Gerontology Program
Gerontology Courses -- Summer 2006
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Practical
Issues in Aging: Environments and Aging (GRO
601-01). Most
elderly today are aging in place. Eighty-nine percent of those ages 55
and over plan to age in place. Around 70% of seniors spend the rest of
their life in a place they celebrated their 65th birthday. We all strive
to maintain independence and quality of life. Understanding the aging
process and how to make some adaptations within our environments makes
sense for those tending to or caring for elderly parents or thinking
about their path of aging as well. Learn about universal design, aging
in place, and attachment to place, and some adaptations to environments
to allow aging in place. Candace Roberts.
Practical
Issues in Aging: Communication and Aging (GRO
601-02). This course is designed to increase the students’ knowledge
about the communicative processes associated with normal aging and
some factors that may have a negative impact of communication in
the elderly. At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Describe speech, language and cognitive characteristics of normally
aging adults,
2) Identify biological and environmental factors that influence communication
in aging adults,
3) Describe typical impairments of communication in aging adults,
and
4) Demonstrate knowledge of methods and strategies for improving
communication in typical and impaired older adults. Virginia
Hinton.
Practical
Issues in Aging: Caregiving (GRO
601-03). This
course is focused on the role that families play in providing long-term
care for older adults. Both micro and macro aspects of family care
will be examined. Through assigned textbook readings and discussion,
students will learn about the demographics and social factors that
have made caring for older adults an imminent social problem. Attention
will be given to caregiver burden and unique challenges of caring
for certain subpopulations of elders (e.g., those with dementia or
Alzheimer’s Disease, those with physical frailties, those in
need of end of life care, diverse minority populations, and the role
of family in the care for persons in assisted living and nursing
homes). Students will learn about interventions that have been done
in caregiving research to improve caregiver outcomes (e.g., burden,
stress, work situations). Finally, the course will highlight public
policies and service programs at the national, state and local levels
that influence the care context and affect the individual caregiver.
(It is expected that students will come prepared in advance by reading
the assignments prior to the start of the two-day course so as to
facilitate in-depth class discussions and be able to complete any
in-class activities that will be assigned.) Dr.
Debra Dobbs.
Click here for course syllabus.
Practicum/Supervised Research (GRO 649-01). Supervised experience in structured settings for older adults, linking practice to theory; or supervised research in a relevant area of gerontology for professional development. Supervised and approved by instructor, Dr. Janice Wassel. Prerequisites: GRO 501 and permission of instructor.
Advanced
Practicum/Supervised Research (GRO 679-01). Supervised
experience as a participant/observer in a structured setting
with older adults, to link theory and practice and increase professional
expertise; or supervised research in a gerontological topic.
Prerequisites: Completion of 2/3 course work including 501, 620,
649, and permission of instructor, Dr.
Janice Wassel.
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