Share This Page!
|
|
It’s inspiring to see the show of support that New Yorkers are demonstrating for health care and other essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re taking time each night at 7 p.m. to applaud and cheer those on the front lines.
Here at GSA, we want to embrace that spirit and give recognition to people who are making a positive difference in the lives of people as we age. The events surrounding the pandemic have brought to the forefront the need for more professionals that provide care for and services to the aging population. Thus, there has never been a more timely reason for Careers in Aging Week, which GSA has organized annually for nearly two decades.
Among the many ways GSA members are navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic is the almost overnight transition from a typical classroom environment to a virtual distance teaching format. Many GSA members are educators and the Society has mobilized to support their ongoing success.
For those in need of an uplifting story, the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) was signed into law this week after receiving bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. As a continuing advocate for OAA reauthorization, GSA applauded this news in a press release issued shortly after the signing.
This news is very timely. OAA-supported programs are provided to more than 11 million older adults and their caregivers annually. These programs are designed to prevent abuse and neglect, reduce social isolation, support caregivers, offer employment and community service opportunities, promote nutrition (through Meals on Wheels, as an example), and improve transportation options.
The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to disrupt all of our lives for months to come, with projections indicating the most difficult days are still ahead of us. We will manage through this extraordinary challenge the only way possible, by working together, doing our individual part to support the collective wellbeing of our families, communities, and institutions. We will be aided by the application of science, the tool that all of us apply daily to solve problems and to make sense of the unknown.
Here are three resources to help GSA members around the world as they navigate this pandemic.
When teaching individuals about the Reframing Aging Initiative, the GSA team always begins with what it takes to "reframe" an issue.
Step #1 is Map the Terrain, as shown in the multiple research projects undertaken to provide key insights. I encourage you to explore the research findings. Step #2 is Develop a Strategy to Navigate to Higher Ground, as shown in the Gaining Momentum communications toolkit. And Step #3 is Build a Caravan, Equip the Travelers and Start Moving, accomplished through workshops to prepare individuals to apply the evidence-supported framing interventions to their daily communications.
One of the most meaningful roles that a professional society plays is recognizing excellence in its field. And GSA has a wonderful mechanism for doing this: through March 31, we’re accepting nominations for more than two dozen prestigious awards for gerontological achievements.
I recently had the privilege of visiting the University of South Florida (USF) campus in Tampa, Florida, which is the home institution of GSA President Dr. Kathy Hyer. It was a rewarding day that provided rich opportunities to discuss key GSA initiatives and to learn about the exciting work underway at USF.
The faculty was intrigued to learn more about GSA’s work to advance the Reframing Aging Initiative and how this work intersects with the development of new scholarship. Following recent updates to the AMA and APA style guides, faculty who submit papers to journals following these formats will see new language recommendations (aligning with the Reframing Aging Initiative) for referring to older adults.
I’d like to introduce you to GSA’s newest workgroup, the members of which are guiding the Society’s efforts to nurture more age-inclusive higher education environments. This topic has been a priority area since GSA’s Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education section endorsed the 10 principles of the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network. We’ve been spreading the word nationwide ever since, supported by meeting presentations, publications, and webinars.
The workgroup is chaired by Joann Montepare and its roster includes members Carrie Andreoletti, Elizabeth Bergman, Marilyn Gugliucci, Judy Howe, Nancy Morrow-Howell, Michelle Porter, John Schumacher, and Nina Silverstein. We welcomed everyone to GSA headquarters for a kickoff meeting in late January.
The National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) convenes three times annually. NACA plays many roles. It reviews new proposed concept clearances, reviews applications for grants and cooperative agreements for research and training, and recommends approval of applications for projects that show promise, along with other duties. The next meeting is January 21 and 22.
The GSA meetings team just completed a wonderful site visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the host city for the GSA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting, taking place November 4 to 8. We toured the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, which will serve as the headquarters hotel. This is in central location, meaning attendees will be able to take advantage of a thriving restaurant scene and explore historic Reading Terminal Market.
© The Gerontological Society of America 2022 and all prior years. All rights reserved.
The Gerontological Society of America
1220 L Street NW, Suite 901
Washington, DC 20005
United States
Phone: (202) 842-1275
Email: membership@geron.org
FIND GSA ON:
