Secure Old Age News Archives - USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

Podcast: Working to improve health outcomes and quality of life for vulnerable older adults

USC Leonard Davis Communications — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 21:37:53 +0000

Kate Wilber is the Mary Pickford Chair in Gerontology and director of the Secure Old Age Lab at the USC Leonard Davis School. She’s also the co-director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, which is housed at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She recently spoke to George Shannon about her research, including her work exploring ways to provide long-term care services and supports that allow older adults to be as independent as possible and the challenges and opportunities that technology provides in this area.

Quotes from this episode

On building on lessons learned during the pandemic

“I think a lot of what we saw were challenges that we already knew were there – how fragmented services are, how older adults can be at risk of isolation, how important the home community-based services and programs and opportunities to interact are for everybody. And I think showing the importance of community, which we didn’t have during the pandemic, except a bit on social media and phone calls and maybe people getting together outside. So the key question is, how do we take the learning and the recognition of what we already knew into the future to build on these important lessons, to do better with our aging service delivery? I was going to say our aging service delivery system, but that’s a huge problem. There isn’t a system; there’s just a lot of different components of a system.”

On innovations in long-term care and supports

“We have to prepare for an aging population. And until recently I felt like we didn’t do that great a job preparing, but I see a lot of exciting innovations, which to some extent may have been jump-started a little bit because of the challenges of the pandemic. We have a variety of models of senior living and I think we’re going to see more innovation there or the innovations that have been developed take off because they did better in the pandemic too. So if we look at what kind of care was best for older adults who maybe were isolated or need long term services and supports during the pandemic, how do we build on that? And how do we make sure that we translate what we know into reasonable programs and policies.”

On barriers to implementing technology solutions

“People not only need to have some kind of device. They need to have broadband, it needs to work. And we’ve seen that in some parts of the country, especially in rural areas, broadband it’s not available. All the things we take for granted, electricity, water, et cetera, how much is this an essential service that we’ll do a better job providing across the nation in areas where it doesn’t exist very effectively now. And then as I said, how do we help people learn? And what are the particular cultural competencies required for trainers? What are the different uses that people want? This gets back to being person-centered and engaging the people that will be the end-user users and understanding what’s most effective for them.

There are still a fairly large proportion of older adults who don’t have access to any sort of computer; some have smartphones. And there is this notion, I guess, if we build it, they will come. Or if we give it to them, they’ll use it, it would be the way of talking about that. But there’s a variety of barriers. And if you hand somebody a box with a computer in it and say, ‘There you go, you’re now going to go on the other side, the right side of the digital divide.’ They’re not. So what can we learn about how to help people use technology in a way that is useful for them effective, meaningful?”

On telehealth

“So this will be a time saver. I think that’s pretty clear, but the nursing facilities have to invest in it. The staff have to invest in it. They have to learn how to do it. And one of the things we’re seeing is they thought the residents would be the most resistant and they’re not. They’re like, ’Okay, if I can see my doctor this way, fine.’ But I think the question is, how is it used, where is it most effective and where is it not a good replacement for a physician coming to the facility? So, there’s a fair amount of literature developing on this, but I think there’s so many exciting innovations that are rolling out and we need to build on what we’re learning and make them better and be more effective in the next generation of telehealth and facilities and helping people on the digital divide connect. So all these things are really exciting opportunities to learn how to connect.”

On person-centered care

“So the idea behind person-centered care is that people have different needs. Of course, they also have different preferences, different preferences for care and for services and for supports and for contributing and giving back and primarily and mostly as with all of us, for controlling their lives and the decisions that are made. So person-centered care recognizes that the power should live with the individual in terms of the ability to make decisions about care informed decisions. But I think sometimes, we, as professionals can see, oh, this would be best for this person. And professionals are extremely busy also. And so it kind of overlooks sometimes the person’s needs and preferences and working in areas like elder mistreatment and elder self-neglect. A lot of times people have legitimate reasons for wanting things that we don’t necessarily think would be the best choice, but person-centered care asks us to really get in touch with what’s behind those preferences. And to what extent can we ethically honor them and this is something I see the field doing a much better job thinking about and working on and great things have been written. And the American Geriatric Society a few years ago had an expert panel come together and develop a definition and sort of protocols for this. And I think that’s really moving the field.

One more thing I’ll say is that ageism contributes here. So we make assumptions about older people that they can’t express their preferences adequately. And providers talk to the caregiver, not the older person. Or they say this is what needs to be done. So I think there’s also a culture change of recognizing that it’s about the older person. And we start with the older person, and that’s not to say that there aren’t age-related increased likelihoods, but not inevitabilities of memory issues and things of that kind. And so we need to be clear that the person has the capacity to express their preferences, but we start with person-centered. The elder is the person who whatever is happening is happening on behalf of, or for, or with. And that’s where we start.”

On students

“That’s our future. … Our legacy is you see the students that go through our program and they’re very excited about learning and they bring innovation and enthusiasm, and then they go out and do wonderful things and they become the leaders of the field. And you could see that across the board in so many areas.”

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USC Family Caregiver Support Center Wins Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award

Beth Newcomb — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 21:39:22 +0000

The USC Family Caregiver Support Center (FCSC) received a $20,000 Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award for work on behalf of the Task Force on Family Caregiving. The task force report, “Picking up the Pace of Change in California,” was submitted to the California legislature and included seven actionable policy recommendations to address the challenges encountered by California’s 4.5 million family caregivers who care for individuals ages 18 and older.

As stated on the award website, several pieces of legislation have directly or indirectly been influenced by the work of this groundbreaking task force. Several members were appointed to the California Master Plan on Aging, where they continue to bring forward the goals and recommendations of the task force, resulting in heightened inclusion of caregiver needs in the plan development. States and countries, including China, have used the report as a template to build efforts to secure funding for caregiver services in their communities.

“I am so pleased that this report helped California to enact legislation to help family caregivers in the state today and to construct a better way to respond in the future, and I’m honored to receive this award on behalf of the task force,” said Donna Benton, a research associate professor at the USC Leonard Davis School and chair of the 12-person task force.

Benton, who is also an member of the stakeholder advisory committee for the California Master Plan for Aging, directs the FCSC at the USC Leonard Davis School. The FCSC was recognized in the public policy category of this annual award given by the Family Caregiver Alliance, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and the Helen Daniels Bader Fund, a Bader Philanthropy, to address the needs of Alzheimer’s caregivers.

The California Task Force on Family Caregiving was established through Assembly Concurrent Resolution38 (ACR 38-Brown). With support from AARP and the Archstone Foundation, USC provided research and administrative support to a diverse, multicultural team of professionals and lay caregivers appointed by the California Legislature. The task force proposed a set of policies with the following fundamental values: supporting diverse needs, including cultural awareness, cultural competency and sensitivity, person and family-centered care, work-life balance, choice, and options for caregivers and support paid caregivers.

“All too often, task force reports sit on shelves and get forgotten, but this report is really making a difference,” said USC Leonard Davis School Professor Kate Wilber, who led the task force administrative support team. “Thanks to Donna Benton’s leadership, and the committed efforts of its members, the work of the California Task Force on Family Caregiving is having an important impact on caregiving policy in the state and beyond.”

Kylie Meyer, Zachary Gassoumis, Janeth Marroletti, Ayesha Dixon and Natalie Kaiser provided additional research and support on behalf of USC. Learn more about the Task Force here.

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Gerson Galdamez, PhD ’20, aims to improve aging policy and services in Los Angeles and beyond

Beth Newcomb — Thu, 21 May 2020 18:22:01 +0000

When Gerson Galdamez arrived as an undeclared freshman at USC, he maintained strong ties to his family and community; he commuted to school from his Orange County home, where he lived with, and helped care for, multiple generations of family members. Committed to making a difference in their lives, this first-generation student earned his bachelor’s degree in human development and aging from the USC Leonard Davis School in 2016. He is now graduating with a PhD in gerontology and is ready to put his expertise and research skills to use in improving aging policy and services.

“I want to create a world where people feel secure in every stage of their life,” Galdamez says. “This idea of security is very important to me just because I know what it means to be insecure, especially in older ages.”

Growing up in Compton and Buena Park, Calif., Galdamez not only saw his mother and grandmother work with older adults in their careers as nurses but also helped to provide care for his great-grandmother and other older members of his extended family. In addition, as an accomplished violinist—he partially funded his education by teaching and performing professionally—he served as a volunteer musician at several senior centers.

These experiences led him to explore gerontology. Galdamez says his years at the Leonard Davis School have provided him with many incredible experiences both inside and outside of the classroom, including opportunities to travel and engage in policymaking and foundation work.

“It is humbling and gives me a sense of gratitude to know how far I’ve gone,” he says. “I would never have imagined something like this.”

As he prepares to submit his dissertation for publication while physically distancing at home, he starts his morning by playing the violin for a few hours. He calls this time “Breakfast with Bach.”

“I find that it is intellectually stimulating,” he said. “So I’m able to dive into the rest of the work that I have to do.”

For his doctoral thesis, he conducted research on elder abuse interventions under the mentorship of Professor Kate Wilber, the Mary Pickford Chair in Gerontology and a leader in the field.

“Elder abuse is multifaceted and difficult to detect,” he says of the issue, which can occur in various ways ranging from physical injury to financial exploitation. “It’s important that we learn to better identify it and invest in creating new preventative measures.”

He also delved into policy work as a fellow in the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Research Scholars program. Most recently, he completed an internship at the non-profit Archstone Foundation, where he worked to improve the geriatric mental health workforce in California. He also contributed to the development of what became Governor Newsom’s California Master Plan for Aging as part of an internship at the Scan Foundation. Currently, he is doing consulting work related to strengthening advocacy, services, policy and programs for older adults in the city and county of Los Angeles.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, he is leaving school at a critical time for older adults but feels his experiences have prepared him for the challenges ahead. He also believes that the crisis can help highlight the importance of programs and policies that can benefit older adults.

“I think, as the severity of the virus takes hold in our cultural psychology, it will be an important step for us in pushing the narrative forward that aging is something worth thinking about and worth funding,” he says, adding that he hopes it will empower young people to advocate for change.

He encourages future students interested in working with older adults or in studying the aging process to pursue gerontology and take advantage of the opportunities at the Davis School, at USC, and the gerontology field.

“Pursue what you find meaningful,” he says. “You will want to tell yourself later that you changed something, that your life contributed to a worthy goal. Understand your goals, and engage them with fervor.”

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Older Workers Face A Tough Decision: Stay Inside… Or Earn A Paycheck? (LAist)

Beth Newcomb — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 18:29:17 +0000

LAist quoted Kate Wilber of the USC Leonard Davis School on whether older workers should continue working or follow public health recommendations and stay home.

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Older workers deciding to work or stay home (KPCC-FM)

Beth Newcomb — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 19:51:08 +0000

KPCC-FM interviewed Kathleen Wilber of the USC Leonard Davis School on how older workers must choose to either continue to work or follow public health recommendations to stay home.

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Addressing Social Isolation

Orli Belman — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 18:54:24 +0000

Contact: Jenesse Miller, jenessem@usc.edu or (213) 810-8554

or Orli Belman, obelman@usc.edu or (310) 709-4156

Think of what they need and help them plug in

Fulfill basic needs
“Provide food, pet food, medicines, and basic necessities for daily living inside the home. Look at how to meet needs outside our home—what assistance can communities provide with taking out the trash and moving garbage cans, walking dogs, maintenance around our house related to rain or other weather issues.
Help them plug in
“We need to figure out how to connect with older people who may not be well-versed in using the internet and other technologies. Many people do use iPads and cell phones today to communicate with their families.
The religious connection
“Religious congregations have a special opportunity now to reach out to people in their neighborhoods and communities and ask what people need.
Reduce their anxiety
“It’s important to turn off the notifications, television, and news and get enough sleep, eat properly, and if we are able, go outside on a walk without being in contact with other people. We can do this.”

Caroline Cicero is an instructional associate professor for the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

Contact: cicero@usc.edu

5 More Tips

• Families should plan for backup care
“Family caregivers should be calling their agencies that they are working with, to find out what are their backup plans, should their regular care provider call in sick. [How that’s handled] is going to be a business by business call.

• Use tech to check
“If a senior living facility has to close to all visitors, one possible solution: Can we put iPads in there and do Facetime during this crisis? I think the nursing homes can be creative in that way, so family members don’t feel shut out from seeing their relative.

“Residents themselves may not be able to interact via the screen – but it may make someone at home feel better about their relative. It’s just to reassure them that it’s okay, like, ‘I see them, I see the room right now, I can have a way of checking in.’ It’s like a one-way monitor.

• Follow the guidelines
“If you have elderly or fragile parents or other family members, do not fall into catastrophizing this. Make sure that you are following the correct information from the state Department of Public Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control, and not just watching the news. What we can do is help our parents stay calm and reasonable.

“At the same time, make sure you are prepared to help them, should the need arise. Can they give you the phone number for their doctor, for their neighbor, their best friend?

• Host a virtual watch party
“Call your friends and say, ‘such-and-such movie is out; let’s watch it together and be on the phone together.’ It’s going to take a little adjustment. I’ve done that in the past with a friend when she’s gotten sick. Phones are really nice. You put it on the speaker, you put it down, and you’re both watching the movie together. You don’t feel like you’re alone. This is the time to try out new systems.

• Find moments of joy
“Right now, this is a sprint. I don’t think it will be a marathon. And we can still do things. I can stand on my porch and wave at my neighbors. We all need to ask ourselves: How am I going to find those moments of joy?”

Donna Benton directs the USC Family Caregiver Support Center and is a research associate professor of gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

Contact: benton@usc.edu or (213) 740‑5904

What should older workers do to protect themselves?

Kathleen Wilber is also available to comment on the challenges that older working adults face during this health crisis.

She told KPCC-FM that older workers in the United States now are struggling with a dilemma.

“What are the implications if they don’t have income and they are trying to abide by the (social distancing) recommendations?”

Wilber is a professor of gerontology and expert on health services administration.

Contact: wilber@usc.edu or (213) 740-1736

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Why the holidays are a prime time for elder abuse, and what you can do to thwart it (Houston Chronicle)

Beth Newcomb — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 18:43:43 +0000

The Houston Chronicle (via The Conversation) featured a column by Kathleen Wilber on why the holidays are a prime time for elder abuse and scams.

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Shining a Light on Elder Abuse

Orli Belman — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 22:42:35 +0000

Earlier this year, a former manager of the late Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom and pled not guilty to multiple counts of elder abuse, including charges that in the last year of Lee’s life, he held the older man against his will and stole from him. That court appearance made national news, but celebrities are far from the only people affected by elder abuse. As this high-profile case winds its way through the legal system, it is bringing attention to an issue that is all too common and often misunderstood.

One in six older adults worldwide is believed to be a victim of some form of elder abuse, according to a 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) study. The research, led by Yongjie Yon PhD ’17 and conducted as part of his doctoral dissertation, defined the mistreatment as falling into several categories: psychological, financial, neglect, physical and sexual. It also found that contrary to public perception, men — like Lee — are just as vulnerable as women.

The impact is real: According to a WHO fact sheet, abuse victims tracked over 13 years were twice as likely to die during that time compared to those who had not reported abuse. In addition, the WHO notes that elder abuse injuries in the U.S. result in medical costs of over $5 billion each year.

“There is growing interest in elder abuse, now that we know it is high prevalence,” says Kate Wilber, professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and co-director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, which is housed at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “People are finally noticing that this is a problem.”

If they are indeed noticing, it has much to do with Wilber and her work. Her Secure Old Age Lab at the USC Leonard Davis School has been a leader in elder abuse research for more than 30 years. Along with current and former students and campus and health care collaborators, Wilber is working to increase awareness of, and develop evidence-based interventions for, this very complex issue.

Uncovering Abuse

Despite data showing high rates of abuse occurring in homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other community settings, only a small number of the estimated 5 million annual cases of elder abuse in the United States are reported.

“Some older adults may be reluctant to acknowledge that they are victims because of embarrassment, fear of being taken from their homes, loyalty to family members and a mistrust of authority figures,” says Wilber.

Knowing that people with lower incomes, education and levels of English language ability are even less likely to come forward, Wilber and her team set out to improve the identification of elder mistreatment in low-income, Latino immigrant communities, a population they knew to be understudied. With a grant from the National Institute on Aging, they recruited and trained promotores — local Spanish-speaking Latinos who are trained to provide basic health education in their communities — to interview a sample of these older residents. The results of this approach, published in a 2012 study, yielded higher reporting rates than had previous studies, with 40% of those questioned saying they had experienced some form of abuse or neglect in the previous year.

“Using promotores for elder abuse research had not been done before,” says Zach Gassoumis PhD ’14, an assistant professor of family medicine and geriatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, with a joint appointment at the USC Leonard Davis School. “We believe we were successful in part because the participants could better relate to and confide in fellow community members versus outside interviewers.”

Building Relationships

The idea of taking older adults’ perspectives into account continues today in Wilber’s work, and it can also be seen in the application of additional innovative approaches to addressing elder abuse.

USC launched the nation’s second Elder Abuse Forensic Center, a collaboration among the USC Leonard Davis School, the Keck School, Adult Protective Services, the Los Angeles County District Attorney, and a number of additional county agencies. The Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Forensic Center brings together people with different types of expertise to discuss complicated cases and develop a plan of action.

The model seems to be working: A USC Leonard Davis School evaluation found that this multidisciplinary approach dramatically increased the number of referrals for prosecution and conservatorship when compared with usual care.

With support from the Archstone Foundation, Wilber and her Keck School collaborator Associate Professor Diana Homeier, who holds a joint appointment at the USC Leonard Davis School, designed a pilot program to introduce a service advocate — someone who can represent victims’ needs and desires — to the Forensic Center team.

“Well-intended elder abuse interventions can sometimes seem paternalistic,” says Wilber. “We need to understand how to provide approaches that address the abuse but also involve the older adult in the process.”

Wilber’s postdoctoral scholar Julia Rowan PhD ’19 is currently evaluating this person-centered approach, which considers the older adult’s preferences, even if those include the older person’s staying in the same home as the alleged abuser.

“There is a tension between autonomy and safety in elder abuse casework,” says Rowan. “But we’ve found that it is possible to reduce risk if you focus first on what the person wants, even if it doesn’t initially seem related to the abuse.”

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, the Secure Old Age Lab continues to be part of efforts to improve elder abuse practices and processes. New and ongoing projects are looking at the big picture of elder abuse across the nation and also aiming to provide assistance at the individual level. Inevitably, another headline will serve as a reminder that elder abuse is an ongoing problem. But the lab’s pipeline of research findings and intervention innovations can help to raise awareness of the issue, reduce its occurrence and improve how it is addressed.

This article first appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of Vitality magazine with the headline “Shining a Light.” Illustration by Natalie Avunjian.

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) is based at USC and is co-directed by USC Leonard Davis School professor Kate Wilber and Laura Mosqueda, dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC and professor of family medicine, geriatrics and gerontology. The NCEA encourages everyone to learn the types of mistreatment that constitute elder abuse and also to learn what they can do to reduce abuse:

Types of Elder Abuse

Physical Abuse. Use of force to threaten or physically injure an older person

Emotional Abuse. Verbal attacks, threats, rejection, isolation or belittling acts that cause or could cause mental anguish, pain or distress to an older person

Sexual Abuse. Sexual contact with an older person, including anyone who is unable to grant consent, that is forced, tricked, threatened or otherwise coerced

Exploitation. Theft, fraud, misuse or neglect of authority, and use of undue influence as a lever to gain control over an older person’s money or property

Neglect. Failure or refusal to provide for an older person’s safety, physical needs or emotional needs

Ways to Help Prevent Elder Abuse

Prevent isolation by calling or visiting older loved ones and asking how they are doing on a regular basis.

Talk to friends and family members about how we can all age well and reduce abuse with programs and services like law enforcement, community centers and public transportation.

Sign up to be a friendly visitor to an older person in the community.

Send a letter to a local paper, radio or TV station suggesting that they cover World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) or Grandparents Day in September.

For more information on elder abuse prevention, visit the NCEA website at ncea.acl.gov or call (855) 500-3537.

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USC Leonard Davis School faculty, postdoctoral and student researchers present at GSA 2019

USC Leonard Davis Communications — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 23:41:48 +0000

The 2019 Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting, taking place November 13-17 in Austin, Texas will feature symposia, posters and papers led by USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology faculty, postdoctoral and student researchers. Leonard Davis School presentations are listed below (session numbers in bold); for more details and the full conference program, please visit the GSA website.

USC Gerontology Presentations

(Alphabetically by last name)

Jennifer Ailshire

● 1050 Symposium: Discrimination, Stress, and Health Across the Life Course (Chair: R. J. Thorpe)

Thurs 8:00am-9:30am | 5B, Level 3 (CC)

○ “Black-White Differences in Chronic Stress: Does Appraisal Matter for Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms?,” L. Brown, L. Abrams, U. Mitchell, J. Ailshire

● 1060 Symposium: Exploring the Impact of Technology on Older Adults’ Well-Being (Chair: W. R. Boot)

Thurs 8:00am-9:30am | 17B, Level 4 (CC)

○ “Internet Use and Social Isolation: The Significance of Life Transitions,” H. Shim, J. A. Ailshire, E. M. Crimmins

● 1315 Poster: Chronic Disease And Disease Management

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 1315-53: “Association of Multimorbidity With Incident Shingles Among Older Americans,” H. Kang, E. Crimmins, J. A. Ailshire

● 1345 Poster: Environment And Aging

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 1345-106: “Housing Affordability and Inter-Regional Moves Among Older Adults,” S. Mawhorter, J. A. Ailshire

● 1401 Poster: Technology

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 1401-289: “Cross-Country Comparison of Internet Use and Depression by Gender: The Role of Intergenerational Factors,” H. Shim, J. A. Ailshire, E. Crimmins

● 2570 Late Breaking Poster Session III

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB2570-436: “Dietary Intake and Nutritional Risk among Older Americans,” Y. Choi, J. A. Ailshire, E. Crimmins

● 3275 Poster: Cancer And Biobehavioral Health

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 3275-17: “Living Alone, Having Children and Friends Nearby, and Daily Fruit and Vegetable Consumption,” Y. Choi, J. A. Ailshire, E. Crimmins

● 4000 Symposium: Aging In Latin America: A Focus On Middle-income Countries (Chair: C. Garcia)

Sun 8:00am-9:30am | 11B, Level 4 (CC)

○ “Biological Risk Profiles in the Older Mexican Population,” C. Garcia, J. Saenz, J. A. Ailshire, R. Wong, E. M. Crimmins

○ “Variation in Biological Risk Among Older Colombians by Age, Gender, and Educational Attainment,” J. A. Ailshire, M. Osuna

○ “Envejecimiento y Estratos: Socioeconomic Inequality in Aging in Colombia,” M. Osuna, J. A. Ailshire

● 4080 Paper: Technology, Therapy, And Treatment Of Various Health Conditions (Chair: D. Yu)

Sun 8:00am-9:30am | 9C, Level 3 (CC)

○ “Shingles Vaccine Uptake Among Older Adults: Identifying Early, Late, and Non-Adopters,” H. Kang, E. Crimmins, J. A. Ailshire

María P. Aranda

● 3070 Paper: Health Concerns of Latin Older Adults (Chair: I. V. Carrion)

Sat 8:00am-9:30am | 4BC, Level 3 (CC) BSS

○ “The Effects of Chronic Pain and Loneliness on Functioning Among Latino and White Older Adults,” D. Camacho, M. P. Aranda, D. Burnette, E. Lukens

○ “The Role of Culture and Language in Depression Care Experiences Among Older Latinas/os and Healthcare Providers,” M. P. Aranda, J. Christensen, I. Aguilar

● 3180 Paper: Factors Related to Family Caregiving (Chair: J. M. Griffin)

Sat 12:00pm-1:30pm | 6A, Level 3 (CC) BSS

○ “The Association of Loneliness and Chronic Clinically Significant Pain Among African American and White Older Adults,” D. Camacho, D. Burnette, M. P. Aranda, E. Lukens

● 3320 Poster: Family Caregiving III

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 3320-138: “Social Engagement Mediates the Association Between Role Overload and Nighttime Awakening of Dementia Caregivers,” J. Liang, M. P. Aranda, D. Lloyd

● 3620 Late Breaking Poster Session IV

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB3620-444: “Caregivers: Purposeful Aging Los Angeles (PALA) Survey of City and County Employees,” I. Aguilar, D. A. Lloyd, L. Trejo, M. P. Aranda.

Berenice Benayoun

● 935 Late Breaking Poster Session I

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB935-351: “Investigating the Role of Ahr in Mediating Sex Differences of Aging Macrophages,” E. Navar, B. A. Benayoun, N. Sampathkumar, J. Chae

● 3540 Symposium: Immunity And Aging— The Human Face (Chair: B. A. Benayoun)

Sat 5:30pm-7:00pm | 9C, Level 3 (CC)

○ “Sex-Dimorphism in the Genomic Regulation of Aging,” B. A. Benayoun, R. A. Lu, N. K. Sampathkumar

Vern Bengtson

● 1475 Symposium: Interest Group Session — Religion, Spirituality, and Aging: Keeping Faith Alive: Advancing the Next Generation of Religious and Spiritual Inquiry in Gerontology (Chair: A. J. Bishop, Discussant: J. W. Ellor)

Thurs 5:00pm-6:30pm | 13B, Level 4 (CC) BSS

○ “Spiritual and Religious Change in Later Life,” V. Bengtson, M. Silverstein, S. Copping, C. Endacott

Donna Benton

● 1355 Poster: Family Caregiving I

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 150 Supporting Family Caregivers: How Does Relationship Strain Occur in Caregiving Dyads? A Qualitative Study, E. S. Avent, L. Rath, K. Meyer, D. Benton, P. Nash

● 1405 Poster: SRPP Section Student Poster Award Finalists

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) SRPP

○ 319 “If you build it, caregivers may not come: Lessons learned about online support,” H. B. Gallo, C. Chen, D. Benton

● 2375 Poster: Family Caregiving II

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 150 Supporting Family Caregivers: How Do Caregivers of Older Adults Cope With Role Strain? A Qualitative Study, L. Rath, K. Meyer, E. S. Avent, P. Nash, D. Benton, Z. Gassoumis, K. Wilber

Sebastian Brandhorst

● 1310 Poster: Biology of Aging

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) HS

○ 1310-43: “Fasting-Mimicking Diet Reduces Risk Factors for Aging-Related Diseases in Preclinical and Clinical Studies,” S. Brandhorst

Rachel Brem

● 765 Symposium: Probing the Complex Interactions Between Diet, Disease, and Aging (Chair: R. Anderson)

Wed 4:30pm-6:00pm | 9C, Level 3 (CC) BS

○ “A Screen of Wild-Derived Fly Strains Reveals CG34351 as a Regulator of Toxic Effects of a Rich Diet,” R. Brem, K. A. Wilson, J. N. Beck, C. S. Nelson, P. Kapahi

Caroline Cicero

● 1420 Symposium: Interest Group Session— Age-Friendly University (AFU): Age-Friendly University Campuses: Putting Principles Into Practice (Chair: J. M. Montepare)

Thurs 5:00pm-6:30pm | 12B, Level 4 (CC) AGHE

○ “Building Recognition Across Campus and Town for USC’s Age-Friendly University Initiative,” P. Nash, C. Cicero

Pinchas Cohen

● 935 Late Breaking Poster Session I

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB935-359: “Mitochondrial-derived peptide, SHLP2, a novel protective factor in Parkinson’s disease,” S. Kim, A. Devgan, H. Mehta, P. Cohen

○ LB935-439: Mitochondrial DNA Variant C2639T is an APOE4 Resilience Factor, B. Miller, S. Kim, J. Wan, H. Mehta, K. Yen, P. Cohen

● 2510 Symposium: Irving S. Wright and Vincent Cristofalo Award Presentation and Lecture (Chair: S. Lederman, Co-Chair: H. Herman)

Fri 5:00pm-6:30pm | 9C, Level 3 (CC) BS

○ “Mitochondrial System Biology as a Window Into Diseases of Aging,” P. Cohen

○ Awards given by the American Federation for Aging Research. Reception immediately following lecture in 10A, Level 3 (CC).

Alexis Coulourides Kogan

● 520 Paper: End-of-Life Care (Chair: L. Chrisholm)

Wed 12:30pm-2:00pm | 11A, Level 4 (CC) SRPP

○ “Development and Pilot Testing of the End-of-Life Readiness Assessment (ERA) Survey”, A. M. Coulourides Kogan, J. Taguchi

Eileen Crimmins

● 615 Symposium: Cultural And Social Resilience Factors On Health In The Context Of Immigration (Chair: X. Dong)

Wed 2:30pm-4:00pm | 9B, Level 3 (CC)

○ “Neighborhood Social Integration, Social Network, and Cognition: Does the Interaction Effect Matter?,” J. Chen, E. Crimmins, M. Li, X. Dong

● 710 Paper: Cancer And End-of-Life Care (Chair: R. Cohen)

Wed 4:30pm-6:00pm | 8A, Level 3 (CC)

○ “Combined Effect of CMV Seropositivity and Systemic Inflammation on Dementia Prevalence in Cancer Survivors,” S. Vivek, B. Thyagarajan, H. Nelson, A. Prizment, E. Crimmins, J. Faul

● 1060 Symposium: Exploring the Impact of Technology on Older Adults’ Well-Being (Chair: W. R. Boot)

Thurs 8:00am-9:30am | 17B, Level 4 (CC)

○ “Internet Use and Social Isolation: The Significance of Life Transitions,” H. Shim, J. A. Ailshire, E. M. Crimmins

● 1315 Poster: Chronic Disease And Disease Management

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 1315-53: “Association of Multimorbidity With Incident Shingles Among Older Americans,” H. Kang, E. Crimmins, J. A. Ailshire

● 1400 Poster: Social Determinants Of Health

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 1400-262: “Associations of Genetics and Life Course Circumstances With a Novel Aging Measure That Captures Mortality Risk,” Z. Liu, X. Chen, T. M. Gill, C. Ma, E. Crimmins, M. E. Levine

● 1401 Poster: Technology

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 1401-289: “Cross-Country Comparison of Internet Use and Depression by Gender: The Role of Intergenerational Factors,” H. Shim, J. A. Ailshire, E. Crimmins

● 2260 Symposium: Novel Biomarkers Of Biological Age In The Health And Retirement Study (Chair: B. Thyagarajan)

Fri 10:00am-11:30am | 13B, Level 4 (CC) ID

○ “Novel Aging Biomarkers in the HRS,” E. Crimmins

● 2345 Poster: Cancer

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) HS

○ 2345-57: “Combined Effect of CMV Seropositivity and Systemic Inflammation on Dementia Prevalence in Cancer Survivors,” S. Vivek, B. Thyagarajan, H. Nelson, A. Prizment, E. Crimmins, J. Faul

● 2570 Late Breaking Poster Session III

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB2570-436: “Dietary Intake and Nutritional Risk among Older Americans,” Y. Choi, J. A. Ailshire, E. Crimmins

● 3145 Symposium: Aging Support, Health, And Well-being Of The Elderly In China And Japan (Chair: E. Zang)

Sat 12:00pm-1:30pm | 8A, Level 3 (CC) BSS

○ “Socioeconomic, Biological, and Community Associations With Old-Age Mortality in China,” Y. Zhang, J. A. Strauss, P. Hu, Y. Zhao, E. M. Crimmins

● 3275 Poster: Cancer And Biobehavioral Health

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 3275-17: “Living Alone, Having Children and Friends Nearby, and Daily Fruit and Vegetable Consumption,” Y. Choi, J. A. Ailshire, E. Crimmins

● 4000 Symposium: Aging In Latin America: A Focus On Middle-income Countries (Chair: C. Garcia)

Sun 8:00am-9:30am | 11B, Level 4 (CC)

○ “Biological Risk Profiles in the Older Mexican Population,” C. Garcia, J. Saenz, J. A. Ailshire, R. Wong, E. M. Crimmins

○ “The Direct and Indirect Effects of Education on Late-Life Cognitive Ability in Mexico,” J. Saenz, E. M. Crimmins, E. Zelinski

● 4080 Paper: Technology, Therapy, And Treatment Of Various Health Conditions (Chair: D. Yu)

Sun 8:00am-9:30am | 9C, Level 3 (CC)

○ “Shingles Vaccine Uptake Among Older Adults: Identifying Early, Late, and Non- Adopters,” H. Kang, E. Crimmins, J. A. Ailshire

Sean Curran

● 830 Poster: Biology Of Aging III

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BS

○ 64 Caenorhabditis Elegans as a Model of Air Pollution Toxicity During Development and Lifespan, A. Haghani, H. M. Dalton, N. Safi, F. Shirmohammadi, C. Sioutas, T. E. Morgan, C. E. Finch, S. P. Curran

Lisa Ellerby

● 3215 Symposium: Neuroprotective effect of APOE2: Evidence and Implication for Cognitive Aging (Chair: P. Sebastiani, Discussant: N. Raghavachari)

Sat 12:00pm-1:30pm | 13B, Level 4 (CC) ID

○ “Genomic Analysis of Human Isogenic ApoE iPSCDerived Inhibitory GABAergic Neurons,” L. Ellerby, S. Song, S. Mooney, S. Scheeler, S. Naphade

Susan Enguídanos

● 910 Poster: Long-Term Care: Practices And Policies

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) SRPP

○ 270 Anticipated Need for Nursing Home Placement Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Adults Ages 50–64: Findings From the HRS, M. Singleton, Z. Gassoumis, S. Enguidanos

● 1315 Poster: Chronic Disease and Disease Management

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 59 Association Between Seeking Health Information on the Internet and Palliative Care Knowledge, Y. Zhu, S. Enguidanos

● 1340 Poster: End of Life | Death and Bereavement

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) SRPP

○ 98 Walking the Talk: Engaging Patients and Caregivers as Collaborators in Palliative Care Research, A. N. Rahman, S. Enguidanos

○ 101 Variation in Advance Directives Timing Between End-Stage Renal Disease Patients and Cancer Patients, Y. Wang, S. Enguidanos

● LB1545 Late Breaking Poster Session II

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 443 What Consumers Say about Hospices in Online Reviews, V. Cardenas, A. N. Rahman, M. Singleton, Y. Zhu, S. Enguidanos

● LB2570 Late Breaking Poster Session III

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 366 Palliative Care… What’s That? : Medicaid Patient-Identified Barriers to Palliative Care, D. Hoe, Y. Wang, K. Meyers, S. Enguidanos

● 3330 Poster: Health and Mental Health Care: Use and Access

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) SRPP

○ 182 Theory-Driven Role Model Stories’ Effectiveness in Improving Palliative Care Knowledge Among a Diverse Population, D. Hoe, A. Rahman, K. Johari, S. Enguidanos

○ 183 Provider-Identified Barriers to Palliative Care for Medicaid Patients, S. Enguidanos, A. Rahman, D. Hoe, K. Meyers

● LB3620 Late Breaking Poster Session IV

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 433 Understanding Barriers to Palliative Care Use among Asian Americans: A Systematic Review, M. Rhee, Y. Jang, M. Liu, W. E. Haley, S. Enguidanos

Caleb Finch

● 825 Poster: Biology Of Aging II

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BS

○ 50 Hypertension Does Not Contribute to Microbleeds Onset in Female EFAD Mice, M. Cacciottolo, T. E. Morgan, C. E. Finch

○ 51 Novel Gamma-Secretase Modulator Regulates APP Processing and Inflammatory Responses in nPM-Exposed Mice, C. D’Agostino, M. Cacciottolo, C. Sioutas, S. Wagner, R. Tanzi, T. E. Morgan, C. E. Finch

● 830 Poster: Biology of Aging III

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BS

○ 64 Caenorhabditis Elegans as a Model of Air Pollution Toxicity During Development and Lifespan, A. Haghani, H. M. Dalton, N. Safi, F. Shirmohammadi, C. Sioutas, T. E. Morgan, C. E. Finch, S. P. Curran

Janet C. Frank

● 3305 Poster: Education and Training

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) SRPP

○ 3305-104: “Advancing Policy to Build a Behavioral Health Workforce That Addresses the Needs of Older Adults,” K. G. Kietzman, A. Palimaru, J. C. Frank

Jessica Ho

● 3245 Paper: Roles and Experiences of Grandparenting (Chair: J. Y. Ho)

Sat 12:00pm-1:30pm | 5A, Level 3 (CC) BSS

○ “Parental Absence and Grandparent Caregiving in the Wake of the Contemporary American Opioid Epidemic,” J. Y. Ho

Andrei Irimia

● 825 Poster: Biology Of Aging II

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BS

○ 61 Geriatric Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimer’s Disease Share Similar Patterns of White Matter Degradation, A. Irimia, K. Rostowsky, N. Chaudhari, M. Calvillo, S. Lee

● 3080 Symposium: Mechanisms of Cognitive and Neurological Aging (Chair: C. Kaczorowski)

Sat 8:00am-9:30am | 9C, Level 3 (CC) BS

○ “Assessing Brain Volumetrics in the Aging Brain Using Computed Tomography,” A. Irimia, A. Maher, K. Rostowsky

Pankaj Kapahi

● 765 Symposium: Probing the Complex Interactions Between Diet, Disease, and Aging (Chair: R. Anderson)

Wed 4:30pm-6:00pm | 9C, Level 3 (CC) BS

○ “A Screen of Wild-Derived Fly Strains Reveals CG34351 as a Regulator of Toxic Effects of a Rich Diet,” R. Brem, K. A. Wilson, J. N. Beck, C. S. Nelson, P. Kapahi

Brian Kennedy

● 4090 Symposium: Clinical Trials in Geroscience (Chair and Discussant: M. Kaeberlein)

Sun 8:30am-10:00am | 18C, Level 4 (CC) BS

○ “Aging Interventions Get Human: Can We Extend Healthspan?,” B. Kennedy

Su-Jeong Kim

● 935 Late Breaking Poster Session I

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB935-359: “Mitochondrial-derived peptide, SHLP2, a novel protective factor in Parkinson’s disease,” S. Kim, A. Devgan, H. Mehta, P. Cohen

○ LB935-439: Mitochondrial DNA Variant C2639T is an APOE4 Resilience Factor, B. Miller, S. Kim, J. Wan, H. Mehta, K. Yen, P. Cohen

Laura Mosqueda

● 795 Symposium: The National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment: Coordinating Networks of Care (Chair: K. Lees-Haggerty, Co-Chair: T. Rosen, Discussant: T. Fulmer)

Wed 4:30pm-6:00pm | 12A, Level 4 (CC) HS

○ “The National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment: A Collective Impact Approach,” R. Jackson Stoeckle, K. Lees-Haggerty, K. Dash, M. Lachs, L. Mosqueda, A. Bonner, C. Dyer

○ “Refining an Elder Mistreatment Screening and Response Tool to Improve Acceptability in an Emergency Department,” B. Tanksley, T. Sivers-Teixeira, L. Mosqueda, B. Olsen, T. Platts-Mills, K. Lees-Haggerty

Paul Nash

● 1355 Poster: Family Caregiving I

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 150 Supporting Family Caregivers: How Does Relationship Strain Occur in Caregiving Dyads? A Qualitative Study, E. S. Avent, L. Rath, K. Meyer, D. Benton, P. Nash

● 1420 Symposium: Interest Group Session— Age-Friendly University (AFU): Age-Friendly University Campuses: Putting Principles Into Practice (Chair: J. M. Montepare)

Thurs 5:00pm-6:30pm | 12B, Level 4 (CC) AGHE

○ “Building Recognition Across Campus and Town for USC’s Age-Friendly University Initiative,” P. Nash, C. Cicero

● 2375 Poster: Family Caregiving II

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 150 Supporting Family Caregivers: How Do Caregivers of Older Adults Cope With Role Strain? A Qualitative Study, L. Rath, K. Meyer, E. S. Avent, P. Nash, D. Benton, Z. Gassoumis, K. Wilber

Jon Pynoos

● 3270 Poster: Assisted Living and Caregiving

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 3 Innovations in Home Modification Research: The State of the Art, E. Nabors, M. Renfro, J. Pynoos, S. L. Szanton, J. Sanford, S. Stark

Min-Kyoung Rhee

● 1325 Poster: Cross-Cultural Studies

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 70 Cognition, Self-Rated Cognitive Health, and Concerns About Alzheimer’s Disease in Older Korean Americans, Y. Jang, N. Park, D. Chiriboga, H. Yoon, M. Rhee

● 2140 Symposium: Interest Group Session—Korean/ Korean American And Aging: Understanding The Health and Well-Being of Older Korean Americans From Cultural Perspectives (Chair: M. Kim)

Thurs 8:00am-9:30am | 4A, Level 3 (CC) BSS

○ “Physical-Mental-Oral-Cognitive Health in Older Korean Americans: A Multisite Study,” Y. Jang, N. Park, M. Rhee, H. Yoon, Y. Cho, M. T. Kim, D. A. Chiriboga

● 2405 Poster: Minority and Diverse Populations I

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 235 Positive and Negative Social Interactions on Mental Health in Older Korean Americans: Gender Differences, N. Park, Y. Jang, M. Rhee, D. Chiriboga, S. Chung

● LB3620 Late Breaking Poster Session IV

Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 433 Understanding Barriers to Palliative Care Use among Asian Americans: A Systematic Review, M. Rhee, Y. Jang, M. Liu, W. E. Haley, S. Enguidanos

Freddi Segal-Gidan

● 1100 Symposium: Policy Series: Reefer Madness, Sadness, or Gladness? The Cannabis and Older Persons Study (Chair: B.P. Kaskie, Discussant: J. Bobitt)

Thurs 8:00am-9:30am | 16A, Level 4 (CC) ID

○ “Cannabis Use by Caregivers of Persons With Dementia,” F. Segal-Gidan

Fernando Torres-Gil

● 2400 Poster: Mental Health | Depression

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) SRPP

○ 2400-224: “Traditional Network on Mental Health: Support From Children and Depressive Symptoms for Older Adults in Rural China,” L. Chen, F. Torres-Gil

Tara Tracy

● 935 Late Breaking Poster Session I

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB935-349: “The Role of Caprin-1 Protein Dysregulation in Synapse Decline Leading to Progression of Tauopathies,” C. Fastenau, H. Cifuentes, G. Kauwe, T. Tracy

Junxiang Wan

● 935 Late Breaking Poster Session I

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB935-439: Mitochondrial DNA Variant C2639T is an APOE4 Resilience Factor, B. Miller, S. Kim, J. Wan, H. Mehta, K. Yen, P. Cohen

Kate Wilber

● Award Presentations: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Friday, November 15

○ Elaine M. Brody Award

○ Presented to Kathleen H. Wilber, PhD, FAGHE, FGSA

● 2375 Poster: Family Caregiving II

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 150 Supporting Family Caregivers: How Do Caregivers of Older Adults Cope With Role Strain? A Qualitative Study, L. Rath, K. Meyer, E. S. Avent, P. Nash, D. Benton, Z. Gassoumis, K. Wilber

● 2540 Symposium: Interest Group Session— Environmental Gerontology: Precarious Aging In Place? Critical Perspectives On Aging In Contexts Of Instability (Chair: J. M. Finlay)

Fri 5:00pm-6:30pm | 4BC, Level 3 (CC) SRPP

○ “Social Health, Mobility, and Technology: Accessibility Within Age-Friendly Communities,” H. B. Gallo, L. W. Marshall, L. Levy-Storms, K. H. Wilber, A. Loukaitou-Sideris

● 3025 Paper: Elder Abuse: Identification, Intervention, and Staff Perspectives (Chair: A. A. Phelan)

Sat 8:00am-9:30am | 5A, Level 3 (CC) SRPP

○ “It’s Actually Worse Than It Looks: Identifying Abuse-Related Injuries Among APS Clients,” J. Yonashiro-Cho, Z. Gassoumis, K. Wilber, D. Homeier

Kelvin Yen

● 935 Late Breaking Poster Session I

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ LB935-439: Mitochondrial DNA Variant C2639T is an APOE4 Resilience Factor, B. Miller, S. Kim, J. Wan, H. Mehta, K. Yen, P. Cohen

Elizabeth Zelinski

● 925 Poster: Social Networks and Support

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 317 Presence and Predictors of Familial and Non-Familial Age-Integrated Social Networks, C. Roman, C. Beam, E. M. Zelinski

● 1401 Poster: Technology

Thurs 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC) BSS

○ 284 Use of Information and Communication Technology and Memory Performance in Older Adults: Which Comes First?, E. Choi, E. M. Zelinski

● LB2570 Late Breaking Poster Session III

Fri 1:30pm-3:30pm | EH-4, Level 1 (CC)

○ 350 Health Behaviors Associated with Subjective Cognitive Decline in Older Adults, K. M. Wisniewski, E. M. Zelinski

● 4000 Symposium: Aging In Latin America: A Focus On Middle-income Countries (Chair: C. Garcia)

Sun 8:00am-9:30am | 11B, Level 4 (CC) BSS

○ “The Direct and Indirect Effects of Education on Late-Life Cognitive Ability in Mexico,” J. Saenz, E. M. Crimmins, E. Zelinski

Julie M. Zissimopoulos

● 4155 Paper: Policies to Increase Access and Address Dependency (Chair: M. Yong)

Sun 10:00am-11:30am | 17B, Level 4 (CC) SRPP

○ “The Impact of Mandated Cognitive Assessments on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Diagnosis Rates,” J. Thunell, J. Zissimopoulos

The post USC Leonard Davis School faculty, postdoctoral and student researchers present at GSA 2019 appeared first on USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

PhD in Gerontology student Elizabeth Avent makes an impact

Beth Newcomb — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 02:15:47 +0000

PhD in Gerontology student Elizabeth Avent first encountered a glaring gap in violence research when she was an undergraduate student at Georgia State majoring in sociology. She was trying to write a paper on intimate partner violence in older adults — but she couldn’t find much research on it.

Now, as a research assistant at the USC Secure Old Age Lab and USC Center on Elder Mistreatment, she’s devoting her doctoral program to investigating the important but overlooked topic.

“Elder abuse and late-life intimate partner violence are two distinct things,” Avent explains. “Intimate partner violence tends to go down as age increases, but it doesn’t go away.”

In her quest to understand more about domestic violence in older adults, Avent, who is now in the second year of her PhD program, investigated connections between people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, and victims of intimate partner violence over age 60. She has uncovered that people who experience more than one ACE, especially falling victim to sexual abuse or witnessing domestic violence, face higher odds of being victims of intimate partner violence after age 60.

The next step is to figure out how to use these risk factors to identify people in danger of becoming victims of domestic violence and ultimately make shelters and other resources for victims more inclusive for people of all ages, Avent says.

“We have a lot of work to do. I want to see where we could intervene for people at risk of abuse and provide trauma-informed care,” she says.

Avent first encountered research on violence and older adults by USC Leonard Davis faculty members during her undergraduate and master’s in gerontology programs at Georgia State. After learning more about USC at a Gerontological Society of America conference, she enrolled in the USC PhD in Gerontology program. Her mentor is one of the authors whose work she read years ago: Kathleen Wilber, Mary Pickford Foundation Professor of Gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School.

“I saw that USC faculty were doing a lot of exciting research, and I wanted to be a part of that,” Avent says. “I like that the school is very collaborative. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, and that’s what I really needed.”

Avent says she ultimately wants to go into policy research, conduct and encourage more multidisciplinary investigation into late-life intimate partner violence, and apply the science in the real world to make violence prevention and intervention services more age-inclusive.

“I really want to convince people in other disciplines that this is an important subject and something we need to talk about,” she says. “We can do something about it. I want my work to reach the people doing the work on the front lines.”

This story originally appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of Vitality magazine with the title “Making an Impact.” Photos by Stephanie Kleinman.

The post PhD in Gerontology student Elizabeth Avent makes an impact appeared first on USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.