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Katharine Magyar

Katharine Magyar

by | Apr 17, 2019 | 2018 Student Papers

Katharine Magyar

Miami University
2019

“Throughout the duration of this program, I met many of the people who have helped shape the field of gerontology and aging into what it is today.”

During the Spring of 2019, I was able to be one of the participants of the Ohio Scholars in Aging program. Throughout the duration of this program, I met many of the people who have helped shape the field of gerontology and aging into what it is today. These people work to give voices and rights to those who may not be able to for themselves. Those who are advocates at the Ohio Department of Aging as well as the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education work tirelessly every day to lessen the stigma of aging within our society.

I consider myself to be extremely lucky to have been a part of two large scale research projects mandated by the Ohio Department of Aging and administered through Scripps Gerontology Center here at Miami University during my senior year. The Family Satisfaction Survey and the Biennial Survey of Long-Term Care both gather data for further research as well as to inform the general public about these facilities. For the Family Satisfaction Survey, over 100,000 family participants were asked a multitude of questions in order to determine their thoughts and opinions surrounding the care of a family member. The Biennial Survey asked administrators a series of questions regarding staffing, financial information and residents. The Family Satisfaction Survey and the Biennial Survey of Long-Term Care both allowed me to put my knowledge to use outside of a classroom. I was able to see how timelines for large-scaled research projects work and how much goes on behind the scenes. Both of these surveys taught me countless lessons and skills, affirming just how much the field of aging means to me.

Throughout my time as an Ohio Scholar in Aging, I was able to make connections outside of my network at Miami University. Everyone involved in this program was extremely supportive and helpful. I loved being able to meet other passionate students from different universities in Ohio and share how important the study of aging. I am extremely excited to continue my education at Miami University through the Master of Gerontological Studies program starting in the Fall of 2019.

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Katharine Magyar

Hannah Wisbey

by | Apr 4, 2018 | 2018 Student Papers

Hannah Wisbey

Miami University
2018

“I am grateful to be a part of the gerontology program at Miami and in the Ohio Scholars in Aging program because there is a large and specific need to view aging from a social viewpoint, as opposed to a medical viewpoint.”

I wouldn’t trade my experience with the Ohio Scholars in Aging program for anything. Throughout the course of the program, I have come into contact with a prodigious number of people who are passionate about aging and are committed to giving an authentic voice to older adults. I have learned about so many different, yet equally important, programs that are offered from the advocates at the Ohio Department of Aging and the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education. I hope to take the knowledge learned and use it to better the lives of the older adults in my life. In addition, through this program I was able to meet other students who are passionate about gerontology. Learning about their passions was inspiring and eye-opening; there are so many facets in which even pre-professionals can have a positive impact on the field of aging!

During my spring semester of my junior year at Miami University, I served as an intern at the Mt. Healthy Christian Village. I spent the majority of my time there in the rehab unit and with the activities department. After completing my undergraduate education, I hope to attend graduate school for occupational therapy with a specialization in geriatric care. As a result, I decided to create activity kits for older adults with dementia that will serve to promote well-being through meaningful activity engagement. The kits will be different based upon how older adults scored on the Allen Cognitive Level Scale (ACLS), an evaluation and treatment tool used by occupational therapists.

The ACLS was developed through systematic observation and documentation of predictable patterns of performance in older adults as they engaged in activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and leisure activities. They are ranked on a scale from 1: most basic functions to 6: most complex functions. These levels increase by increments of .2 (.2…1.4…2.6, etc.) They reflect sets of underlying cognitive processes (i.e. motor actions and verbal behaviors) that affect functional performance and are observed as an individual engages in an activity. In general, residents at the Christian Village Communities who were diagnosed with a form of dementia were between a 3.0 and 4.6 on the ACLS. Making these activity kits has helped me grow in the knowledge of practical occupational therapy skills and has served to deepen my appreciation of the field.

I am grateful to be a part of the gerontology program at Miami and in the Ohio Scholars in Aging program because there is a large and specific need to view aging from a social viewpoint, as opposed to a medical viewpoint. Aging is not a problem that society should serve to treat. Those who are aging deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect as those who are younger. Having a holistic view of the social and emotional aspects of aging allow clinicians and everyday persons to engage with older adults in a more meaningful and authentic way. The Scholars program does an amazing job of stressing this theme, and that is something I think everyone should learn about. My goal professionally is to help older adults feel engaged with life to the highest potential, regardless of age. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to network with others in the field of aging, grow professionally, and further their education in a meaningful way.

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Chelsi Wilson, BSBA, S/OT

Chelsi Wilson, BSBA, S/OT

by | Apr 4, 2018 | 2018 Student Papers

Chelsi Wilson, BSBA, S/OT

Shawnee State University
2018

“Being a part of this program gave me a better understanding of all the different facets of caring and advocating for the well-being of older adults. It was inspiring to talk with other individuals, in various fields and with different interests, all who shared the same passion for promoting the quality of life and understanding the value of all older adults. I would recommend any student to take this opportunity.”

Through my internship experiences as a Shawnee State University Master of Occupational Therapy student, I have had the opportunity to receive numerous hands-on experiences working with older adults in a variety of settings. These experiences include being trained as a CarFit technician and working a CarFit event at a local senior center, participating in Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, being trained as a Matter of Balance (MOB) Community Coach and leading four MOB sessions at a local senior center, leading a 5-stage group for residents at a memory care center, and providing three Senior Home Information Program (SHIP) visits to local community-dwelling older adults. I focused my Ohio Scholars in Aging poster presentation on my SHIP experience.

Through my SHIP experience, I was able to provide home visits for three community-dwelling older adults in Ross County. SHIP is a collaborative, interprofessional home safety initiative in Ross and Scioto Counties. The SHIP team is comprised of representatives from local fire, law enforcement, occupational therapy, and Area Agency on Aging personnel. Participants sign up to receive a SHIP visit, free of charge. During a visit, the SHIP team members walk around the home and speak to the older adult and provide education concerning their field of expertise. Fire personnel provide education on fire safety and provide and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as needed; law enforcement personnel provide education on home security; occupational therapists and students provide fall prevention and home modification education and equipment such as nightlights, bathmats, and anti-slip rug tape; and the Area Agency on Aging personnel provide education on long-term care planning services. All equipment provided is free for the participant, made possible through local grant funding.

I also have been conducting research on the SHIP program with my faculty advisor and three other classmates; specifically, a systematic program evaluation. Our results from this evaluation indicate the SHIP is beneficial to all stakeholders including participants, team members, students, and the community at large. The inter-professional collaboration used in SHIP is also a very critical and beneficial component in the program, as noted by all stakeholders. The research also provided information on other strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the program. The findings of our study can be used by other similar programs, or individuals interested in creating a similar program in their area, to facilitate the implementation of other home safety initiatives for older adults living in the community.

Overall, I am beyond grateful for my internship experiences and for the opportunity to be a scholar in the Ohio Scholars in Aging Program. Being a part of this program gave me a better understanding of all the different facets of caring and advocating for the well-being of older adults. It was inspiring to talk with other individuals, in various fields and with different interests, all who shared the same passion for promoting the quality of life and understanding the value of all older adults. I would recommend any student to take this opportunity. Even if you are unsure if you want to work in the field of gerontology, this opportunity is a great learning experience and will add beneficial knowledge to your “toolbox” as a professional.

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Katharine Magyar

Corrin Whittaker

by | Apr 4, 2018 | 2018 Student Papers

Corrin Whittaker

Miami University
2018

“The Scholars program has strengthened my understanding of the aging network and how everyone can work collectively to improve the lives of older adults everywhere, not just Ohio.”

During this Spring Semester 2018, I am completing a research internship at Miami University. This research internship is sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Gerontology, and the project I am working on is being supervised by Dr. Jonathon Vivoda, a professor in the department. Over this semester, I have begun to complete various components of my research project.

I was given a dataset addressing transportation issues in 6 rural counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Data was collected by an over-the-phone interview and was presented to individuals of 70 years and over by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). The main goal of this research is to identify if older adults in rural areas are satisfied or dissatisfied with their ability to get from place to place. If they are not satisfied, this research will help to analyze why this may be and propose ideas for fixing this issue. Overall, this study is aimed at providing more information about rural older adults in relation to how they feel about their ability to get to place to place.

Rather than just focusing on the transportation services being provided, this study will also focus on the age of the participants, both of which will then be analyzed in relation of the participants’ satisfaction levels with getting to places they want to go. From the dataset, I have developed a few research questions that I want to address in my research, as well as two hypotheses. The first hypothesis is: Rural older adults who are very dissatisfied with their ability to get to the places they want to go are not being provided with available transportation resources. The second hypothesis is: Rural older adults above the age of 85 will express that they are very dissatisfied with their ability to get to the places they want to go.

While continuing my research internship, I have almost fully completed my literature review. By the end of the allotted time for this research internship, I intend on completing the methods and the results portion of the report as well. After the time-span of this research internship, I plan to continue my research by completing the remaining portions of the report. After this I will begin to review the entire report and fine-tune it into a fully polished article. Finally, I will push to get this research published.

Getting to be a part of the Ohio Scholars in Aging program was a very eye-opening experience. It was a program that enabled me to meet with a group of my peers in the field of aging to learn about what internships they are completing and what knowledge they have. When attending the OAGE conference I learned about a bunch of other projects and studies being conducted within the state of Ohio by some of my peers and even professors. After attending meetings for this program, it has helped me prepare to complete a literature review for my project and how much work I will need to put into it to make a cohesive research document.

The Scholars program has strengthened my understanding of the aging network and how everyone can work collectively to improve the lives of older adults everywhere, not just Ohio. As was said numerous times, no one chooses to be in the field of aging because of some monetary benefit; we genuinely want to improve the lives of all older adults. This legacy is something I want to be able to consider myself contributing to through my research, and the Ohio Scholars in Aging program is another step toward obtaining that goal.

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Gregg Weber

Gregg Weber

by | Apr 4, 2018 | 2018 Student Papers

Gregg Weber

Youngstown State University
2018

“Participating in the Scholars in Aging program has been an enriching experience as well. It has introduced me to the professionals who run the Department of Aging in Columbus, the state legislators overseeing it, and emerging professionals in the aging network.”

I had the opportunity to explore the operation of Youngstown Comfort Keepers, a non-medical home health services company, during my Spring 2018 practicum. The focus of most of my graduate work has involved aspects of home health and caregiver support. These are areas I found most compelling even prior to studying gerontology.

Youngstown Comfort Keepers is a family-owned business that offers a positive working environment for its staff and reliable service to its clients and their families. There are even transportation and home modification divisions to enhance their service. I have learned about navigating the complex requirements Comfort Keepers must meet to be eligible to care for government-funded clients, as well as the realities of training employees and scheduling care for a large caseload of clients. I respect these efforts because I know the demand for these services is great, and I was able to see how much help some clients require.

Participating in the Scholars in Aging program has been an enriching experience as well. It has introduced me to the professionals who run the Department of Aging in Columbus, the state legislators overseeing it, and emerging professionals in the aging network. I am grateful for the opportunity and for the network of knowledgeable professionals I am joining.

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Carmen Tyler

Carmen Tyler

by | Apr 4, 2018 | 2018 Student Papers

Carmen Tyler

Cleveland State University
2018

“The Ohio Scholars in Aging program provided me with an overview of how many of the state and local systems work to provide services and support to our aging population in Ohio.”

Being able to participate in the Ohio Scholars in Aging program was something I had looked forward to since the first time I attended an OAGE conference in 2015. I have always been interested in advocating for causes I am passionate about, and I thought that having the opportunity to learn some of the ways academics, state agencies, and politicians can interact for the benefit of older adults would be interesting and valuable for my future plans. I was right!

The Ohio Scholars in Aging program provided me with an overview of how many of the state and local systems work to provide services and support to our aging population in Ohio. Meeting with Ohio legislators reinforced my post-graduate desire to act as a liaison between researchers and government agencies to ensure that older adults receive assistance stemming from the most up-to-date, evidence-based interventions available. Thank you for the opportunity to engage in this rewarding and inspiring program!

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I am an Assistant Professor of Social Work at The Ohio State University. I am committed to understanding the strengths and challenges of grandfamilies in order to create and deliver interventions that encourage self-care, communication, and empowerment.

My research focuses on building resilience in grandfamilies. I have worked with grandfamilies for over 13 years through community service and research. In this time, I have studied influences of culture on the experiences of grandparents; the relation between grandparents & social network and their resilience; I have conducted an environmental scan; helped create, implement, and evaluate the GRANDcares Project (GC) and expanded the GC intervention, which is currently being implemented in Franklin County, OH. The GC is a strengths-based intervention designed to provide education, support, and mentorship to grandfamilies and service providers. It includes three components; a grandparent caregiver component, a youth component for children who are being raised by grandparents and are between the ages of 9-12, and webinars for service providers. The expanded GC program is called GRANDcares Plus (GC+) and includes the original GC curriculum plus two educational workshops. The workshops provide educational information to grandfamilies (both grandparents and grandchildren) about opioids and trauma. These workshops were incorporated into the intervention to meet the specific preferences of grandfamilies in central Ohio. The current project builds logically on to this work. In addition to intervention research, I have built strong relationships with many community members (i.e., grandparents raising grandchildren and service providers).

Ken Wilson has 30 years of experience working in senior services. He has worked at Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio since 1994 where he is Vice President of Program and Business Operations.

He is responsible for a $102 Million budget delivering an array of services to over 30,000 seniors that enable them to remain independent at home. He administers 4 senior service levy programs, and has led more than 15 successful campaigns to raise local funding for home and community based services. Ken works with regional health systems to support smooth and safe transitions of care from hospital and nursing home back to home. Ken is experienced with public policy advocacy work at the local, State and Federal levels. He is an adjunct instructor at Miami University’s Scripps Gerontology Center. He volunteers his time for a variety of community organizations including as Board member for the Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disability Services, and the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education.

He received his Masters degree in Gerontological Studies from the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University. Ken is a recipient of the W. Fred Cottrell Distinguished Alumni Award from the Miami University Scripps Gerontology Center.

Harvey L. Sterns, PhD, Serves as Chair City of Akron Commission on Aging and Co-Chair of Age Friendly Akron/Summit County.

He was in the Transition After Retirement Program, and is professor emeritus of psychology and director emeritus and life fellow of the Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology at The University of Akron. He is research professor of gerontology in Family and Community Medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. He has been a faculty member in both the Psychology of Adult Development and Aging and Industrial/Organizational Psychology graduate programs, and chaired the specialization in Industrial Gerontological Psychology.

He has published extensively on cognitive intervention, work and retirement, career development, training and retraining, and self-management of career and retirement. He is a licensed psychologist in Ohio and is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, and Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. He has served as president of Division 20 Adult Development and Aging of the American Psychological Association, Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, and Sigma Phi Omega National Academic and Professional Society in Gerontology. He is a past board of trustees member of the American Society on Aging. Sterns was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2014. He is the author of over 120 journal articles and book chapters.

Vivian J. Miller, PhD, MSSA, LSW is Assistant Professor in Social Work at Bowling Green State University and Licensed Social Worker (LSW).

Additionally, Vivian currently serves as Director of the Optimal Aging Institute (OAI). Vivian has practice experience working with older adults across the care continuum. Vivian’s research extrapolates on her practice experience with a focus in gerontology and social work across three areas:  (1) various factors that facilitate social connection among older adults, such as technology and transportation, (2) social work and social policy to promote the well-being of vulnerable, marginalized older adults (e.g., residents of nursing homes, caregivers, low-income older adults, racially and ethnically diverse older adults), and (3) gerontological- social work education.

Jennifer Westfall, Aging and Disability Director for Buckeye Hills Regional Council (BHRC), a designated Area Agency on Aging for Region 8 in southeast Ohio, is a graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor's in Community Health and holds a Master's in Public Health from Southern New Hampshire University.

Through its home and community-based programs, BHRC's division of Aging serves more than 5,000 older southeast Ohioans annually.  Jennifer serves on the board of the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education as a representative of rural Ohio and serves as Secretary on the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging Executive Board. In her role at Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Jennifer advocates for legislation and home and community-based services that support the well-being of individuals in Southeast Ohio. Jennifer resides in Marietta with her husband Brian and son Camden.

Jennifer Carlson serves as the Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Aging.

In this role, she drives the development of innovative policy and programs to improve the health, wellness, and safety of older Ohioans. Carlson also serves as chief advisor to the department's director, Ursel J. McElroy. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Carlson has over 30 years of experience in government relations, health policy development and advocacy for Ohioans.

Marc Molea retired from the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) in 2019.

At ODA he served as Chief of the Older Americans Act Programs and Strategic Partnerships Divisions for 24 years. Prior to coming to ODA, he held various planning and economic development positions in Ohio.

Currently he serves on various the boards, councils and committees, including Board Chair for Prevent Blindness, Ohio Affiliate, Advisory Committee Member for National Center for Vision and Population Health, Dean’s Advisory Committee for Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Profession, and Emeritus Board Member for Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education.

He has Bachelors of Business Administration and Masters of Health Administration from Ohio University, and a Masters of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

He is recipient of the Soar Award, VANTAGE Aging (2019); Lifetime Achievement Award, Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (2018); Charles B. Jenkins Legacy Award, Employment for Seniors (2017); and Muriel Bertsch Award, Ohio Association of Senior Centers (2013). He was an Ohio delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging.

Raymond C. Matura, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, University of Rio Grande and Board Emeritus of OAGE.

Doctorate from University of Florida. One of two remaining Board members who were founders, with Dr. Harvey L. Sterns, of OAGE predecessor organization ONECA. Research interests are: Gerontological Policy, Political Gerontology, Family Issues, and History of the Field. Former office holder in OAGE and ONECA.

Morgan Minyo is a PhD candidate in Adult Development and Aging at Cleveland State University.

Morgan’s research focuses on understanding and identifying unmet needs and support services for vulnerable aging populations as well as the development and testing of evidence-based programs. Along with her position as a PhD candidate, Morgan is a Research Analyst and Applied Aging Research Fellow in the Center for Research and Education at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging.

Amanda MacNeil is a 5th year Ph.D. Candidate in Adult Development and Aging at Cleveland State University.

Amanda's research focuses on the connection between various aspects of the illness experience of dementia and well-being outcomes to bolster the ability to live well. Through teaching, research, and advocacy, Amanda is passionate about serving the community of older adults and their caregivers.

Dabney K. Conwell is the Vice President and Executive Director of Rose Centers for Aging Well at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging.

She is responsible for the oversight of all nutrition and socialization programs within seven senior centers and four home delivered meals programs. To address food insecurity and social isolation amongst older adults living with chronic diseases Ms. Conwell designed Cuyahoga County’s first medically tailored meals program.

Dr. Van Dussen holds a master's degree in sociology with a focus on aging and medical sociology from the University of Akron.

He also holds a PhD in Gerontology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a focus on health, medical, and policy aspects of gerontology. His research foci include attitudes and knowledge of hospice and end of life care, predictors of recovery from fractures, and aging related work force issues. He is the Frank and "Nugie" DePizzo Endowed Chair of Gerontology and leads the master of health and human services and long-term care administration program at Youngstown State University.

Dr. Victoria Steiner is an Associate Professor in the Public Health and Health Education Programs, as well as the Administrative Director for the Center for Successful Aging, at the University of Toledo.

She did her graduate work in Human Development and Family Studies at the Pennsylvania State University with a focus on adult development and aging. Dr. Steiner is interested in how individuals cope with the challenges they encounter in their lives as they age, including functional decline, chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and caregiving.

Judge Robert N. Rusu, Jr. is the 20th Probate Judge of Mahoning County.

He was appointed as the Mahoning County Probate Judge by Governor Kasich on July 8, 2014 and won election to the bench in the November 2014 general election. Judge Rusu brings more than 27 years of Probate experience to the bench. Prior to becoming the judge, he practiced exclusively in the area of Probate Administrations, Guardianships, Estate Planning, Medicaid, and issues regarding aging.

Judge Rusu is very active in his community. Judge Rusu has served on the “Alzheimer’s Assistance and Referral Network”, the “Mahoning Valley Campfire Council” and past president of the “Canfield Baseball Club” and in 2018 was awarded the “Practitioner of the Year Award” by the Ohio Association of Gerontology & Education. In addition, Judge Rusu is also active as an executive officer with the Ohio Probate Judges Association.

Meredith Pitt is an assistant professor at The University of Findlay, teaching all courses within the gerontology minor/certificate program.

Meredith is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio, focusing her attention on the field of behavioral health. Meredith has three children, is married to her husband, Patrick, and lives in Findlay, Ohio with her two corgis and chihuahua.

Richard Meeker MSW, LISW-S is currently employed at Area Agency on Aging as a Community Living Supervisor where he supervises the Adult Protective Services program.

He also works part time in private practice in partnership with Mindful Life in Action as a Mental Health Therapist. Richard earned a Masters Degree in Social Work at the University of Akron and earned a Bachelors Degree of Science from Ashland University.

Chih-ling (Ling) Liou is an associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Kent State University.

Dr. Liou’s research interests are aligned with two primary lines of inquiry: (1) community services for older adults and (2) aging attitudes among college students. She has been conducting and publishing research related to adult day service (ADS), one of the community-based services for people with dementia. In addition to ADS, she is interested in understanding college students’ attitudes on aging in order to attract and equip them to serve the growing population of aged individuals.

Jessica Krok-Schoen is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Sciences, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University's College of Medicine.

Dr. Krok-Schoen's research focuses on geriatric oncology, cancer survivorship, symptom management, and behavioral interventions among diverse, older adults. She has been a proud member of OAGE since 2017.

Dr. Katherine S. Judge is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Adult Development and Aging Doctoral Program in the Psychology Department at Cleveland State University.

She also is an Adjunct Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Education and Research at Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. Dr. Judge's program of research focuses on: understanding the illness experience associated with cognitive impairment; developing, implementing, and testing non-pharmacological interventions for individuals with dementia, stroke, and traumatic brain injury and their caregivers; and translating evidence-based intervention and research protocols to fit within existing health care and social service organizations. Dr. Judge teaches a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses, including Introduction to Psychology, Memory and Cognition, Health Psychology, Mental Health and Aging, Dementia and Caregiving, and Psychology of Aging.

Shannon E. Jarrott, Ph.D. is a professor of social work at The Ohio State University.

She specializes in community-based services, therapeutic programming, and research strategies involving older adults with diverse abilities. Current research focuses on intergenerational community building strategies, for which she has received federal funding.

Since 2016, Salli has been the Executive Director of MemoryLane Care Services, a non-profit organization providing respite and supportive services to families caregiving for older adults and individuals living with memory impairment.

Salli holds a master’s degree in Social Work and a Certificate in Aging from the University of Michigan and bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Toledo. She has practiced as a social worker in long term care, hospital, mental health and community- based settings. Salli has experience delivering respite care services, implementing and evaluating evidence-based programs, serving in leadership roles in non-profit organizations and as an advocate for caregivers and older adults. She has attended ASA previously.

As Chief Executive Officer of Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA), Dr. E. Douglas Beach has empirical leadership experience and expertise at the federal, state, and local levels.

Nurtured in an agrarian environment it naturally followed Dr. Beach would pursue a doctorate in agricultural economics. From North Carolina State University’s campus culture, Dr. Beach returned to Ohio to care for his ailing father; a situation that elicited a newfound passion in a curiously, opposite career discipline: the senior population.

Dr. Beach had years’ experience advocating for seniors as Ohio Department of Aging's Deputy Director of Programs, when Congressman David L. Hobson (R-OH) engaged him as staff economist to draft major, long-term care insurance legislation. In September of 1999 Dr. Beach became CEO of the Senior Resource Alliance, Florida's most prominent and industrious area agency on aging, prospering the Orlando-based organization's budget from $16 to $25 million. The Senior Resource Alliance became Florida's first Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and was simultaneously honored as one of the nation's top 10 Information & Referral Systems (IR&S). Opportunity knocked on the door in February 2007 when Governor Charlie Crist tapped Dr. Beach to be Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Although rough economic times ensued, the Department's budget matched in equal measure to meet Florida senior citizens community and healthcare needs.

In June 2021 Dr. Beach took the helm of Florida’s premier aging provider, the Council on Aging of Volusia County (COA), providing its consumers with traditional Older Americans Act (OAA) services while emphasizing private pay and in-home Medicare services. The Fall of 2014 rounded this illustrious, performance history with CEO acceptance to Ohio’s WRAAA, largest of the state’s 12 area agencies on aging. Dr. Beach’s incisive business acumen, extensive leadership, and in-grained respect for older adults attest to WRAAA’s transformation of an agency on the edge to Ohio’s largest, minority-dominated Area Agency on Aging.

Tiffany F. Hughes, PhD, MPH is Associate Professor at Youngstown State University.

She enjoys teaching and researching ways that older adults can maintain brain health and well-being through an active and engaged lifestyle. In addition, she is interested in intergenerational programs that can increase college student interest in working with the aging population. Her work is funded and supported by academic/NIA and community collaborations.

Joseph Rossi has been Chief Executive Officer of Direction Home of Eastern Ohio, Inc. (DHEO) serving Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull County since 2010.

Mr. Rossi holds a bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University. Mr. Rossi lives in Salem, Ohio with his wife Susan and daughter, Alexis. His wife Susan has a PhD in Higher Education Administration and is an Assistant Dean at Kent State University (Columbiana County). His daughter, Alexis is a junior at Loyola University Chicago studying Biology/Pre-Med.

Jennifer Kinney, PhD, is a Professor of Gerontology in the Department of Sociology and Gerontology and a Research Fellow with the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University.

Her primary research interests are gerontological pedagogy and how to foster quality of life among people living with dementia. She has taught undergraduate and graduate gerontology courses for over 30 years. Recent course offerings include perspectives in gerontology and a course on gerontological writing for masters and doctoral students.

Kate de Medeiros, PhD., is the O'Toole Family Professor of Gerontology at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

She is the author or co-author of over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, four books, and numerous book chapters. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of aging with a special focus on the topics of ageism, living alone, and dementia.