Text Box:   Text Box: By Dr. Patricia Cianciolo      Welcome to the first newsletter of the Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University.  The Center received start-up funds in September 2003 through a one-year grant provided by the Administration on Aging (AoA).  The primary mission of the AoA is to promote the dignity and independence of older people, and to help society prepare for an aging population. The NMU Center’s mission involves combining research, educational programming, and collaboration with community service providers as a means to benefit older adults in rural areas.    The Upper Peninsula, like many rural communities, is experiencing a disproportionate growth in its older population.  Much of that growth involves adults who are “aging in place” as well as individuals choosingthe U.P. as a retirement community.  Factors such as these Text Box: underscore why we need to develop a trained labor force, conduct research, and work collaboratively with community service providers if we are to effectively meet the needs of older adults in our region.    This newsletter serves as an introduction to some of the Center’s faculty and staff, and provides a list of upcoming events that all interested parties are invited to attend. The U.P. is a vast area of beauty, one where the outdoors can promote healthy aging.  Innovation, creativity and collaboration are hallmarks of the region’s educational and social/health delivery systems.     The Center extends its appreciation to Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative Bart Stupak for their support to secure initial funding to establish the Center. We hope that you enjoy the newsletter and find it helpful.  We welcome your comments and suggestions. Text Box: Director’s Note Text Box: Meet the Secretary Text Box: By Kristi Harvala      My name is Kristi Harvala, and I am the part-time secretary for the Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University, as well as a part-time student going toward an elementary education degree.  I am very happy to have the opportunity to work with the Center Text Box: and all of the people who are involved with it.  I only hope that it can become a permanent part of NMU in the future.         Since the grant period has begun we have been busily working to get things started and put the office together.  I am looking forward to working on all of the grant projects that lie ahead in the next year. Text Box:     Text Box: Winter 2004

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Text Box: The Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University   GRANT PROJECT FUNDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING

Text Box: Patricia Cianciolo Associate Professor, Sociology/Social Work   Director of the Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University

Text Box: Kristi Harvala Secretary of the Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University

Text Box:    The Center for Gerontological Studies will be providing educational workshops for NMU faculty, staff and students, as well as community members.  We will be bringing in four community aging experts, and two national aging experts to give presentations within the next year.    The first presentation will be given by a community aging expert, Susan Wideman, an Elder Law Attorney who owns The Wideman Law Center in Marquette.  The presentation will address the scope of elder Text Box: law as a tool to assist older adults and their families.  It will be held on Friday, January 30, 2004 from 10 - 11 a.m. in the NMU University Center, Pioneer B room.  Immediately following Susan’s presentation the Center will be hosting an Open House in Room 118 Gries Hall.    The second presentation will be given by a national aging expert, Dr. Elizabeth Chapleski from Wayne State University on issues of culture and providing care to Native American elders.  This presentation will Text Box: be held on Thursday, March 11, 2004 from 7 - 8 p.m. in the NMU University Center, Pioneer B room.    The third presentation will be given by the director of Wayne State University’s Institute of Gerontology, Dr. Peter Lichtenberg.  Dr. Lichtenberg’s presentation will be given on Thursday, April 15, 2004 from 7 - 8 p.m. in the NMU University Center, Pioneer B room.  Dr. Lichtenberg will be presenting on the Michigan Dementia Coalition Plan 2003-2006. Text Box: Michigan Dementia Coalition and the Michigan Department of Community Health, is a primary guiding tool in this effort.    Two of the plan’s goals are significant to the Community Partnership: Goal 2 is to promote a public health, disease management approach to dementia care in primary care practice that makes full use of best dementia care practices; and Goal 5 is to increase early Text Box:    One of the grant requirements for the Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University is to participate with state and community efforts to improve the diagnosis and treatment of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in rural settings.    Ideas for the Community Partnership are in the development phase.  The Michigan Dementia Plan, authored by the Text Box: intervention by increasing public awareness of the caregiver role and the early warning signs of dementia.    The Community Partnership project is expected to begin in March 2004 and continue until September 30, 2004.   Text Box: Grant Activities Text Box: Community Partnership Text Box: Funding Tidbits Text Box:        Wrestling with the federal bureaucracy to get grant monies is time consuming, sometimes frustrating, but in the end, rewarding.  When applying for a federal grant remember these helpful adages: “you can’t please everyone,” “where there’s a will there’s a way,” and “three [resubmits] are  a charm.” By repeating these things it may be found that Text Box:     “laughter is the best medicine” in the world of grant applications. Text Box: By Dr. Patricia Cianciolo      Have you ever worked on a federal grant?  Would you like a humorous take on the process?  Here are some sayings that we remembered while working on this grant project: “Easier said than done,” “no news is good news,” “seeing is believing,” “better late than never,” “two heads are better than one,” and you know “money [IS] everything!” Text Box: OPEN HOUSE Friday, January 30, 2004 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 118 Gries Hall   Light refreshments will be served.   Please take this opportunity to visit the Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University!

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Text Box: The Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University   GRANT PROJECT FUNDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING

Text Box:         The Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University   Volume 1, Issue 1 Winter 2004   Editor: Patricia Cianciolo, Director   Staff: Patricia Cianciolo, Director Kristi Harvala, Secretary Gerontology Committee Members   The Center for Gerontological Studies Newsletter will be published twice during the grant period by the Center for Gerontological Studies, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI  49855.  Telephone: 906-227-1948.   Northern Michigan University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, familial status or handicap/disability, sexual orientation or veteran status in employment or the provision of services and provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in all programs and activities.

Text Box: By Dr. Mary Jane Tremethick      We are all aging and while we are living longer than ever, much of this time is spent in ill health.  In fact, estimates indicate that for every year of additional life 9.6 months are spent in a disabled state.  Contrary to popular belief, many of the conditions typically associated with aging are actually the cumulative effects of poor lifestyle choices.    Text Box:          Healthy aging can be facilitated by instituting simple lifestyle changes such as maintaining a positive attitude, developing social networks, consuming a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and stopping tobacco use.  Look for programming in your community to help you make positive changes.  After consulting your doctor, join in!   Text Box:          Regardless of age, healthy behaviors do make a difference in “compressing morbidity” and extending your “healthy years.”                  Text Box: USEFUL INTERNET SITES   Federal:                                                                                                       Life Expectancy Calculators:        Administration on Aging - www.aoa.gov                                                              The Longevity Game-                                                                                                                         www.nmfn.com/tn/learnctr--lifeevents--longevity Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - www.cms.gov                                                                                                                      www.livingto100.com/quiz.htm National Institute on Aging - www.nia.nih.gov                                                                                                                      Healthy Aging: Social Security Administration - www.ssa.gov                                                        Healthy Aging for Older Adults - www.cdc.gov/aging/   State:                                                                                                           Health and Age - www.healthandage.com Greater Michigan Alzheimer’s Association - www.alzgmc.org                                                                                                                                                        Healthy Aging Campaign - www.healthyaging.net Michigan Access to Services for Seniors - www.misenior.net                                                                                                                          International Society for Aging and Physical Activity Michigan Department of Community Health - www.michigan.gov/mdch                  www.isapa.org             Text Box: Healthy Aging Text Box: Rehabilitation of Older Adults and Animal-Assisted Therapy Text Box:     incorporated as a treatment modality in speech-language therapy, treatment outcomes are achieved more quickly and more efficiently than in standard treatment (no animal-assisted therapy).  My most recent project on discourse variation in the therapist/   patient dyad demonstrated that when Pet Partners are involved in physical therapy, the therapist is able to provide Text Box:     fewer verbal cues and the pa-tient asks fewer questions for clarification than when the Pet Partners are not present. Text Box: By Dr. Helen Kahn      My research interest is in  animal-assisted therapy in speech-language therapeutic interventions. I have received both internal and external funding to support these efforts.  In collaboration with the rehabilitation unit at Marquette General Hospital and the Upper Michigan Dog Therapy Partnership our research has found that when certified Pet Partners (handler and dog) are

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Text Box: Mary Jane Tremethick Assistant Professor, Health, Physical Education   Gerontology Committee Member

Text Box: Helen Kahn Professor,  Communication Disorders    Gerontology Executive Committee Member

Text Box:   Text Box: 118 Gries Hall Northern Michigan University 1401 Presque Isle Avenue Marquette, MI  49855

Text Box:   Phone: 906-227-1948 Fax: 906-227-1949 E-mail: kharvala@nmu.edu     Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Text Box:  Mission Statement The mission of the Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University is to promote research and educational opportunities for faculty, students, and community members focusing on the needs of older adults living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  The Center seeks to involve these stakeholders in the development and implementation of public policies that will enhance the lives of older adults in rural communities.  Key Priorities of the Center ·         Influence and inform public policy through education and research. ·          Develop educational programming related to aging, including a cross-college minor in gerontology at the undergraduate level and a certificate in gerontology for both degree and non-degree seeking students. ·          Promote careers in the field of aging and provide continuing education opportunities for professionals. ·          Foster multi-disciplinary collaboration between the university and surrounding community to enhance the quality of life of older adults living in rural areas, especially the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.                       Text Box:   Center for Gerontological Studies Northern Michigan University 1401 Presque Isle Avenue Marquette, MI  49855

Text Box:   The Center for Gerontological Studies at Northern Michigan University