Monograph - College of Public Health - University of Georgia

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Careers in Aging
The 23 rd Annual Southeastern Student
Mentoring Conference in Gerontology and
Geriatrics
Keynote Addresses and Poster Abstracts
Edited by Christina Barmon

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Careers in Aging
The 23 rd Annual Southeastern Student
Mentoring Conference in Gerontology and
Geriatrics
Keynote Addresses and Poster Abstracts
Edited by Christina Barmon

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Copyright © 2013 by The University of Georgia Institute of Gerontology in the College of
Public Health. All rights reserved. No portion of this report, or the data that it contains, may be
reproduced without the express written consent of the authors.
Copies of this report may be obtained from The University of Georgia Institute of Gerontology,
255 E. Hancock Ave., Athens, GA 30602. Our website is http://www.publichealth.uga.edu/geron.
About the Cover: A conversation in the office. Stock photo credited to Georgia State University.
Technical Report Number UGAIG-13-02.

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Table of Contents
Preface
Elisabeth O. Burgess, Ph.D ………………………………………………………. iv
Foreword
Christina Barmon, MPH ………………………………………………………….. vi
Co-sponsors ………………………………………………………………………………. viii
Student Keynote Address I ……………………………………………………………… 1
Identity and Career Development in Gerontology: A Student’s Perspective
Brian Downer
Student Keynote Address II ……………………………………………………………... 14
Predictors of Electronic Health Record Use in Residential Care Facilities
Amanda A. Holup
The Anne & Everett Lee Scholarship Awards …………………………………………. 19
Poster Presentation Abstracts …………………………………………………………… 21
2012 Pictures ………………………………………………………………………………69

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Preface
The 23rd Annual Southeastern Mentoring Conference in
Gerontology and Geriatrics met in Atlanta, Georgia on March 30-
31. The Gerontology Institute at Georgia State University was
proud to host this conference and welcome students and
colleagues from across the southeast to Atlanta.
This year’s conference theme, “Careers in Aging,”
attracted one of the largest most diverse groups of student posters
yet. The fields of gerontology and geriatrics are continuing to
grow and students in our region are well poised to succeed in
every discipline. A successful career requires numerous mentors
and this year we highlighted the role of mentoring in career
development. Dr. Peggye Dillworth-Anderson gave an insightful
faculty keynote address on “Building a Career in Aging: The
Importance of Mentoring & Collaboration.” In addition on
Saturday lunch roundtables led by faculty provided students with the opportunity to explore
issues of careers and career development from advocacy to research to job searches. In addition,
award-winning veterans of the mentoring conference, Brian Downer and Amanda A. Holup,
shared their wisdom with a new generation of students through the student keynote lectures.
Both of these excellent papers are included in this monograph.
This conference is unlike any other conference in gerontology and geriatrics. Students
have the opportunity to present their work at a professional conference where they can refine
their presentations skills and learn from the expertise of an interdisciplinary team of faculty
mentors. All conference sessions take place in one space, allowing students the opportunity to
learn from each other and from the insightful commentary of faculty mentors. This experience is
unique because the faculty members participating at this conference are committed to nurturing
emerging scholars and engaging in dialogue about the aging research. Moreover, the best posters
and presentations receive monetary awards. As always, this conference is made possible by the
financial contributions of the sponsoring universities. The vision and dedication of the
sponsoring faculty mentors and their institutional administrators make these annual conferences
possible. The conference sponsors are: Armstrong Atlantic State University, Mercer University,
Georgia State University, University of Georgia, University of Alabama, University of Kentucky,
and University of South Florida.
Over the years, this conference has developed its own rituals and norms which reinforce
the good nature of those involved and the belief that the best mentoring can also occur in
informal settings and non-traditional ways. Whether it is tossing out school logo items as part of
drawings, leading stretching activities between sessions, or participating in friendly rivalries
between sponsoring universities, mentoring conference faculty and veteran students keep things
going with enthusiasm and a passion for this event. This year, undergraduate students
contemplating graduate school, a doctoral student with years of experience, and numerous others
received constructive feedback to assist them in reaching goals and polishing skills. I know that
everyone found this to be an enriching experience. Furthermore, I want to extend a special thank
you to the staff: GSU Gerontology staff, Quanda Miller and Christina Cummings, who managed
local arrangements and UGA Gerontology faculty and staff, including Dr. Anne Glass, Dr.

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Kerstin Emerson, Anita Holmes and Jayne Clamp, who do amazing things to keep this
conference going year after year. Finally, we were excited to welcome Dr. Toni P. Miles, the
new Director of the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Georgia for her first Mentoring
Conference. Dr. Miles brings new energy and leadership to this collaborative endeavor and we
look forward to working with her in the coming years. Finally, I congratulate Christina Barmon
for her outstanding leadership as editor of this volume. I know that she worked hard to produce a
super monograph which accurately reflects the spirit of this conference.
Elisabeth O. Burgess, Ph.D.
Director, Gerontology Institute
Georgia State University

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Foreword
The annual Southeastern Student Mentoring Conference in Gerontology and Geriatrics is
a unique event in which students and faculty from nine participating schools come together to
guide students in research and presenting. There is no other environment in which students have
the opportunity to present in front of a large audience (scary!) that is truly supportive. We
students, not only get a chance to present, many for the first time, but to get to know and learn
from faculty and peers at neighboring schools that we might not have other opportunities to meet.
This year the 23 rd annual conference was held in Atlanta and hosted by the Gerontology Institute
at Georgia State University.
Over the two days of the conference, 48 students presented their work both as posters and
oral presentations. The resulting conference was the largest and most diverse event to date. This
diversity was evident in the topics and disciplines of student papers which ranged from
preventing age-related impairment and providing services and health care to older adults to
improving quality of life for older adults in long-term care. Medical, doctoral, and masters-level
students were joined by high achieving undergraduates who all presented exceptional papers.
The result was vibrant discussions after each presentation and during the poster-viewing sessions.
There were many changes to the conference this year. We welcomed Dr. Toni Miles as
the new director of the Institute of Gerontology at University of Georgia. Dr. Miles brought
enthusiasm and energy to this event and we look forward to her leadership for the student
mentoring conference. Also new this year, in keeping with the purpose and the theme of the
conference, were the “Careers in Aging” roundtables. For lunch on Saturday, we gathered at
roundtables to participate in discussions led by experts in the topic. We chose from a wide
variety of topics centered on careers in aging, including advocacy, academia, government,
internships and volunteering, policy and legislation, the job search, and research. The
roundtables were tailored to students at every stage from the undergraduate and graduate student
looking for advice on internships to the advanced doctoral candidate preparing for the job market.
At each roundtable, mentors and students participated in spirited discussions, which reinforced
the collegial spirit of the conference.
Each year, the conference welcomes veteran students to share research and experiences
with the others in a student keynote address. The first student keynote speaker this year, last
year’s first prize award recipient, was Brian Downer, a doctoral student in Gerontology at the
University of Kentucky. Brian studies the interaction between genetics and behavior on cognitive
functioning in later life. He shared his research and mentoring advice for finding and developing
one’s identity in graduate school. His excellent presentation and paper uniquely integrates his
research interests in behavioral risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and how he has grown and
developed as a graduate student. His insights are valuable for students at all stages of their career.
Peggye Dilworth-Anderson gave the faculty keynote address. Dr. Dilworth-Anderson, a
professor in health policy and management and the co-director of the Institute on Aging at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, shared her insights on mentoring. Through her many
years of mentorship, she has learned that it is most important to know your students, their
backgrounds, and their talents, as well as their weaknesses to know how to best guide them. She
also emphasized the importance of having multiple mentors.

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The second student keynote was given by Amanda A. Holup, who was last year’s second
place award winner. Amanda is currently a doctoral student in the Aging Studies program at the
University of South Florida. She shared her timely research in the determinants of electronic
health records will be very important for the health and well-being of older adults in long-term
care.
Each year, the best presentations and posters are eligible for awards. Representatives
from each of the sponsoring universities evaluate the student presentations and posters and
present awards to the best presentations and posters. This year’s first place award winner was
Michael Schuier from Mercer University for his presentation titled “Mini Mental Status Exam
(MMSE): Differences Due to Scoring for Older Adults with Memory Problems.” The second
place award went to Elizabeth Couser from the University of Kentucky for her presentation titled
“Alzheimer’s Disease and the Visual System: Shifting the Focus to the Future Research.” We
look forward to their keynote speeches next year.
Every year, the hosting school edits a monograph of the event. This year I had the
opportunity to edit the monograph and participate in and guide the peer review process. This was
an invaluable educational opportunity. It is most definitely a collaborative effort. I would like to
thank Georgia State Gerontology students, Renu Kumar, Erin Fisher, and Meagan Jain, for their
excellent work and many hours reviewing the keynote speaker’s papers. I would also like to
thank my advisor, Dr. Elisabeth Burgess from Georgia State, and Anne Glass, and the staff at the
Institute of Gerontology at the University of Georgia for their guidance and assistance in
producing this monograph.
Christina Barmon MPH
Ph.D. Student
Gerontology Institute
Department of Sociology
Georgia State University

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Co-Sponsors
Co-Sponsors of the Twenty-third Annual Southeastern Student Mentoring Conference
in Gerontology and Geriatrics
Armstrong Atlantic State University
College of Health Professions
Health Sciences Department
Savannah, GA 31419
(912) 921-5480
University of Alabama
School of Psychology
Center for Mental Health & Aging
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
(205) 348-7518
Georgia State University
Gerontology Institute
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 651-2692
University of Kentucky
Graduate Center for Gerontology
Lexington, KY 40536
(859) 257-1450
Mercer University
Macon, GA 31207
(800) MERCER-U
University of South Florida
School of Aging Studies
Tampa, FL 33620
(813) 974-2414
University of Georgia
Institute of gerontology
College of Public Health
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 425-3222

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Student Keynote Address I
Brian Downer entered the Ph.D. program in
Gerontology at the University of Kentucky in the fall of 2010
after receiving his B.S. in psychology and biology from
Aquinas College in Grand Rapids Michigan. His research
interests involve secondary data analysis examining the
relationship between genetic traits, changes in health conditions
across the lifespan, and late life cognitive functioning.
Brian has presented his research at national and
international meetings including the Gerontological Society of
America annual meeting and the Alzheimer’s Association
International Conference. He has also co-authored several peer-reviewed reports and a
manuscript.
Brian’s ultimate goal is to earn a career in academia performing research, teaching and
mentoring students at a research intensive university. It is his mission to reach this goal in
order to contribute to the health and wellbeing of older adults, as well as to the development
of future scientific investigators.
In addition to being a student, Brian enjoys doing all forms of exercise and
recreational activities including (but not limited to) biking, swimming, running and golfing.

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Identity and Career Development in Gerontology: A Student’s Perspective
Brian Downer
University of Kentucky Graduate Center for Gerontology
The theme of the 23 rd Annual Student Mentoring Conference in Gerontology and
Geriatrics is careers in aging. Before any of us choose our career, we first need to develop our
identity as gerontologists. This is important because there are many factors that influence how
people age and experience aging. These factors include physiological changes, diseases, housing
and nutrition needs, end of life decision-making, and many others. Gerontologists cannot be
experts in all of these areas. Therefore, we need to develop an identity that will allow us to excel
in a specific area. In this paper I will share how choosing a graduate school, determining an area
of expertise, and understanding what makes gerontology different from other disciplines have all
contributed to my identity as a gerontologist. I will also share with you one of my own studies to
demonstrate how my identity as a gerontologist is reflected in my research. All of us are going to
have a different journey, but I hope that you will be able to take something away from my
experiences and apply it to your own identity and career development.
Selecting a Graduate School
Students who attend the Student Mentoring Conference are all in different stages of their
academic or professional careers. There are undergraduate students who are interested in
graduate school, but may be unsure if they want to attend a program that has a research or
applied focus. Others may be earning their master’s degree and need to determine if their career
goals will require them to have a PhD. This includes master’s students who have an applied
degree but are interested in research or those with a research focused degree but want a career in
an applied setting. There are also doctoral students who are preparing themselves for a career
after graduate school. There may also be students who have professional experience but have
returned to school to earn an advanced degree. The type of graduate schools we apply to will be
determined by whether we want a career in an applied or academic setting. Applied careers can
include medicine, administration, or government, whereas academic careers can include teaching
and performing research at a college or university. When I was choosing a graduate school, I
knew I wanted to pursue a career in academia and research. I chose the University of Kentucky
because the doctoral program in gerontology had the three qualities that I was looking for in a
graduate program: an emphasis on student training and development, faculty passionate about
aging research, and a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to Alzheimer’s disease
research. While these qualities were important to me, other qualities to consider may include the
location of the graduate school or availability of student funding. When choosing a graduate
school, postdoctoral position, or your first career, it is important to make your decision based on
the qualities that are the most important to you. This will allow you to be confident that you are
making the decision that will give you the greatest likelihood for success.
Determining Your Area of Expertise
Gerontology is both multidisciplinary, with defined subfields such as biology of aging
and sociology of aging (Shenk et al., 2001), and interdisciplinary, through the integration of

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methods, techniques and theories from multiple disciplines (Ferraro, 2007). Because gerontology
is such a broad field, it is important to determine an area of expertise that you can develop over
the course of your career. This can be a difficult process, but I will share with you the steps that
helped me determine my area of expertise. First, list the broad fields that can be included in
gerontology (Figure 1a). The fields I have listed represent areas of research, but if you are not
pursuing a career in research, then list careers that match your interests. Once you have created
your list, the next step is to choose an area that you are interested in from that list. This will
allow you to determine a field within gerontology that you want to pursue. Once you select a
subfield within gerontology, the third step is to list the areas of study within that subfield and
choose an area from this list. Continue with this selection process to determine your area of
expertise.
I found this stepwise approach to be helpful in determining an area of research within
gerontology that I wanted to specialize in. Prior to enrolling at the University of Kentucky, I
knew I wanted to study disease prevention, specifically Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s
disease prevention can be studied multiple ways, each with its own particular research settings,
study designs, and objectives (Figure 1b). From these subfields, I selected research that would
involve secondary analysis and association studies to examine factors that modify the risk for
Alzheimer’s disease (Figure 1c). These risk factors can be environmental (e.g. mentally
stimulating environment), behavioral (e.g. smoking, diet) or genetic (e.g. APOE, PSEN1). As I
continued to read literature, I learned that health behaviors, environmental exposures, and
genetic risk factors all contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and examining interactions between
these exposures provides valuable insight into the etiology of the disease. Eventually, I narrowed
my research interests to the study of gene-environment interactions in Alzheimer’s disease and
Figure 1a Figure 1b Figure 1c
cognitive decline.
Determining an area of expertise takes time and patience and my particular research
interests are a result of both personal and academic experiences. My interest in Alzheimer’s
disease prevention is a result of growing up with all four of my grandparents in an
intergenerational household. Three of my grandparents had passed away due to complications
from Alzheimer’s disease by the time I had completed the first year of my undergraduate studies.
Witnessing their cognitive decline and the effect it had on them and my family motivated me to

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learn about the psychological and biological changes that occur in the brain as the body ages. My
academic experiences as a student, being involved in studies as a research assistant, and reading
literature allowed me to refine my broad interest in Alzheimer’s disease prevention.
Once you choose an area that you are interested in, it is important to allow for your
interests within your area to evolve. This includes using methodologies, theories and technology
from other areas of research that allow for advances in the field to be made. One way this can be
accomplished is by keeping an open mind about the type of research that is being performed in
other areas and being aware of what types of findings are being generated by other fields.
What Makes Gerontology Different From Other Disciplines?
Even though I worked hard to determine my own area of research within gerontology, I
still struggled with my identity as a gerontologist. The biggest step forward in the development
of my identity has come from understanding what makes gerontology different from other
disciplines. For example, what separates me as a gerontologist studying gene-environment
interactions from an epidemiologist or biostatistician? To answer this, let us examine the
definition of gerontology. Gerontology is the study of aging, not just the study of the aged or of
older adults (Seccombe & Ishii-Kuntz, 1991). This distinction may seem trivial but it is
important. Just because someone studies a disease, social problem, or other need that is prevalent
among older adults, does not make that person a gerontologist; just as someone who uses
statistics in their research does make them a statistician. I think it is important for gerontology
students to remember that studying the process of aging does not need to be limited to only older
adults because experiences from all stages of the life span are involved in the aging process.
Adopting a life course approach to the study of older adults will allow for gerontologists to
examine how the aging experience is influenced by biological and physiological changes, disease,
public policies, end of life concerns, housing needs, and caregiving needs, just to name a few. As
gerontologists, we are trained to incorporate the specific areas that make up the life course into
our area of expertise.
Relationship Between APOE-e4 Allele Status, Mean Alcohol Consumption Following
Midlife and Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults
I want to take this opportunity to share with you some of my own research. With the
assistance of my coauthors Drs. David Fardo and Faika Zanjani, I am analyzing data from the
Framingham Heart Study to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and
cognitive decline among older adults who have one or more APOE-e4 alleles. An allele is a
specific form of a gene. The APOE gene has three alleles (e2, e3, e4), which result in six
combinations or genotypes (e2/e2, e2/e3, e2/e4, e3/e3, e3/e4, e4/e4). Everyone has one of these
six genotypes. People with one or more copies of the APOE-e4 allele are at an increased risk for
Alzheimer’s disease (Corder et al., 1993), whereas those with one or more copies of the APOEe2
allele are at a decreased risk (Corder et al., 1994). I am interested in this area of research
because of my family’s history of Alzheimer’s disease, reading articles about the relationship
between APOE and cognition, and by working with my advisor who studies alcohol consumption
and cognition.
The relationship between APOE-e4 and cognition is well understood. Examining if this
relationship is modified by alcohol consumption can advance the understanding of causal

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biological pathways as well as provide evidence for the use of genetic and environmental risk
factors in the identification of high-risk individuals for targeted interventions.
Background
The Framingham Heart Study (FHS) is a longitudinal study that began in 1948 with an
original cohort of 5,209 men and women between the ages of 28 and 62 from Framingham,
Massachusetts. The purpose of the FHS is to detect risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but
the longitudinal design has made it a valuable resource for studying risk factors for Alzheimer’s
disease and cognitive decline. The recruitment of participants for the Offspring cohort, who are
the children of the Original Cohort, began in 1971 with 5,124 men and women between the ages
of 5 and 70. A total of 3,021 participants between the ages of 40 and 93 attended the most recent
clinical exam, which was completed in 2008. Additional cohorts have been created, which
includes the Third Generation Cohort, who are the grandchildren of the Original Cohort, the
Omni Cohort, the Second Generation Omni Cohort, and a New Offspring Spouse Cohort. For
additional information on the FHS, please see Dawber et al. (1951) Feinleib et al. (1975),
Massaro et al. (Massaro et al., 2004) and http://www.framinghamheartstudy.org/.
Methods
Measurements. The Offspring Cohort has undergone eight clinical examinations between
1971 and 2008 and two neuropsychological examinations, which were completed in 2005 and
2007. Participants received the Boston Naming Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test, Wechsler
Memory Scale, Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery, and the Hooper Visual
Organization during both of the neuropsychological examinations. I chose to use data from the
Wechsler Memory Scale because it examines immediate and delayed recall of logical, paired
associate, and visual memory. Each of these cognitive domains was analyzed independently.
FHS investigators assessed alcohol consumption during clinical exams 1-7 (1971-2001)
using three open-ended questions: (1) how many bottles, cans or glasses of beer do you
consume per week; (2) how many glasses of wine do you consume per week; (3) how many
cocktails (i.e. drinks containing liquor) do you consume per week? I calculated individual
alcohol index scores for each clinical exam by adding the number of beers, cocktails, and glasses
of wine together to determine the total number of alcoholic beverages consumed per week. I then
calculated an average index score for each participant by dividing the total individual alcohol
index scores by the number of clinical exams attended. I used this measure to group participants
into the following classifications: (1) abstinent/light- less than one alcoholic beverage consumed
per week; (2) moderate- between one and seven alcoholic beverages consumed per week; (3)
heavy- more than seven alcoholic beverages consumed per week. These classifications are
consistent with the recommendations of the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(NIAA).
I dichotomized participants according to the presence of one or more APOE-e4 alleles.
Participants with e2/e2, e2/e3, or e3/e3 genotype were defined as e4- and participants with e3/e4,
e2/e4, or e4/e4 genotype were defined as e4+.
Gender, age, education, smoking status, total cholesterol (TC), and number of years
between neuropsychological exams were controlled for in all statistical models. The average
time between neuropsychological exams was 6.13 years (SD 1.12, range 1.34-8.32). I

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dichotomized education, smoking, and total cholesterol as having obtained a college degree,
being a current/former smoker or never smoked, and high TC (>200mg/dL) or normal/low TC
(

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cognition among older adults with one or more APOE-e4 alleles. Heavy alcohol consumption
was associated with fewer declines in logical, paired associate, and visual memory. However,
these findings did not reach statistical significance.
Discussion
The presence of one or more APOE-e4 alleles was associated with greater decline in
logical and paired associate memory. These findings are consistent with other studies that have
found APOE-e4 to modify multiple cognitive domains (Wilson et al., 2002), including logical
(Levy et al., 2004) and paired associate memory (Adamson et al., 2010). Mean alcohol
consumption did not have a significant effect on the decline of immediate or delayed recall of
logical, paired-associate, or visual memory. Previous studies have found the association between
alcohol consumption and cognition to follow a J or U shaped curve (Peters, Peters, Warner,
Beckett, & Bulpitt, 2008), but some studies have found alcohol consumption not to be associated
with cognitive function (Cervilla, Prince, & Mann, 2000; Launer, Feskens, Kalmijn, &
Kromhout, 1996; Solfrizzi et al., 2007). We found that heavy alcohol consumption to be
associated with less cognitive decline. This association was not statistically significant and can
be attributed to several factors. The first is a survivor effect among heavy alcohol consumers
(Anstey, Mack, & Cherbuin, 2009). Prolonged heavy alcohol consumption is associated with
increased risks for cancer (Cho, Lee, Rimm, Fuchs, & Giovannucci, 2012) and stroke (Ikehara et
al., 2008) among other causes of premature mortality. Because participants were required to be
65 years of age or older upon receiving the first neuropsychological examination, heavy alcohol
consumers who would have exhibited greater decline over time may not have remained in the
FHS long enough to receive the second neuropsychological examination due to an increased risk
for conditions associated with premature mortality. A second explanation is that alcoholics and
heavy alcohol consumers are more likely than non-problem drinkers to under report or under
estimate their alcohol consumption (Del Boca & Noll, 2000). If the number of alcoholic
beverages consumed by “true” heavy alcohol consumers were under-reported, then these
individuals may be categorized as moderate consumers, potentially leading for greater cognitive
decline to be associated with lower alcohol consumption (Benedetti, Parent, & Siemiatycki,
2009).
APOE contributes to cognitive decline through pathological and vascular mechanisms.
The concentration of cerebral β-amyloid of AD patients with one or more APOE-e4 alleles has
been shown to be significantly greater than non-demented controls (Rebeck, Reiter, Strickland,
& Hyman, 1993). This may be due to the e4 variant being less effective at binding to amyloid
beta compared to APOE-e3 (Tokuda et al., 2000). The presence of one or more APOE-e4 alleles
is a significant risk factor for heart disease (Nordlie, Wold, & Kloner, 2005) and high cholesterol
(Heeren, Beisiegel, & Grewal, 2006), both of which have been shown to increase risk for
cognitive decline and dementia. Conversely, alcohol consumption has been shown to be
protective against such conditions (de Lorimer, 2000).
A statistically significant interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors may
suggest the existence of a biological pathway involving both risk factors. The findings from the
current study do not support the presence of such a pathway, but significant gene-environment
interactions between alcohol and APOE have been detected previously. Dufouil et al. (2000)
found moderate alcohol consumption to be associated with a decreased risk for cognitive decline
among individuals with no APOE-e4 alleles, whereas the opposite association was found among

those with one or more APOE-e4 alleles. In a second study (Carmelli, Swan, Reed, Schellenberg,
& Christian, 1999), investigators determined that the protective effect of light to moderate
alcohol consumption was greater among individuals with one or more APOE-e4 alleles.
The lack of statistically significant findings for alcohol consumption or for an interaction
between APOE-e4 and alcohol consumption may be due to the relatively small sample size
compared to previous studies. Previous studies that have detected statistically significant
associations between alcohol consumption and cognitive decline, as well as significant
interactions between APOE-e4 and alcohol consumption have included sample sizes between
1,400 (Anttila et al., 2004) to 1,800 (Elias, Elias, D'Agostino, Silbershatz, & Wolf, 1999)
participants. Despite this limitation, the current study does include multiple strengths. First is the
use of multiple measurements of alcohol consumption following midlife to longitudinally derive
mean alcohol consumption. This method may help limit, but not fully prevent, the effect that
dramatic changes in alcohol consumption over the life span has on cognitive functioning. Second,
this study examined the relationship between APOE-e4, alcohol consumption, and cognitive
decline in multiple domains. The brain is extremely heterogeneous and the effects of
environmental and genetic risk factors may act differently on various regions of the brain.
Morphological changes to specific hemispheres in the brain have been associated with declines
in logical (Bava et al., 2010), paired associate (Han et al., 2007), and visual (Hofstetter,
Achaibou, & Vuilleumier, 2012). This may explain why APOE-e4 had a significant effect on
logical and paired associate memory, but not visual memory. Future research should examine the
relationship between cognitive decline and changes in alcohol consumption following midlife
and the effect that APOE genotypes may have on this relationship. Because alcohol consumption
is a modifiable behavior, it is important to have a clear understanding on the relationship
between alcohol consumption and cognition in order to provide appropriate recommendations on
alcohol consumption across the life span.
8

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Table 2.
Descriptive characteristics of N=475 participants of the Offspring Cohort of the Framingham
Heart Study.
Variable
Male(n=218) Female(n=257) P-Value
Age during second cognitive exam (SD) 77.2 (4.1) 77.3 (4.2) 0.85
Number of years between cognitive exams 6.1 (1.11) 6.2(1.12) 0.52
(SD)
Age during clinical exam 1 44.3 (4.3) 44.2 (4.4) 0.87
Total cholesterol (%) 0.008
High cholesterol 133 (61) 117 (45.5)
Low cholesterol 85 (39) 140 (54.5)
APOE status 0.14
e4+ 51 (23.4) 46 (17.9)
e4- 167 (76.6) 211 (32.1)
Smoking Status

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Table 3.
Time, Time x APOE and Time x Alcohol Consumption effects on cognitive change (p-values).
Logical
Paired Associate
Immediate Delayed Immediate Delayed
Time 0.0011

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Bava, S., Thayer, R., Jacobus, J., Ward, M., Jernigan, T. L., & Tapert, S. F. (2010). Longitudinal
characterization of white matter maturation during adolescence. Brain Research, 1327,
38-46.
Benedetti, A., Parent, M. E., & Siemiatycki, J. (2009). Lifetime consumption of alcoholic
beverages and risk of 13 types of cancer in men: Results from a case-control study in
Montreal. Cancer Detection and Prevention, 32(5-6), 352-362.
Carmelli, D., Swan, G. E., Reed, T., Schellenberg, G. D., & Christian, J. C. (1999). The effect of
apolipoprotein E epsilon4 in the relationships of smoking and drinking to cognitive
function. Neuroepidemiology, 18(3), 125-133.
Cervilla, J. A., Prince, M., & Mann, A. (2000). Smoking, drinking, and incident cognitive
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Student Keynote Address II
Amanda A. Holup earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from
Eckerd College and a Master’s degree in Bioethics and Medical
Humanities from the University of South Florida. Currently,
she is a third year doctoral student in the Aging Studies
program at the University of South Florida. Her research
experience and interests include health information technology,
transitions across the long-term care continuum including
community discharges from nursing homes, and bioethics.

15
Facility Characteristics Associated with the Use of
Electronic Health Records in Residential Care Facilities
Amanda A. Holup
University of South Florida School of Aging Studies
Characterized as the longitudinal collection of person-level and population-level
electronic health information with provisions that support the delivery of healthcare, electronic
health records (EHRs) have been credited as a safe and effective strategy for improving the
safety of health care, eliminating administrative and operations inefficiencies, reducing costs,
and encouraging greater patient engagement (Hedstrom, 2007; Kramer, Richard, Epstein, Winn,
& May, 2009; Shekelle, Morton, & Keeler, 2006; Wald & Shojania, 2001). Because of the
promise that EHRs have in facilitating efficient care, the federal government authorized
Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments totaling $27 billion to acute care providers and
hospitals to promote the adoption and meaningful use of EHRs. Unfortunately, long-term care
(LTC) providers are currently ineligible for these incentives.
Despite efforts to promote EHR adoption across the LTC spectrum, contextual data on
EHR systems in settings outside of hospitals is lacking (Brandeis, Hogan, Murphy, & Murray,
2007). Across the LTC continuum, studies examining EHR use in nursing homes suggest that
larger, nonprofit facilities that are members of a chain, have a longer tenure of the administrator,
and provide a greater number of services to their residents and were more likely to use EHRs for
clinical care and administrative domains (Chan, 2008; Resnick, Manard, Stone, & Alwan, 2009).
Similarly, across home health and hospice agencies, nonprofit or government providers,
providers that were members of a chain, and those with a larger patient census, were more likely
to use EHRs (Bercovitz, Sengupta, & Jamison, 2010). However, the ability to provide a
comprehensive understanding of EHR utilization across the LTC spectrum has been hampered
by the lack of information on residential care facilities (RCFs).
In the past two decades, RCFs have emerged as a LTC alternative for older Americans.
Nationally, these community-based living environments provide housing and can tailor personal
care services to meet the changing needs of approximately one million elders (Golant, 2008).
Although there is a great deal of heterogeneity in the types of services provided, the amount of
care offered, and regulatory standards governing RCFs, these facilities have come to serve an
increasingly disabled resident population (Spillman, K., & McGillard, 2002; Stevenson &
Grabowski, 2010). However, since RCFs are not healthcare facilities, it is often a challenge to
manage the care needs of residents, leaving them vulnerable to hospitalizations (Becker, Boaz,
Andel, & DeMuth, 2011) and medications mismanagement (Sloane et al., 2004).Although EHR
integration into RCFs may improve residents’ health outcomes, existing research on EHR use in
RCFs is limited. Considering the potential significance of EHR integration across multiple care
settings, this study addresses the current knowledge gap by examining the association between
structural characteristics and the use of EHRs in RCFs.
Method
Source of the Data. Facility level data were drawn from the 2010 National Survey of
Residential Care Facilities (NSRCF), a nationally-representative, probability sample survey of
U.S residential care providers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). The RCFs

16
included in the sample were licensed, registered, or otherwise regulated by the state; had 4 or
more beds; at least one resident living in the facility providing personal care; 24 hour supervision
and at least two meals a day to the residents. Facilities exclusively serving the mentally ill or
developmentally disabled population were excluded. For the 2010 NSRCF, 3,605 RCFs were
sampled and data were collected on 2,302 participating facilities.
Measures
Outcome Variable. The NSRCF defines an EHR as a computerized version of a resident’s
health information that is used to manage his or her care (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2010). A dichotomous variable representing whether or not a facility used an EHR
was based on the question: “Other than for accounting or billing purposes, does this facility use
Electronic Health Records?” Facilities endorsing the question were categorized as having EHR.
Predictor Variables. Predictor variables included facility size, chain membership,
ownership, Medicaid participation, occupancy, rural versus urban location, and staffing levels.
The number of the licensed, registered, or certified residential care beds in each facility was used
as a measure of facility size. A dichotomous variable to assess chain membership was defined as
whether the facility was owned by a chain, group, or multi-facility system. Facility ownership
was dichotomized as private, for profit and private, non-profit or government owned. Medicaid
participation was affirmed based on whether the facility was certified or registered to participate
in Medicaid. Occupancy rate was defined as the total number of residents divided by the total
number of resident care beds in the facility and converted to a percentage. Staffing measures
included direct care hours per patient day (HPPD) of registered nurses (RN), licensed practical
nurses (LPN), and personal care aides (PCA). Rural verses urban facility location was
determined based on the metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Resident demographics were
described by the percentage of females and Caucasian residents residing in the facility.
Statistical Analysis
Exploratory analysis assessed specific domains of EHR use. Multinomial logistic
regression was used to model the factors associated with EHR use in RCFs. Statistical
significance was assessed with a two-tailed alpha of .05. The regression model was weighted by
the appropriate sample weight to account for the complex, sampling design of the NSRCF. The
regression model was estimated based on the SAS procedure SURERYLOGISTIC, which
accounts for stratification, clustering, and unequal sample weighting within complex survey
designs. All analyses were performed using SAS, Version 9.2
Results
Approximately 17% of RCFs (n=446) reported using an EHR with the most commonly
reported functions being the ability to document resident demographics (38%) and the resident’s
primary medical provider (37%). In contrast, EHR use for clinical care domains including
recording drug interactions or contraindications (17%) and ordering or viewing diagnostic tests
(4%) was less common.
Logistic regression results indicated that chain membership, nonprofit ownership, staffing,
and participation in Medicaid were significantly associated with the use of an EHR in RCFs.

17
Nonprofit RCFs were 64% more likely to use an EHR (OR 1.642, 95% CI 1.218-2.215).
Similarly, both chain membership and participation in Medicaid led to a roughly 40% increase in
the likelihood of an RCF’s use of an EHR (OR 1.417, 95% CI 1.072-1.872 and OR 1.406. 95%
CI 1.057-1.872, respectively). Facilities not providing care via LPNs were approximately 40%
less likely to use an EHR (OR .599, 95% CI .413-.869). Several structural characteristics
including size, MSA, occupancy rate, and resident case mix factors were not associated with the
use this technology.
Discussion
Using data from the first nationally representative survey of RCFs, this study presents
national estimates regarding the use of EHRs and the facility characteristics associated with the
use of the technology. Our study revealed that ownership, chain membership, staffing levels, and
Medicaid participation were significantly associated with EHR use suggesting that structural
characteristics do play a role in influencing the adoption of EHRs in RCFs.
With 17% of RCFs nationwide currently using EHRs, these findings provide benchmark
evidence that the majority of RCFs are not using the technology. However, considerable
variability exists within both EHR-users and nonusers across specific domains suggesting that
EHR use may be implemented in stages with the use of this technology best modeled by a
continuum of applicability instead of the current dichotomy. Moreover, there are many facilities
nationwide that are considered non-users of the technology, but still opt to use specific EHR
domains suggesting that clarification of the operational definition of an EHR system is needed.
The study design, including its large sample, generalizability, and theoretical basis is a
particular strength of the study. However, some limitations must be considered in interpreting the
results. First, the NSRCF lacks questions regarding the duration of use the technology. Second,
this study only examined the broad use of EHRs in RCFs and was unable to assess the impact
that EHRs would have on resident outcomes. Future investigations are required to understand the
impact that implementation and daily use of EHRs would have on resident outcomes.
Although EHRs were originally developed for clinical care settings, the technology
seems to hold promise across the LTC continuum. Considering the potential for EHRs to ease the
transfer of information across multiple care settings, EHRs may serve as a valuable rebalancing
tool as the industry moves toward more patient-centered care.
References
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Directors Association, 8(1), 31-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2006.09.013

18
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). National survey of residental care facilities.
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technology. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
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Affairs, 29, 35-43 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0527
Wald, H., & Shojania, K. G. (2001). Making health care safer: A critical analysis of patient
safety practices Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

19
The Anne & Everett Lee Scholarship Awards
Every year faculty judges from each of the participating schools choose the top three
student presentations for awards of $200, $100, and $50. The presenters are judged based on
the importance, the timeliness, the relevance of their topic, the soundness of approach, and the
clarity of their presentations. In addition to the monetary awards, there are honorable
mentions for the best individual presentation and poster as well as the best undergraduate.
Since 2005, the awards have been given in the name of Drs. Everett S. and Anne Lee.
Dr. Everett Lee was a professor emeritus of sociology and served as the assistant director of
the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Georgia. Dr. Everett Lee was interested in the
demographics of aging, and both of the Lees had research interests in migration. Dr. Anne
Lee now provides funding for the awards.

20
First Place Overall
Michael Schuier
Second Place Overall
Elizabeth Couser
Third Place Overall
Chad Straight
Best Presentation
Hyunjin Noh
Best Poster
Ruth Robbins
Best Undergraduate
Jessica Lyles

21
Poster Presentation Abstracts
Holly Aversano
hollyave@uga.edu
University of Georgia, Institute of Gerontology
Exploring the Role of Occupational Therapy in Promoting Patient Meaning-Making
Self-efficacy and mastery over environmental demands have been shown to predict positive
mental health. Those who feel autonomous are less likely to experience depressive symptoms or
feel as though their lives are meaningless. However, individuals with functional disabilities (e.g.,
physical, cognitive) are vulnerable to loss of self-efficacy and mastery, and are therefore at risk
for poor mental health outcomes. Data suggest that impaired individuals may benefit from
expressing meaning through occupation. By definition, occupational therapy promotes selfefficacy
and environmental mastery for patients with functional loss. Yet, the role of
occupational therapy in promoting meaning-making in impaired older patients’ lives is unknown.
The objective of this study therefore is to report preliminary data from in-depth interviews with
occupational therapists and older patients’ receiving therapy with the goal of exploring meaningmaking
through occupation and perceived environmental mastery. Both the role of occupational
therapy in promoting meaning-making and barriers to achieving meaning-making through
occupation will be described.

22
Lauren Breland
Elizabeth A. Di Napoli
Rebecca S. Allen
glbreland@gmail.com
University of Alabama, Department of Psychology Center for Mental Health and Aging
Staff Knowledge and Perceptions of Sexuality and Dementia among Older Adults in
Long-Term Care
As the geriatric population grows larger in the US, long-term nursing care becomes an extremely
important facet of our nation’s health care system. In order to ensure that these older adults are
enabled to safely express their autonomy in such settings, we must take a closer look at long term
care practices that facilitate or inhibit personal choice. Sexuality has been deemed by
psychologists and physicians to be a healthy outlet for natural desires and intimacies in all
mature age groups. Some researchers even found that expression of sexuality in older adults
improved their mental and physical state, and thereby lengthened their lifespans. Since older
adult sexuality is popularly rejected by mainstream society, LTC staff might object or limit
sexual expression in their residents. Negative attitude can become exacerbated when the older
adults expressing sexual desires suffer from dementia or other cognitive impairments; sexual
confusion and capacity to consent become important factors for recognizing what sexual
behavior is healthy and safe for dementia patients. In any case, incapacitated residents deserve a
chance to balance their autonomy and sexual fulfillment with safety issues surrounding
diminished consent capacity. We examined LTC staff (N=58) opinions and attitudes about
sexuality and dementia in long-term care. The 63-item questionnaire measured staff knowledge
of dementia and sexuality, levels of religiosity, frequency of sexual behavior in residents, and
staff attitudes towards these behaviors. Although we are still collecting data, preliminary
analyses reveal associations between religiosity, dementia and sexuality knowledge, and LTC
staff attitudes toward residents’ sexual expression.

23
Kristen Condeelis
Elizabeth Hahn, B.S.
William Haley, Ph.D.
kcondeelis@mail.usf.edu
University of South Florida, School of Aging Studies
Psychological Distress and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive
Impairment
Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) report depressive symptoms and other
psychological distress, which may be associated with deficits in cognitive functioning. In
addition, past research indicates that the level of depressive symptoms exhibited by older adults
with MCI is positively correlated with the severity of their cognitive deficits, but it is unclear
how this relationship in persons with MCI may differ from cognitively healthy older adults. This
research project examined whether older adults with MCI reported poorer psychological wellbeing
than cognitively healthy controls and whether poorer psychological well-being is
correlated with level of global cognitive functioning. Psychological well-being was measured
using the Perceived Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D),
Life Satisfaction Scale, and average daily negative affect. Participants were on average 75 years
old, and the sample consisted of 10 older adults with MCI (6 females and 4 males) and 17
cognitively healthy older adult controls (14 females and 3 males). Approximately 74% of
participants were White. Results from this project indicate that having MCI was associated with
greater depressive symptoms (p=.047) but did not differ on perceived stress or life satisfaction.
The control participants had significantly higher global cognitive functioning. Higher global
cognitive functioning was associated with lower life satisfaction but was not significantly
associated with depressive symptoms or perceived stress. Persons with MCI experience
depressive symptoms greater than that experienced in cognitively healthy older adults. Further
research is needed to identify other potential areas of psychological distress in persons with MCI.

24
Elizabeth Couser, BA, MSW
elizabeth.couser@uky.edu
University of Kentucky, Graduate Center for Gerontology
Alzheimer’s Disease and the Visual System: Shifting the Focus to Future Research
Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease has many avenues through which to conduct research. Studies
have shown a relationship between the visual system (including structural changes in the retina,
pupil, optic nerve) and Alzheimer’s. Some research has provided a follow up on these changes
that may be able to assist in a more rapid diagnosis and subsequent treatment of Alzheimer’s.
The purpose of the current review is to provide a summary of research concerning the
relationship between Alzheimer’s and the visual system and to discuss valuable studies that have
proceeded in the direction of diagnosis and treatment of AD through the visual system.
Methods: A literature search was conducted in Medline. Search terms used were “Alzheimer’s,”
“vision,” and “ocular biomarkers” The only inclusion criterion was the study had to discuss a
relationship between Alzheimer’s disease on changes of the eye and/or visual system that may be
indicative of AD. >100 articles met this requirement.
Results: Reports of the exact changes in the eye and visual system were varied with no
standardized methods to assess such changes. Studies reported changes in visual acuity, visual
field, depth perception, color discrimination, and structural changes in the optic nerve, retina and
pupil. A few recent studies examined the presence of amyloid β in the lens, aqueous humor and
vitreous humor of the eye.
Conclusion: Further research is required to compose a definitive list of changes that occur in the
eye/visual system & to assist in the development of earlier non-invasive diagnoses and better
treatments of AD.

25
Brittany Taylor Cruce
Lynn Snow
Michelle Hilgeman
Lindsey Jacobs
Melissa Machac-Burleson
Latrice Vinson
Jenny Palmer
Patricia Parmelee
Rebecca Allen
Dan Berlowitz
Christine Hartmann
btcruce@crimson.ua.edu
University of Alabama, Center for Mental Health and Aging
Development of the Resident-centered Assessment of Interactions with Staff and
Engagement (RAISE): A Nursing Home Quality of Care Observational Tool
Person-centered care has become a widespread nursing home (NH) care model, yet measuring
successful implementation remains a challenge. We used an ethnographic approach to develop
an assessment tool. We conducted over 60 hours of ethnographic observations on 4 NH units in
one Veteran’s Affairs (VA) facility and 20 hours of interviews with staff and residents. Thematic
analysis revealed quality and frequency of staff-resident interactions and resident engagement as
aspects of person-centered care not captured by current quality assurance systems (e.g., MDS 3.0,
annual inspections). We then developed the RAISE (Resident-centered Assessment of
Interactions with Staff and Engagement), a structured observational tool, to capture these
identified constructs. We conducted 100 hours of observation using the tool in 8 NH units in 2
VA facilities. Using an iterative approach informed by ethnographic notes and coding meetings,
we identified a set of coding rules and administration processes that were as simultaneously
efficient, non-reactive, and representative of CLC life as possible. Inter-rater reliabilities among
a group of psychologist raters have been adequate (Cohen’s kappa = .75; averaged across RAISE
variables and protocol types, n = 47 observations). We are now conducting further modifications
and inter-rater reliability analyses to achieve adequate inter-rater reliability in a group of raters
with wider variety in experience and representing multiple disciplines.

26
Jason Dhabliwala, BS
Lee Hyer, PhD
Ciera V. Scott, MS
Catherine Yeager, PhD
dhabliwala.jason@mccg.org
Mercer University School of Medicine & Family Health Center of Central Georgia
Georgia Neurosurgical Institute & Mercer University School of Medicine
Mercer University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program & Georgia Neurosurgical Institute
Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Department of Psychology
Effects of a Holistic Memory Clinic for Older Adults
Studies have shown that cognitive training for older adults is an asset to improving attention and
working memory. Recent studies show promise that a more “holistic” and integrated approach
are beneficial to less cognitively fit older adults. This analysis will examine whether the
implementation of a 6-session, manualized memory training program can assist with improving
function and overall well-being. Consented participants (N = 112) from the Central Georgia
community with Age Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI), Mild Cognitive Impairment
(MCI), or mild dementia were asked to participate in memory training on cognitive habits, and
attitudes, as well as function and adjustment. Compliance was also measured. We also had a
Control group (N=30) who received no training. Finally, we classified participants by Risk
Status—Low, Medium and High. Results showed that on the pre-measures the Memory Clinic
group did not differ from the Control group. This pattern was also true of the post measures for
the two groups. When the groups were separated by risk, however, the Low Risk Group was
superior to the other groups, including Control, and continued to be superior in post measures on
most cognitive assessments. Compliance also made a difference as those who complied
performed better than those who did not. These tended to be Low and Medium Risk subjects.
There were differences too on memory complaints and adjustment, again for the Low and
Medium Risk Groups. Identifying high and low risk subjects was most helpful, resulting in clear
differences between memory complaining subjects.

27
Kristy Douglas, M.A.
Christina S. McCrae, Ph.D
Natalie D. Dautovich, Ph.D
kdouglas@crimson.ua.edu
University of Alabama, Psychology Department
Age Differences and Variability in Pre-Sleep Arousal and Sleep Outcomes
The purpose of this study was to examine age differences in mean values and variability in presleep
arousal and sleep outcomes. Research has found age differences in sleep outcomes but no
study has examined age differences in pre-sleep arousal, or the variability of pre-sleep arousal.
Understanding these processes could inform research investigating the sleep-arousal relationship.
50 younger and 50 older community-dwelling adults completed 14 consecutive daily diaries.
Two arousal (Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale [PSAS] cognitive and somatic) and five sleep (sleep onset
latency [SOL], wake after sleep onset [WASO], total sleep time [TST], sleep efficiency [SE],
and sleep quality rating [SQR]) variables were analyzed using MANOVA’s. Intraindividual
variability analyses were conducted to investigate age differences in variability. There was a
significant difference between younger and older adults on sleep outcomes, F(4, 94)=7.88,
p

28
Katy L. Ford
Ami N. Bryant,
Giyeon Kim, Ph.D.
klford@crimson.ua.edu
University of Alabama, Psychology Department
Age Differences in Satisfaction with and Perceived Benefit from Mental Health Services:
Results from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys
Although an extensive body of research reports older adults’ attitudes toward and underutilization
of mental health services (MHS), relatively few studies have focused on age
differences in mental health care among those utilizing MHS. This study examined variation by
age in satisfaction with and perceived amount of benefit from MHS among those who had used
MHS during the past year. Drawn from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys
(2001-2003), 2,179 adults aged 18-87 were included in the multiple linear regression analyses.
Results showed older age was positively associated with both MHS satisfaction (p

29
Susannah L. Gordon, BS
Kathryn N. Porter MS, RD, LD
Kristen Brown, RD, LD
Joan G. Fischer, PhD, RD, LD
Gordon Jensen MD, PhD
Mary Ann Johnson, PhD
gordon21@uga.edu
The University of Georgia, Department of Foods and Nutrition
Penn State University, Department of Nutritional Sciences
Non-dietary Predictors and Consequences of Obesity in Older Adults in Congregate Meal
Programs
The purpose of this study is to explore non-dietary predictors and consequences of obesity in
congregate meal participants in senior centers from Northeast Georgia’s Area Agency on Aging
(AAA). Participants were recruited from the congregate meal program in senior centers of
Northeast Georgia (n = 97, mean age = 75 years, 78% female, 54% Caucasian, 46% African
American). Height and weight were measured and obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI,
kg/m 2 ) greater than 30 kg/m 2 (44% were obese). All measures were assessed using a
questionnaire from the Geisinger Rural Aging Study. Compared to non-obese, the obese
participants were greater than 15-percentage points more likely to have an unhealthy personal
and family history of weight gain and/or obesity, watch more than 4 hours of television per day,
use an assistive device, and utilize a clinic or physician’s office more than 4 times in twelve
months. Although not always statistically significant (p = .0005 to .18), these data suggest
several non-dietary factors that should be considered when addressing the problem of obesity in
senior center participants.

30
Brian Hentz
brian.hentz@business.uconn.edu
University of Connecticut, School of Business
Cross-Generational Workplace Communication: Bridging the Divide in Age-Integrated
Contexts
Numerous scholars have brought attention to the coming aging revolution’s substantive impact
on workplace dynamics (Beatty &Visser, 2004; Moseley & Dessinger, 2006), as well as
suggested issues that should be integrated into universities’ business programs to prepare
practitioners for an increasingly aging society (Brucker, 2004). Responding to these suggestions,
I integrated a broad-based aging literacy framework into my undergraduate and graduate
professional communication courses to develop practitioners’ cultural competency. This
framework allows learners not only to appreciate cross-generational dynamics more fully, but
also to question their own assumptions about aging and critique the age-segregated life course in
which they are embedded. My instructional framework for introducing topics on aging in these
courses consists of 3 interconnected literacies: a representational literacy that encourages
learners to examine the language and images they use to represent older adults; a perceptual
literacy that challenges learners to questions myths and assumptions about aging; and a
conceptual literacy that promotes an age-integrated model of the life course.
I surveyed students following the aging literacy modules in my courses, and survey results
indicate that students found discussions of aging not only relevant and timely, but personally
rewarding. Nonetheless, more substantive efforts will be required to promulgate aging literacy
across the business curriculum. Specifically, business school faculty will require professional
development to confidently integrate aging literacy into their courses. Also, stronger crossdisciplinary
synergies between Schools of Business and Gerontology programs should be
encouraged, for aging-specific materials, instructional cases, and other necessary resources will
help facilitate robust learning.

31
Aasha Hoogland, MA
Faika Zanjani, PhD
aasha.anderson@uky.edu
University of Kentucky, Graduate Center for Gerontology
Musical Memory in Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease
Introduction: Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) face memory loss, personality changes,
cognitive decline, and limited quality of life (QOL). Research on the role of music has indicated
selective preservation of music memories in persons with AD, suggesting that music recognition
might be present after other cognitive abilities have been lost. Music can induce an arousing
response, and the therapeutic implications of retained musical memory in this population are
immense as it could affect individuals’ QOL by providing enjoyment and relaxation, improving
mood, and enhancing memory for novel experiences. The purpose of this review is to summarize
the literature on musical memory in people with AD and examine implications for research.
Methods: A literature review of articles addressing musical memory in people with AD was
conducted through the PubMed (1989-2011) and PsycInfo databases (1991-2011).
Results: Studies are conflicting with some showing evidence of preserved music memory in
people with AD, and others indicating a complete loss of music memory. One explanation for the
differences is that only certain types of memory are selectively preserved in individuals with AD.
Some researchers have also indicated that an extensive musical background might facilitate
preserved musical memory.
Conclusion: Research is contradictory and suggests preservation of musical memory in select
AD individuals, with a complete loss of musical memory in others. These findings indicate that
further research is needed to elucidate the mixed pattern of results, and assess whether applied
practices focusing on the utilization of musical memory can improve the QOL in individuals
with AD.

32
Francesca Iannaccone
frani@uga.edu
University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior
Public Health and Aging in Taiwan
Issue/Problem: The population of older adults in both the United States and Taiwan is increasing
rapidly. Currently, people aged 65 and older in Taiwan and the United States make up 10.9% and
13.1% of the population respectively. The percentage of older adults in these countries is
expected to continue to increase due to increased life expectancy and decreased birth rates. The
aging experience in these countries is different in many ways. These countries have different
health systems, attitudes towards aging, and programs offered to older adults. Taiwan currently
has a compulsory, single-payer healthcare system, while healthcare in the United States is largely
privatized and is undergoing major changes. Attitudes towards older adults in Taiwan are
strongly related to the concept of filial piety, while in the United States aging is associated with
illness and decline. Research: The information presented was gathered during the University of
Georgia’s College of Public Health study abroad program, “Public Health and Aging,” during
May of 2011 in Taiwan. This program consisted of field trips to facilities for older adults and
lectures at Kaohsiung Medical University.
Conclusion: Global population aging will have a great impact on all aspects of life. Taiwan
addresses the needs of an aging population in unique ways. The study of older adults in Taiwan
provides important information that can inform aging in the United States as this population
continues to increase.

33
Ashlynn Jackson
ashlynnjackson@gmail.com
University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Institute of Gerontology
Advocacy Internship: Georgia Council on Aging
An aging public policy issue in the state of Georgia is the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA),
which nursing home residents on Medicaid receive each month. For years, aging advocates in the
state have lobbied to increase the PNA amount that nursing home residents receive. In 1974, the
Federal government set a minimum PNA of $25 and increased it to $30 in 1988. Although states
have the option to increase this amount, Georgia remained at the $30 level for 18 years until the
Georgia General Assembly raised the minimum to $50 in 2006. The current PNA amount has not
been increased since 2006; therefore it does not keep up with the current costs of goods and
services. While interning with the Georgia Council on Aging, I had the opportunity to gather
research on PNA data in the state of Georgia and in other states. I developed a fact sheet to be
used by advocates and volunteers to assist with presenting the issue to their local representatives
and senators. The fact sheet is currently being used by Georgia Council on Aging lobbyists to
educate General Assembly members about this policy issue and to recommend proposed
legislation to increase the PNA in the state. My internship experience with the Georgia Council
on Aging has given me insight into the public policy making process and the career of an aging
advocate/lobbyist. I would like to share my experience with other gerontology students to raise
their awareness of this career opportunity in aging.

34
Meagan Jain
Christina Sims Cummings
mjain1@student.gsu.edu
csims9@gsu.edu
Georgia State University, Gerontology Institute
Addressing Social Isolation in Older Adults: Adopt-A-Grandparent Program at GSU
Several studies have investigated the relationship between social isolation and health outcomes
among older adults. Victor, Scambler, and Bond (2009) posit that existing literature on social
isolation and loneliness has mistakenly associated the two conditions as a normal part of aging.
This can prove to be detrimental for older adults because they need social relationships similarly
to all other age categories and may be more at risk for losing access to personal social networks.
These companionate relationships indeed impact the well-being of the aging experience over the
entire life course. In this paper we explore the purpose and implementation of the Adopt-a-
Grandparent Program (AGP) at Georgia State University. The GSU-AGP was created to address
the social disconnect that exist between the young and old, particularly for college-age students.
By increasing the interaction among younger and older adults, we hope to reduce social isolation
and loneliness among vulnerable seniors in the metro Atlanta area. Recruitment for participation
in AGP is two-pronged: 1) we secured a relationship with A.G. Rhodes-Wesley Woods for
access to institutionalized seniors; and 2) we solicited student volunteers from Georgia State that
will serve as companions to selective grandparents. The students will be required to visit
residents at the A.G. Rhodes facility for one hour every week. This program provides students
the unique opportunity to build personal and reciprocal relationships with older adults in Metro
Atlanta. This program has great implications for policy and practice.

35
Aleta Johannaber
Ann Pearman, Ph.D.
ajohannaber1@student.gsu.edu
Georgia State University, Gerontology Institute
Primary Care and the Older Adult: A Review of the Literature
In our society, a working relationship between patient and primary care physician (PCP) is not
only highly valued by the patient but also appears to be an instrumental component of accurate
diagnosis and successful treatment. When working with an older population, this relationship
becomes even more valuable with the process of aging potentially bringing novel symptoms and
disease such as cognitive decline, dementia, or stroke. While mild cognitive decline may present
as expected primary aging, it is important for the PCP to maintain a cognizance of potential
impairments in order to detect abnormal deterioration that can unnecessarily reduce quality of
life. The PCP is responsible for not only initiating discussion surrounding aging but also creating
an environment conducive for the patients to dialogue about concerns they have with their health.
This is often a challenging both because of the brevity of time a PCP often spends with patients
during office visits and because of the cultural stigma towards older adults and aging in general.
This presentation will discuss further the current research literature regarding patient care in the
older population and the PCP’s impact on effective detection and treatment of cognitive decline.
Preliminary results from a study about potential barriers to seeking help from one’s PCP will
also be presented. Given that seeing one’s PCP is generally the first course of action for older
adults with either mental or physical problems, understanding the potential barriers to quality
care is an important step in improving service provision to older adults.

36
Kristen Johnson
Dr. Tom Price, MD
Pat King, RN
Sheryl Strasser, PhD
Kjohn44@emory.edu
Emory University, Division of Geriatrics
Taskforce Against Mistreatment of Elders (TAME)
Literature has shown elder abuse is a prevalent and misunderstood phenomenon occurring
throughout the United States. Many publications address the topic, but there have been no
consistent findings that can provide first responders with useful intervention systems that help
identify and prevent the issue. The study intends to create an intervention program with easy,
effective scoring tools for elder abuse dependent upon the commonalities of both victims and
perpetrators. We have collected 98 cases from the Dekalb County court system (years: 2009,
2010). To date, we have 41 cases have been reviewed through our carefully constructed case
report form. We are using standardized methods of descriptive epidemiology to analyze our
findings. Preliminary findings show victims were 48.8% female, averaged 71 years old,
predominantly Caucasian (African American, 34.1; Caucasian, 51.2; Other, 2.4), and 29.3% had
a shared living situation. Perpetrators were 73.2% male, averaged 46 years old, predominantly
African American (African American, 53.7; Caucasian, 29.3; Other, 2.4), and 43.9% were
children of the victim.

37
Morgan Kiamy
Grant Harris
Patricia Parmelee
Rebecca Allen
mkkiamy@ua.edu
University of Alabama, Department of Psychology, Center for Mental Health and Aging
With or Without God: The stabilizing Effect of Religious Coping Style on Depression
Symptoms in Chronically Ill Older Adults
Older adults are at an increased risk for illnesses and poor health. The presence of a chronic
illness brings with it multiple onerous alterations that often result in stress and other negative
emotions. Some changes in older adults may provide resources for coping with disease and
functional impairments that may affect people at this stage of life. The use of religious coping
methods increase as one transitions from midlife to older adulthood. Hill’s (2010)
Biopsychosocial Model of Religious Involvement suggests that religious involvement (e.g.,
religious coping practices) moderates the association between stressful conditions (e.g., poor
health) and mental health. The current study represents an examination of this aspect of the
model. Participants included 45 non-demented older adults with advanced, chronic illness. This
sample included approximately equal numbers of Caucasians and African Americans. Eight
regression analyses were conducted to examine one’s religious coping style as a moderator of the
effect of physical health on depression symptoms (i.e., CESD). The four religious coping styles
used were differentiated by their level of involvement with God. Half of the models included an
indicator of physical symptom number and half included physical symptom distress as an
indicator of physical health. Race/ethnicity was a covariate in each model. Seven of the eight
models included a significant interaction. Results indicate that religious coping moderates the
effect of physical symptom number and burden on depression symptoms. Specifically, greater
engagement with religious coping styles that include involvement with God stabilizes the effect
of physical health on one’s depression symptoms.

38
Junghyun Kim
hpkjh@uga.edu
University of Georgia, School of Social Work
International Social Work for Older Asian Immigrants
The proportion of Asian older adults in the older U.S. population is increasing and the rate of this
increasing percentage will be much higher than that of non-Hispanic White older adults. There
will be an increase in demands for social services to older Asian immigrants for social workers.
The purpose of this study is to describe cultural issues of older Asian immigrants and existing
programs related to international social work among the population through a literature review.
A social worker’s awareness of cultural diversity is a key point for international professional
action. Older immigrants face the complicated process of adjustment to aging at the same time
that they may experience of acculturative stress. The norm of filial piety which is rooted in Asian
culture is a factor causing the acculturative stress among older Asian immigrants. The culture of
filial piety exists in the daily lives of Asian immigrants although it is not part of the American
culture, causing gaps and conflicts. Although the form of filial duties has changed, filial piety
from Confucianism is still an important value among Asians. Elderly Long Term Care Insurance
(ELTCI) in Korea mirrors the current culture of filial piety in Asia. It is useful to identify the
home delivered programs in the United States focusing on ethnic minority users for finding the
way to enhancing the well-being of older Asian immigrants. When practitioners and policy
makers have sensitivity to cultural diversity and try to understand older Asian immigrants’
challenges, they can help immigrants adapt to current society and contribute to social integration.

39
Cassandra Koehn
ckoehn@mail.usf.edu
University of South Florida, Aging Studies
Quality of Life vs. Quantity: Care of End-Stage Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
Recent research has called into question the necessity of curative medication, artificial hydration,
and artificial nutrition as part of standard treatment for people with end-stage cognitive
impairment. The difficulty of deciding on care is only amplified in nursing homes, where the fear
of regulatory scrutiny does not always favor what makes the patient most comfortable. The aim
of this literature review is to help determine the preferences and demographics of nursing home
residents with end-stage dementia when it comes to the use of these life-sustaining methods. It
also aims to review potential risks and benefits of these methods for these residents, as well as
determine the level of discomfort that occurs when treatment is withdrawn. Information was
gathered through literature search engines Academic Search Premier, AgeLine, LexisNexis
Academic, Google Scholar, PsychINFO (Ovid), and MEDLINE (Ovid).
Conclusion: Despite the extensive use of these life-prolonging measures in nursing homes, there
appears to be many risks and side effects that may outweigh the benefits of treatment. Gaps in
the literature include demographics of those most likely to undergo artificial hydration and
studies on whether patients experience discomfort when curative medication is withdrawn. It is
hoped that researchers will use the information compiled in this literature review to examine
gaps in current studies and ascertain how better to serve this vulnerable section of the population.

40
Renu Kumar
rkumar9@student.gsu.edu
Georgia State University, Gerontology Institute
The Relationship of Marital Interaction and Memory in Older Adults
Some loss in memory is considered a part of normal aging; however, there is a considerable
heterogeneity in cognitive aging among older adults. Studies show that living arrangements,
social interaction, social relationships and size of social network are among the predictors of
memory decline for older adults. Moreover, marriage has been associated with physiological
health as well as psychological and social well-being. The purposed study will examine the
relationship between the marital status and memory performance in older adults. I hypothesize
that (1) being married will be positively related to memory of older adults; (2) participants with
larger supportive social network will perform better on memory tests; and (3) that quality of
married life will be positively related to memory for married older adults. The study will survey
two groups of 50 older adults – married people and non-married people (single, divorced, and
widowed). The Mental Mini State Examination and Word List Recall will be used to measure
memory (dependent variable). Independent variables will be measured with Marital Adjustment
Test, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Lubean Social Network Scale - 6. The t-test will be
performed to calculate variance between the memory of married and non-married older adults
and correlation will be performed to calculate the relationship between the quality of married life
and memory of married older adults. Results from this study will provide a better understanding
of the relationship between marital status and memory performance.

41
Sung-Ae Kwon
sak398@uga.edu
University of Georgia, School of Social Work
Attitude of Asians on Hospice Care
With growing minority populations, cultural awareness and sensitivity toward such populations
has become important in practice for all health professionals. Particularly with respect to end-oflife
care, hospice care plays an important role in improving the quality of life of terminally ill
patients and their families. However, Asians, African-Americans, and Latinos significantly
underutilize hospice care as compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Efforts to enhance the quality of
end-of-life care for these minority groups would benefit from a culture-specific understanding of
how these populations view and understand hospice care. This study explores the attitudes of
Asians (N = 60) toward hospice care. Data were collected from Asian participants (Koreans,
Japanese, Chinese, and Thais) by mail survey. Survey responses indicate that overall participants
(83%) in this study show a neutral attitude toward hospice care; participants were more likely to
have an agreement on hospice philosophy while disagreeing with the notion that hospice care is
popular in their own cultures. 50 participants answered that they know hospice care only “little”
or “not at all.” Participants who are young showed the lack of comfort with discussing the topic
of death and dying, including the topic of hospice care. Overall, the findings highlight the
importance of cultural considerations on the topic of death and dying and the need for more
culture-specific approach.

42
Anna Lee, MPH
Lee Hyer, PhD
Ciera V. Scott, MS
lee_a@med.mercer.edu
Mercer University School of Medicine
Georgia Neurosurgical Institute & Mercer University School of Medicine
Mercer University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program & Georgia Neurosurgical Institute
Cogmed: A Cognitive Rehabilitation Intervention to Improve Working Memory in Older
Adults
Deficits in working memory are associated with age-related decline. We report on findings from
a clinical trial that examined the effectiveness of Cogmed, a computerized program that trains
working memory (WM). We assess this program against a sham control group in older adults.
Older adults (N=68) living in the Central Georgia community who had memory impairment
during initial screening (RBANS Delayed Memory Index), but had normal MMSEs, ADLs, and
IADLs, were assessed. They met criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Participants
were randomized to either Cogmed or to the Sham cognitive program. A total of 25 sessions
were completed over 5-7 weeks. Pre, post and post-post (12 weeks after intervention) measures
were applied, involving cognitive, mood and function measures. Paired t-tests were conducted to
find significant changes in outcomes between pre, post and post-post measures, as well as
regression analyses on pre and post/post-post measures. In general, all subjects showed gains
relative to the cognitive pre-measures. The Cogmed group showed statistically significant
improvements in Digit Span Age, Span Board Age, Letter Number Sequencing Age, Story
Memory, and Story Recall evaluations at post assessment. At post-post times, significant
improvements were noted for Trails A, Trails B, Coding, Figure Memory, Figure Recall, Coding
Age, and Matrix Reasoning Age. The Cogmed group also performed better on adjustment,
satisfaction and affect relative to Sham. Results suggest that both the Cogmed group and Sham
group enhance working memory in older adults with MCI. Cogmed especially appears to be
effective for older adults.

43
Jessica Lyles
Kevin Waits, BS
Ciera V. Scott, MS
Lee Hyer, PhD
jessica.l.lyles@live.mercer.edu
Mercer University, Departments of Psychology & Biology
Mercer University School of Medicine
Mercer University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program & Georgia Neurosurgical Institute
Georgia Neurosurgical Institute & Mercer University School of Medicine
Value of Spinal Cord Stimulators for Older Adults: A Success Story
The number of surgical interventions for chronic spinal pain is over 15 million. One procedure,
spinal cord stimulation (SCS), is substantially less common than spinal surgery and is generally
indicated after failed back surgery. Outcomes have generally failed to identify predictive
variables of success in the SCS procedure, especially for older adults. We study core variables of
back pain patients, separated by intervention success and by age. Subjects (n=97) who present
for the SCS procedure were evaluated using medical, psychiatric, personality, adjustment, and
general demographic variables. We identified those that received the procedure (N= 39),
targeting success, as well as age (Older and Younger, age 60 as our cut-off). Patients were
assessed prior to the procedure with the MBMD and with self-report scales, including depression
(GDS-SF), anxiety (PSWQ), pain (BPI), and sleep (ESS). No differences were found in the premeasures.
Using the MBMD symptom profile, results showed that the Helped Group has less
anxiety and depression and were less emotionally labile. As for personality, the Helped Group
showed a Cooperative and Self-Assured style relative to the Non-Helped Group. The Non-
Helped group was found to be more Oppositional. Regarding treatment variables, the Non-
Helped Group had more Interventional Fragility than the Helped Group. Separated by age, the
Older Group had a higher success rate than the Younger Group (54% vs. 36%). The MBMD
profile showed that the Older Group was more Self-Assured and had less Medication Abuse than
the Younger Group. We discuss the importance of these personality and symptom variables.

44
Gina M. McCaskill, MSW, MPA
Kathleen A. Bolland, PhD
gmmccaskill@crimson.ua.edu
University of Alabama, School of Social Work
A Review: Social Work Education and Aging Careers
The growth of the older adult population in the United States means there is a concomitant
growing need for geriatric social workers. Social work educators could play an important role in
attracting undergraduate and graduate social work students into aging careers. The purpose of
this study was to identify the degree to which social work educators are developing and using
evidenced-based approaches to the recruitment and retention of social work students into aging
careers. A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles in the electronic database of the Journal
of Social Work Education was conducted. Articles published from 1999 to 2011 were examined
for topics related to the recruitment and retention of social work students into aging careers.
Thirteen articles were found for the years under review. Nine of the thirteen articles met the
review criteria. The majority of articles focused on developing aging-related social work
graduate curricula and improving the field education experience in aging for graduate social
work students. To a lesser degree, articles examined graduate and undergraduate social work
students’ attitudes towards older adults and career interests in aging. The extant articles show
promise for building knowledge in this area. The relatively small number of articles illustrates a
need for further efforts to develop and disseminate evidenced-based approaches for recruiting
social work students into careers in gerontology. A larger and more comprehensive review of the
research literature for evidenced-based approaches is currently underway.

45
Eve McClennen
eveem@uga.edu
University of Georgia, School of Social Work, Institute of Gerontology
Social Work Perspectives on the Emory Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
The goal of the Emory Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) – one of 32 active centers
in the nation supported by the National Institutes of Health – is “to bring scientists together to
facilitate their research and help learn more about Alzheimer’s and related diseases [and also] to
commit to the education of health care professionals, persons with Alzheimer’s disease, their
families, and our community to aid in understanding, diagnosis and treatment of these illnesses.”
Perhaps almost as important as the psychoeducational groups and family sessions I undertook as
a student intern – and not mentioned in the mission or ADRC website – was locating needed
resources and forging key linkages to help people navigate the maze of dementia and learn how
to best survive the present and plan for the future.
By “shadowing” other social workers on the Wesley Woods campus, I gained a better
understanding of social work roles and challenges. The social workers were interviewed about
the need for geriatric social workers in settings similar to theirs; job satisfaction; and current and
future challenges for social workers assisting geriatric patients and their families. The social
workers interviewed are employed in the following areas: administration at Wesley Woods
hospital, psychiatry (the Fuqua Center), the movement disorders unit, and the long-term acute
care (LTAC).
Conclusion: Social workers play an integral role in the work of interdisciplinary teams, bridging
the gap between the overwhelming medical reality and tremendously difficult challenges
involving quality of life, loss and death.

46
Kishauna McDonald
Lee Hyer, PhD
Miranda Pratt, PhD
Ciera V. Scott, MS
kishauna.alexandra.mcdonald@live.mercer.edu
Mercer University, Department of Psychology
Georgia Neurosurgical Institute & Mercer University School of Medicine
Mercer University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program & Georgia Neurosurgical Institute
Pilot Data: The Relationships among Affect, Coping Behaviors, Personality, and Quality of
Life of Patients with Aneurysms
Cerebral aneurysms, balloon-like bulges of cerebral arteries, are devastating problems in a
person’s life. They often come without warning and can cause death or severe disabilities from a
stroke. This can occur at all ages. Given the severe nature of aneurysms, patients struggle to
come to terms with this malady. Neurosurgeons are constantly debating which of three treatment
options are best for brain aneurysm patients. Importantly, little is known about the psychological
variables that may influence QoL in brain aneurysm patients. Along with treatment factors, this
study explores what additional variables that can predict outcomes in QoL. Study variables
included background and medical variables, affect, coping, and personality, specifically
conscientiousness. Brain aneurysm patients from a southeastern neurosurgical institute complete
a questionnaire soon after learning about the aneurysm, with a follow-up period of 60 days,
assessing anxiety and depression, coping behaviors, personality and quality of life.
We present pilot data on ~20 subjects. T-tests, a 2x2 mixed model ANOVA, and a step-wise
regression were/are being used to analyze the results. Preliminary data show that task oriented
coping is a predictor of QoL, followed by degree of conscientiousness, and lastly anxiety and
depression. Preliminary results suggest that style of coping provided important information that
will help the neurosurgery team better able to address factors that may be contributing to the
variability in QoL. Also, strategies and interventions that will help patients cope with and
overcome their health problems are suggested. It is believed that this also may help influence
patient satisfaction.

47
Hyunjin Noh, MSW
hyunjinnoh@wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Social Work
Terminally Ill Black Elders: Making the Choice to Receive Hospice Care
The racial and ethnic inequality in receiving hospice care has been witnessed for decades in the
United States. Researchers have explored the barriers to minorities’ accessing hospice care and
their end-of-life healthcare preferences. Though knowledge from previous studies provides
insight into why minority elders might not choose to use hospice care even when they have
access to it, currently there appears to be no research that has explored why some minority elders
do choose to receive such care. This study seeks to address this gap by interviewing terminally ill
older minority hospice patients and gathering information regarding the following three research
questions: why do terminally ill minority elders choose to use hospice care?; what structural
barriers do they face when accessing hospice care, and how have they overcome them?; and what
cultural preferences do they have in receiving hospice care and what is their experience in having
their preferences respected? To gain such information, face-to-face interviews were conducted
using a semi-structured survey with 31 older minority hospice patients in Georgia, the vast
majority of whom were black. Participants’ responses were analyzed using the content analysis.
Themes that emerged include the importance of open communication between healthcare
providers and patients, the sources of correct/incorrect information, family support/non-support
in choosing to use hospice care, the role of spirituality/religiosity in making the choice, and
important values in receiving hospice care. The findings of this study will provide end-of-life
care providers with insights for strategies to promote the hospice use by minority communities.

48
Jonathan W. Rich
Rodney L. Parks, Ph.D.
jonrich@uga.edu
University of Georgia, Office of the Registrar
Back to School: Baby Boomers in the Classroom
As members of the Baby Boom cohort begin to approach the age of retirement, they are
increasingly returning to the classroom to pursue degrees for “encore careers.” Academic
planners must pay careful attention to the specific concerns of Boomers to help ease their
transition into a university setting after decades of absence. Following the tenets of qualitative
phenomenology, this study aimed to understand the meaning of the experiences of seven students
participating in a 62 and over reduced tuition program at a large, traditional Southeastern
university. Two sets of semi-structured interviews were analyzed using open-coding and thick
descriptions to identify major themes of participants’ experiences. Economic insecurity,
preference for youthful college-town atmosphere, and commitment to lifelong learning were the
principle motivations behind participants’ decision to return to school. Challenges relating to
technology, generational differences, isolation from campus life, and interaction with traditional
students were explored. A number of academic policy changes relating to admissions and
registration are recommended to help institutions better serve the growing Baby Boomer
population.

49
Ruth Robbins
Amy A. Overman, Ph.D.
rrobbins2@elon.edu
Psychology Department, Elon University
Neuroscience Program, Elon University
A Model Cognitive Training Intervention for Minority and Low SES Older Adults
Integral to our culture is the belief that the mind and quality of life will deteriorate in adults as
they age. However, recent research demonstrates that cognitive training and social interaction
can help maintain or even improve older adults’ brain function and quality of life (Mahncke, et
al., 2006; Carlson et al., 2009). This is particularly relevant to the growing elderly population in
the United States and it is important to share this information about healthy aging with them.
Unfortunately minority and lower socioeconomic status older adults are particularly underreached
with regard to this type of information and are at higher risk for health problems
(Paasche-Orlow et al., 2005). Therefore, through partnerships with community organizations, we
implemented an innovative pilot 10-week cognitive training interventions with minority and/or
lower socioeconomic status elderly adults. The interventions consisted of social interaction and
cognitive training exercises that challenged attentional and memory functions for one hour each
week over the span of 10 weeks. We measured participants’ (n=12) satisfaction with life and
cognitive function with pre- and post-training neuropsychological assessments. Results showed a
significant improvement on the Satisfaction with Life Scale ratings over the 10 week training
period. This health intervention has the potential to improve quality of life and reduce disparities
in cognitive health in old age.

50
Navtej K. Sandhu
Candace L. Kemp,Ph.D.
Mary M. Ball, Ph.D.
Molly M. Perkins, Ph.D.
nsandhu1@student.gsu.edu
Georgia State University, The Gerontology Institute
Emory University, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology
Co-resident Relationships in Assisted Living: Examining the Influence of Functional Status
Social relationships can have considerable influence on physical and mental well-being,
especially in later life when individuals are at greater risk of functional decline. A growing
number of frail elders manage decline by relocating to assisted living (AL). AL research suggests
that other residents are among the most available social contacts and that co-resident
relationships can affect life satisfaction, quality of life, and well-being. Although functional
status influences social relationships, research has yet to provide an in-depth understanding of
how cognitive and physical function affects co-resident relationships in AL. In this paper, we
present an analysis of qualitative data collected over a one-year period through participant
observation and formal and informal interviews with AL residents, administrators, and staff in
two diverse settings and ask: 1) How does functional status influence co-resident relationships?;
and 2) What factors shape its influence? Data suggest that hearing, speech, and cognitive
impairment can be relationship barriers. However, more impaired residents’ need for help can
promote contact and relationships with less impaired residents. Individual (e.g. relationship
strategies, attitude) and facility (e.g., staff intervention) factors affect the influence functional
status has on relationships. We conclude by discussing strategies for promoting more positive
relationships among residents in AL.

51
Elisabeth Lilian Pia Sattler, BSPharm
Matthew Perri III, PhD, RPh
Jung Sun Lee, PhD, RD
lilian@uga.edu
University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Department of Foods and
Nutrition
Medication Adherence Measures derived from Administrative Pharmacy Claims Data in
Older Americans: A Systematic Review
Appropriate medication adherence is critical for the management of chronic conditions highly
prevalent among older Americans. Administrative pharmacy claims data has gained importance
to objectively derive medication adherence measures. Numerous measures have been developed,
however little is known about the types of such measures used in older Americans. The objective
of this study was to identify types of administrative pharmacy claims-derived medication
adherence measures (APCAM) used in older Americans. A systematic search of the PUBMED
database was conducted to identify studies using APCAM exclusively in older adults aged 60+
years, and published in the U.S. between January 2000 and March 2011. Key search terms
included twenty-nine currently available medication adherence measure names combined with
other search criteria terms. Studies identified from the key word search were manually reviewed
to select relevant articles. Nineteen studies were identified. They used APCAM based on two
major concepts: medication availability and medication consistency. All studies used one
medication availability concept-based measure (e.g. medication possession ratio). The majority
of studies used a single medication availability measure (57.9%), and almost one third of studies
used multiple measures based on both concepts. Not all APCAM based on the same concept used
consistent names and algorithms. Even APCAM with the same name differed by various factors,
including observation periods and number of medications considered. Although one concept of
medication adherence was predominantly used, there was no consistency among names and
algorithms across different APCAM used in older Americans.

52
Michael Schuier, BS
Lee Hyer, PhD
Ciera V. Scott, MS
mschuier@me.com
Mercer University School of Medicine, Marriage & Family Therapy Program
Georgia Neurosurgical Institute & Mercer University School of Medicine
Mercer University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program & Georgia Neurosurgical Institute
Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE): Differences due to Scoring for Older Adults with
Memory Problems
The Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) is a universally used mental status exam that has set a
standard for briefly assessing mental capacities, especially for older adults. Although the exam
offers directions on the assessment, there are allowances for the examiner to offer alternatives.
Indeed, extant norms are based on differing instructions for the test administration. This study
aims to view and assess the differences in patients who are given both tasks. We endeavor to
determine the effects of educational level, gender, depression, physical functioning, and amount
of medication prescribed on differences in scores on the Attention and Concentration subtests on
the MMSE. The two options at issue are “Serial 7s” versus spelling the word “World” backwards.
We do this in a group of patients who present for psychiatric problems, most commonly
dementia. The sample included older adults (N=35) who were patients at the Family Health
Center of Central Georgia and the Georgia Neurosurgical Institute in Macon. A full cognitive
assessment, including a MMSE, was given to all subjects. Preliminary results show that MMSE
scores do differ in this age group with more patients successfully completing “World” than Serial
7s. Many subjects actually would be categorized as demented on Serial 7’s and not so on
“World.” Educational level was the highest predictor of variance, followed by living situation
and level of mobility. Special consideration is given to the effect of depression on cognitive
scores. We discuss the importance of consistency on the subtests on the MMSE.

53
Chris Scoggins, BS
Ciera V. Scott, MS
Lee Hyer, PhD
scoggins_chris@msn.com
Mercer University, Master of Public Health Program
Mercer University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program & Georgia Neurosurgical Institute
Georgia Neurosurgical Institute & Mercer University School of Medicine
The Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic: Profiles of Dementia and Depression
Dementia (or cognitive decline) either results in or causes changes in personality and treatment
patterns as the person declines. From a sample of older adults with memory complaints who have
varying problems of dementia, depression or both, we address two issues: (1) we provide a
personality, stress moderator and treatment prognostic profile of older adults with and without
dementia; and (2) we consider the question of the added influence of depression related to these
variables. For question 1, older subjects (N=112) were disaggregated by dementia and nondementia
status; for question 2, the older adults (age>60; N=62) were further separated into those
with a dementia, those who are depressed, and those with both dementia and depression. Patients
were interviewed and self-report scales were given to all subjects. All patients had a caregiver.
Cognitive and personality styles, treatment and stress markers, and Axis I variables, as well as
background and adjustment, were measured. For dementia/non-dementia groups, results show
that the dementia group was more detached, had more problems with depression and cognitive
dysfunction, and showed less concerns about Informational Fragility. When the three groups
were considered, the combined and dementia groups had the most problems, including more
fixed personality features, more psychiatric problems, more stress moderators and more
problematic treatment prognostics. We also show profiles of treatment prognostics and stress
moderators of each personality type for a dementia, depression and dementia/depression. We
highlight the importance of depression at later life either with or without a dementia.

54
Ciera V. Scott, MS
Lee Hyer, PhD
ciera.v.scott@gmail.com
Mercer University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program & Georgia Neurosurgical Institute
Georgia Neurosurgical Institute & Mercer University School of Medicine
Impact of Duloxetine in Perioperative Spine Patients: Pain, Depression, and Quality of Life
of Injured Older Adults
Since its inception in the early 2000s, Cymbalta (duloxetine Hcl) has been prescribed to treat
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), diabetic peripheral
neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and most recently, chronic lower back pain. We assessed the
utility of duloxetine in improving pain in back surgery patients sans clinical depression. Our
subjects consisted of patients undergoing the following back surgeries at the Georgia
Neurosurgical Institute (GNI) in Macon, Georgia—lumbar micro discectomy, lumbar
decompression and fusion, or anterior cervical decompression and fusion. Over 50% of our
subjects were over the age of 55. The study followed a controlled, double-blind model with
subjects randomized to either a duloxetine or placebo group. All study participants (N=98) were
assessed for pain, physical functioning, adjustment, and mood markers using the following—the
BPI-SF, BDI-II, CIBIC-Plus, SF-36, ADCS-ADL, SCL-90-R., Trails A and B, and Semantic
Fluency and Digit Span from the RBANS. Subjects were assessed a total of three times—a week
prior to surgery, four weeks post-surgery, and 12 weeks post-surgery. Presently, overall data
supports Cymbalta as a pain management agent, especially in older adults (age>55). Patients in
the drug group reported less pain and improved levels of functioning, emotional well-being, and
quality of life in relation to their placebo counterparts. Older subjects reported significant levels
of reduction in pain, opioid use, and depression/anxiety symptoms versus the younger group.
Trends reinforce the positive effect of Cymbalta in postoperative spine patients. Further data
(N=140) should allow for increased power for more refined results.

55
Jennifer Shelton
Lauren Brown
Avani Shah, Ph. D.
shelt013@crimson.ua.edu
University of Alabama, School of Social Work
Use of Self-Help Materials for Mood in Older Adults with Depressive Symptoms
A large number of self-administered treatments and self-help materials are available for use and
could serve as the first line of treatments in a stepped care treatment plan, particularly for the
treatment of depressive symptoms. However, no recent studies have evaluated how common
self-help use for depression is among older adults. This study evaluates the use of self-help
materials for mood in community dwelling older adults and assesses if higher depression scores
(Patient Health Questionnaire-9) are related to self-help usage. The sample consists of older
adults (N = 100; M age = 73.23) who were recruited from senior nutrition centers and primary
care clinics. Those age 55 or above with adequate self-reported reading ability were eligible to
participate and were approached about participating in a 20 minute survey on depression
screening. Participants completed counterbalanced self-administered survey packets, which
included a depression screen, demographics form, and a yes/no question about their use of selfhelp
materials for mood. To compensate for their time, participants were either entered into a
drawing for $100 or provided $5 for participating. Older adults who had endorsed self-help
usage for mood evidenced significantly higher scores on the PHQ-9 than those who did not
(t(82) =-2.23;M =5.9 vs. M = 2.73). A table will be provided on the demographics characteristics
of older adults who use self-administered mood materials.
Conclusion: Older adults with more depressive symptoms seem to be more likely to seek the
assistance of self-help materials to improve mood.

56
Josh Skelton
jskelt@uga.edu
University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Department of Health Policy & Management
Evaluation of the “We Honor Veterans” Program
“We Honor Veterans” is a recent joint initiative by the National Hospice & Palliative Care
Organization and Veterans Administration. The two organizations started this program in 2008
to improve hospice care provided to veterans. A large portion of the older adult population is
comprised of veterans and many of them suffer from illnesses that are different from non-veteran
hospice patients. After receiving approval from the UGA Institutional Review Board for research
with human subjects, I will be surveying the staff at a local hospice provider, who joined the
program in 2011, to assess the effectiveness of the program thus far. I plan to analyze and
evaluate the results and provide recommendations to the company on how to improve the care
they provide to veterans and provide additional education if needed. The agency is also
providing access to data from a patient survey and “military checklist,” as well as a family
caregiver survey, with the names removed, which will provide me with information about
demographics, diagnoses, and satisfaction with care. I will examine which health issues are most
prevalent in this population. In addition, I plan to research the prevalence of health issues in
veterans nationwide and compare them to non-veterans. This research will show the difference in
prevalence rates and why additional training and education is needed when providing care to
veteran hospice patients. Many veterans are unaware that the Veterans Administration covers
hospice care, so it will also be important to inform veterans about their benefits.

57
Elizabeth Sleeman
Renu Kumar
Aleta Johannaber
Erin Fisher
Ann Pearman, Ph.D.
esleeman1@student.gsu.edu
Georgia State University, Gerontology Institute
Very Late Onset Schizophrenia-like Psychosis: A Review of the Literature
Schizophrenia has long been thought of as a disease that has its onset solely in younger
adulthood. However, very late onset schizophrenia-like disorder (VLOSP) is now recognized by
the International Consensus on Late-Onset and Very-Late-Onset Schizophrenia Group. For a
person to receive a diagnosis of VLOSP, the first psychotic incident has to occur after the age of
60. This presentation will focus on identifying the critical features of VLOSP that are important
for clinicians, gerontologists, and others working with the elderly to recognize. While the
symptoms of early onset schizophrenia and VLOSP are fairly similar. Patients with VLOSP
often present with more hallucinations and delusions. This particular set of symptoms has
significant overlap with the symptoms of several of the dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease,
which makes differential diagnosis particularly challenging. However, it is critical to understand
the differences in these diseases as the treatment strategies for dementia and VLOSP are quite
dissimilar. Risk factors for VLOSP include social isolation, cognitive dysfunction, and sex
(female). Persons with VLOSP are at particularly high risk for job loss and subsequent
institutionalization if not given the proper treatment. Suggested treatments include very low dose
atypical antipsychotics, supported employment rehabilitation, social and functional skills training,
and other psychosocial therapies. Understanding the symptoms, risk factors, and treatments for
schizophrenia with an onset in older adulthood is important for anyone working with older adults,
particularly given the projected increase in mental health problems in the elderly in the next 20
years.

58
Chad R. Straight
Christie L. Ward
Bhibha M. Das
Rudy J. Valentine
John Georgiadis
Ellen M. Evans
chad1419@uga.edu
University of Georgia, Department of Kinesiology
Adiposity Impacts Physical Function More than Leg Lean Mass in Community-Dwelling
Older Men and Women
The interaction of body composition measures, strength and physical activity and the most
salient outcome for lower-extremity physical function (LEPF) in older adults is an active area of
research due to the implications for physical disability. Therefore, to elucidate the relative
importance of adiposity (%Fat), leg lean mass, muscle strength, muscle quality (MQ), and
physical activity (PA) on LEPF, we assessed community-dwelling adults (n=231, 96 male;
68.5±6.7 y) for body composition via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, upper leg strength via
isokinetic dynamometer (MVC), PA via pedometer, and LEPF via the timed up-and-go test
(UPGO), 30-second chair stand test (CHR), and fast 7-m walk (WLK). MQ was calculated as
MVC normalized for upper leg mineral-free lean mass (MFLM). No significant differences were
observed between men and women in PA, MQ, or MFLM. As expected, men were 35% stronger
than women (p

59
Karlyn E. Vatthauer, B. S.
Jason G. Craggs, Ph.D.
Michael Marsiske, Ph.D.
Joseph M. Dzierzewski, M. S.
Christina S. McCrae, Ph. D.
kvatthauer@phhp.ufl.edu
University of Florida, Clinical and Health Psychology Department
Increased Nightly Wake Time Predicts Increased Inconsistency in Executive Functioning
Performance in Older Adults
Complaints of reduced cognitive functioning are common among individuals with complaints of
insomnia. Such complaints appear to increase with age. However, the majority of sleep and
cognitive functioning research is within younger adults populations. Previous studies of sleep
and cognitive functioning in older adults have focused on typical cognitive functioning (using
averages) and have ignored the (often considerable) amount of intraindividual variability in the
data. Such an approach makes sense when the fluctuations observed represent noise or error.
However, recent reports indicate that for cognitive functioning, intraindividual variability
represents meaningful data as it is related to other important late life health concerns, including
increased blood pressure and decreased positive affect. In some cases, studying intraindividual
variability revealed unique relationships that were missed when the cognitive functioning data
were averaged. The present study examined total wake time (TWT) and executive functioning
(Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT) variability in older adults. Sixty-four older adults
(M=70.02 years, SD=7.59 years) were selected from the baseline screening for a study of
behavioral insomnia treatment. Participants completed sleep diaries and the SDMT for 14
consecutive days upon waking. Multilevel modeling revealed that increased mean TWT
predicted increased variability in SDMT scores (β=.018, t(64.76)=2.83, p=.006). These results
suggest nightly wake time may negatively impact older adults’ executive functioning as
increased nightly wake time predicted more inconsistent executive functioning performance.
Future research investigating whether treatments (i.e., cognitive-behavioral treatment for
insomnia) that decrease nightly wake times can also stabilize older adults’ executive functioning
appears warranted.

60
Latrice D. Vinson, M.A.
Chao-Hui Huang, M.Ed.
Ernest Wayde, M.A.
Audrey Austin, MPH, M.A.
Adriana Hyams, B.A.
Susan Guin, MSN, CRNP
Martha R. Crowther, Ph.D., MPH
ldvinson@crimson.ua.edu
University of Alabama, Department of Psychology
Center for Mental Health & Aging
University of Alabama , Department of Community and Rural Medicine
Mobile Healthcare: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Provide Behavioral Care to Rural
Elders
The elderly population is increasing in rural communities, yet many rural elders have fewer
resources and poorer mental and physical health than their urban counterparts. Rural elders are
also at a higher risk for developing metabolic syndrome (MSX), a cluster of risk factors for
cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mortality, which has been linked to depression and cognitive
impairment. An interdisciplinary healthcare team provided behavioral and physical health
screens to adults in four rural communities on a mobile health unit. The goal of the project was
to support: a) community-based approaches directed to both enhance the training of scholars and
contribute to the well-being of older, rural residents; b) interdisciplinary collaboration between
Psychology, Rural Medicine, and Social Work; and c) the dissemination of promising practices
in rural education and mental health promotion. A secondary data analysis assessed the risk
factors for MSX among rural elders. The predominately African American sample included 384
health screens of adults age 55 and older conducted on the mobile unit. The results of a two-way
repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences in the average number of risk factors
per site (Wilks’ Lamda = .75, F(3, 30) = 3.35, p = .03), suggesting there is an increased risk for
MSX within rural communities where lower educational attainment, income, and socioeconomic
status are more prevalent. Additionally, rural elders are at increased risk of developing MSX.
Using innovative methods such as mobile healthcare delivery is crucial to providing quality
healthcare and health education to an underserved population.

61
Temitope Y. Walker
Kathryn N. Porter
Kristen L. Brown
Jung Sun Lee
Mary Ann Johnson
taiyejorun@gmail.com
The University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Department of Foods and Nutrition
Barriers to Food Stamp Participation among Older Adults
The goal of this study is to identify potential barriers to the process of applying for the food
stamp program that may hinder older adult participation among congregate meal participants.
Therefore, a questionnaire was administered that included quantitative and qualitative measures
to assess the barriers to food stamp participation. The questionnaire consisted of about 40
questions administered in one session with older adults at senior centers in Northeast Georgia.
The participants were categorized into 3 groups, those not interested in food stamps (n=58
people), those who were currently using or had ever used food stamps (n=38 people), and those
who wanted food stamps (n=14 people). This report examines the distinguishing characteristics
of only those who wanted food stamps. Most, but not all, indicated they needed food stamps
(79%) supporting other results that some manage to “get by” without food stamps (57%).
Regarding applying, most did not know how to use the internet (79%) and half of the
respondents could not complete a food stamp application online. Most respondents were not
familiar with how to take medical deductions (86%) or determine household size (64%).
Participants reported not knowing how to apply (50%), that the process required too much
paperwork (35%), having no one to assist in the completion of the application (35%), and
difficulty getting to the food stamp office (35%) as barriers. The results indicate that there are
modifiable barriers that must be addressed to increase food stamp participation among eligible
older adults.

62
Natalya Watson
Toni Miles, Ph.D.
nwatson@uga.edu
University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Institute of Gerontology
Literature Review of Research on Interdependent Health and Collateral Effects of Mortality
Issue: Individuals create social networks from the day they are born with those who surround
them, and the interactions which happen within these networks effect the person’s wellbeing. For
example, current research has demonstrated that when one loses a family member their health
deteriorates, and these findings suggest that mortality is a risk. Therefore, we completed a
literature search which investigated this concern. The results of the review suggest that death
does influence the health of survivors. A study completed in Sweden demonstrated that
following the death of a parent, adult children experience increasing risk of death during the ten
years after the event. Furthermore, studies have shown that children who experience the death of
a parent have a greater risk for disease and illness. In addition, other studies have found that the
death of a spouse also increases the risk of mortality in the surviving partner.
Conclusion: There is a small but compelling body of research that documents the collateral
effects of parental and spouse mortality on the health and well-being of surviving children and
spouses.
Next steps: In an aging society, many families experience the loss of an older relative each year.
We are working to measure the public health impact of those deaths on the health of survivors.
Our next steps are focused on measuring the extent of these collateral effects.

63
Didier Wayoro
dwayoro@brandeis.edu
Brandeis University, Heller School for Social Policy and Management
How Happy are You when You get Older? Evidence from South Africa
In this study, we examined the determinants of happiness as people age in South Africa. Using
the second wave of WHO Sage Data set (2007-2010) and an ordered logistic model we found a
positive association between happiness (Subjective Well -Being) and income, health status and
marriage. Moreover, our study revealed a hyperbolic relationship between happiness and age
whereby happiness declines until it reaches a minimum around 44 years of age and increases to a
maximum at around 78 years of age before declining again. Such heterogeneous age effects on
happiness have important policy implications in terms of inequalities, welfare programs such as
social security, health care expenditures and tradeoff when it comes to the allocation of
government resources among different age groups in South Africa.

64
Elizabeth Wilson
lserieux@uga.edu
University of Georgia, College of Public Health, Institute of Gerontology
Attitudes about Aging among Healthcare Providers in Saint Lucia
The issue addressed is that of aging in the developing country of Saint Lucia. According to the
latest National Census figures, Saint Lucia’s population is approximately 161,557. The
breakdown according to age is: 0-14 years: 22.8%, 15 – 64 years: 67.5%, 65 years and over:
9.7%. The average life expectancy is 76.84 years and the growth rate is 0.389%. These figures
clearly indicate that Saint Lucia will confront an increasingly older population and so the island
needs to prepare for this phenomenon. This study specifically investigates attitudes about aging
among health care providers in the north of the island. The information was gathered using a
survey questionnaire. The questionnaires were given to healthcare providers in the island’s main
public hospital, the island’s only private hospital, and two larger private clinics in the north of
the island. The questionnaires were completed anonymously and then returned to a collection
box placed in each of the locations. The questionnaires were subsequently collected and the data
therein reviewed. In addition to close ended questions, the questionnaires contained open ended
questions to ascertain the level of training in the area of gerontology that exists among those
health care providers. I also sought to ascertain the perceived need for training in this area. The
response rate was 56% (n= 24). The findings were very consistent and indicated that the issue of
aging has not been given sufficient importance. The majority of the respondents had not received
any training in this area, and the perceived need for such training was high. The study and poster
present the existing situation in Saint Lucia, regarding attitudes to aging among healthcare
providers. It will also use the responses of the interviewees to present ways in which the situation
can be adequately addressed.

65
Jun Yin
Alan Mobley
Francesca Iannaccone
Jamie Samuels
sly1314@uga.edu
University of Georgia, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior
Denny Tower Community Assessment and Rewards Program
Applying the knowledge of the Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to conduct a
needs assessment and developed an incentive program for the residents of Denney Tower (DT)
in Athens, Georgia. It is a home to low-income older adults, many of whom have chronic
diseases. By speaking with the residents on a number of different occasions we learned that lack
of participation in events was a concern to the community. In order to work successfully with the
community, a long-term partnership was built with the residents. We gained their trust by
attending resident meetings and focus groups. We realized that material incentives might play an
important role in getting residents involved in the project. Foods were served during each
meeting. We expressed the necessity to have a collaborative project that would empower them to
address the lack of participation in the community. In addition, we sought the residents’ feedback
at all points during the process. Due to the fact that this is an ongoing project, no final conclusion
has been made. However, we believe these activities provide instrumental and emotional types of
social support. In addition, an increased participation will lead to a greater sense of community at
DT. Resident leaders were involved in the development of the program and will be the ones to
carry out and maintain the program.

66
Lin Yi-Yin
yiyin@uga.edu
University of Georgia, Adult education
Intrinsic Motivations in Older Adult Learners: Taiwan Context
Aging is expected to accelerate in Taiwan at a faster rate than any other country globally
(Council for Economic Planning and Development, 2011). The Taiwan government in
responding to this trend issued a white paper entitled, Toward an Aged Society: Policies on
Education for Older Adults (Taiwan Ministry of Education, 2006) to widely promote learning
activities for older adults. With the exploding grey population, there is a need to focus research
on older adult learners. The purpose of this research was to investigate the motivations of older
learners in Taiwan from the view point of intrinsic motivation with survey method. In total, 816
Taiwanese older adults were investigated. The findings of this study are: (1) The intrinsic
motivations of older adult learners are high; the most salient motivations for older adult learners
were the desire for stimulation and generativity. (2) Institutional predictor variables are the most
important predictors of intrinsic motivation of older adult learners. (3) Teacher support and peer
support significantly enhance the intrinsic motivations of older adult learners.

67
Karolina Zakoscielna, M.A.
Patricia A. Parmelee , Ph.D.
kzakoscielna@crimson.ua.edu
University of Alabama, Department of Psychology and Center for Mental Health and Aging
Pain Variability and its Predictors: Depression, Affect, Cognition, Functionality, and Health
A strong correlation has been found between pain and variables such as depression, affect,
cognition, functionality, and health. Pain variability, however, has neither been concisely studied,
nor has its relationship with the previously mentioned variables. The purpose of this secondary
data analysis is to determine whether depression, affect, cognition, functional status, and health
are predictors of day-to-day pain variability in older adults in long-term care settings. Drawn
from the Philadelphia Geriatric Center database, 56 adults aged 68 years and older were included
in the multiple linear regression analyses. Pain variability was measured over 30 days of selfreported
pain levels. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Philadelphia Geriatric Center
Positive and Negative Affect Rating Scale, Memory-Information-Concentration test, Physical
Self-Maintenance Scale (PSMS), and perceived health were used as predictors. Results show a
significantly positive association between total GDS score and pain variability (p

68
Roberto B. Zamora
Kenneth L. Lichstein
Daniel J. Taylor
Brant W. Riedel
Andrew J. Bush
rbzamora@crimson.ua.edu
University of Alabama
University of North Texas
University of Memphis
University of Tennessee, Memphis
Consistency of Older Adults’ Sleep Diaries over Two Weeks
Sleep diaries are used as an assessment procedure for insomnia research; however, sleep diaries
may be used as a form of self-monitoring. The present study attempts to examine week
differences in 2 weeks of sleep diaries in older adults (65+) with and without chronic insomnia to
determine if the task of completing sleep diaries alters sleep efficiency (SE). 246 older adults,
collected in a normative epidemiological study, were enrolled using random-digit dialing.
Participant’s SE was collected for 14 days via 2 weeks of sleep diaries. A two–way mixed
ANOVA was performed to analyze SE week differences between individuals with insomnia and
normal sleepers. The mean SE for week 2 (M = 83.28) was significantly higher than week1 (M =
82.43), F (1, 244) = 4.32, p = .04, ƞ 2 = .02. The mean SE of those with insomnia (M = 77.38) was
significantly lower than those without insomnia (M = 88.33), F (1, 244) = 99.58, p < .001, ƞ 2
= .29. A significant interaction between week difference and insomnia condition found that
individuals with insomnia had an increase in mean SE from week 1 (M = 76.201) to week 2
(78.55), whereas those who did not have insomnia had a decrease from week1 (M = 88.67) to
week 2 (87.99), F (1, 244) = 13.96, p < .001, ƞ 2 = .05. The presence of sleep difference between
the 2 weeks suggests that the task of completing sleep diaries can alter SE in older adults,
especially for individuals with insomnia; however the effect is small. Future directions will
examine the issue in a multi-level approach to optimally capture day to day variability.
Research supported by National Institute on Aging grants AG12136 and AG14738

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