, Joel. Breaking the Watch: The Meanings of Retirement in America. Ithaca, New York: Cornell UP, 2000 (forthcoming).
Project Updates
Allied Health Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training (AHGITT)
The project will offer two educational and training components this year.
- Faculty and Professional Training
Faculty and professional training is scheduled for May 10, 17, and 24 on the Ithaca College campus. Offered in cooperation with the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center at the University of Rochester, this series of three seminars will highlight geriatric assessment, patient communication issues, screening tools, interdisciplinary team dynamics, family issues, and care management. - Student Focus Area in Interdisciplinary Teams
The Ithaca College course Rural Gerontology: Experiences in Interdisciplinary Teamwork (680-39900) will provide specialized training, through classroom instruction and fieldwork in local health care agencies, in rural allied health service provision by interdisciplinary treatment teams. The course will be offered in the fall 2000 semester and is open to students in occupational therapy, physical therapy, therapeutic recreation and leisure services, speech-language pathology and audiology, and health services administration.
Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center (FLGEC)
The FLGEC is sponsoring a late-spring workshop series designed especially for frontline health care workers. Certified nurse assistants, home health aides, and personal care assistants are invited to attend sessions on topics including hearing loss, dementia, death and dying, supportive environments, and strategies for effective communication. Selected sessions from the women’s health and aging conference will be included in the training series as well. Workshop presenters include faculty from Ithaca College, Cornell University, University of Rochester, and State University of New York at Binghamton, as well as professionals from the Ithaca area. Contact Pamela Mayberry at (607) 274-1965 for additional information.
Longview
At the beginning of the spring 2000 semester Longview residents and staff were offered the opportunity to obtain Ithaca College identification cards. These photo identification cards are similar to those carried by IC students, faculty, and staff, and they confer many of the same privileges to the bearers. While the process is ongoing, to date 25 Longview residents and 19 staff members have acquired the cards.
Pathways to Life Quality
Findings from recent analysis of Pathways data include the following:
- Continuing care retirement community (CCRC) residents are inclined to use on-site services of convenience (banking and pharmacy services and insurance billing, for example).
- CCRC residents using the on-site wellness/fitness center are most often in poor health.
- The more contact senior housing residents have with friends, the more positive their outlook.
- The greatest predictors of heart disease or heart attack in women are higher levels of alcohol consumption (an average of three drinks per week), less social support, and insufficient income.
FYI, the aging world, 65+
Number of people in the United States aged 65 years or older since 1900 and projected for 2030:
1900 3.1 million
1940 9 million
1960 16.7 million
2000 34.7 million
2030 69.4 million
Number of people worldwide aged 65 years or older in 1999 and projected for 2025:
1999 570 million
2025 1.2 billion
Source: Profile of Older Americans 1999 (AARP pamphlet)