Gerontology Scholar Will Address Problems of African American Elders

Frank J. Whittington, a professor of sociology and director of the Gerontology Center at Georgia State University, will present "Communities of Care for African American Elders" on Thursday, October 3. The talk, a part of the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute Distinguished Speaker Series, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Clark Lounge, Egbert Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

In his presentation Whittington will report on research he and his colleagues conducted in five assisted-living facilities owned and inhabited by African Americans. While the residents of these facilities try to cope with their institutionalized status, the owners, along with paid caregivers, struggle to provide care that is both personal and humanizing. Whittington found that despite many obstacles, residents, providers, and family members appear to be succeeding in maintaining living environments that enhance the quality of life for everyone involved.

Whittington has written eight books, including Surviving Dependence: Voices of African American Elders. The work is a study of the home-care experiences of low-income, older African Americans. In addition, he has published over 40 articles and chapters on long-term care and the health behavior of older people.

For more information contact Terry Beckley at 274-1967.