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Purpose of the Study: This project surveyed health care professionals from both urban and rural care settings in Ohio and examined differences in professionals' needs and interests in continuing gerontological education. Design and Methods: The survey data were analyzed for 766 health care professionals descriptively, using cross-tabulations and c[superscript 2] tests. Results: The key findings were that professionals are willing to drive a maximum time of one-hour per week to travel one way to attend classes/workshops to earn gerontology certificate among both urban and rural drivers [(4,N = 514) = 11.65,p = 0.020]. Distance learning was the most preferred method for furthering gerontological education for both urban (39%) and rural (49%) participants. One quarter or fewer of the professionals were interested in obtaining a master's degree. Of slightly greater interest was pursuit of a graduate gerontology certificate (25% urban and 28% rural). It is concluded that there is a need and desire for professionals working with aging populations in Ohio to pursue additional education. Preferences for obtaining education inform us of the ways in which education can best be delivered. Implications: Youngstown State University can apply to increase gerontological education access in both urban and rural areas. Such educational opportunities will be a great service to the urban and rural areas of the aging population in the state of Ohio.

Background and Objectives The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in the need for multiple mitigation strategies. The impacts of these safety measures were felt more extremely by healthcare providers. This qualitative study focused on the experiences of staff in skilled nursing facilities, specifically in locked memory care units, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research Design and Methods This study used a basic interpretive methodology. In-depth interviews were conducted with skilled nursing staff members who worked in a locked memory care unit during the 2020 calendar year. Thematic analysis was used to organize and interpret the data. Results A total of 11 participants provided data that resulted in themes around reasons for working on a locked memory care unit, experiences working with people who have behavioral and psychological symptoms due to dementia, training, outcomes of shared experiences, outcomes of policy changes, management support, and suggestions for a future pandemic. Discussion and Implications The results of this study may have implications for skilled nursing facilities with locked memory care units that continue to grapple with the realities of providing care during a pandemic. Providing appropriate training, social support, and appropriate protective equipment are among the suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant health issue for many new mothers in the weeks and months following a child's birth. Quantitative data suggest that a mother's PPD negatively impacts healthcare decision-making for the child via routine well-baby visits and pediatric care. However, little is known from a qualitative perspective about the factors that challenge or facilitate these healthcare decisions. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to understand the perceptions of new mothers about factors contributing to their healthcare decision-making, for themselves and for their children, while living with PPD. The researchers used purposive sampling to recruit eight women from clinics, community organizations, and social media support groups who met the study's inclusion criteria. Individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with eight participants about their PPD experiences, motherhood, and healthcare decision-making influences. Transcribed interviews and initial themes were shared with participants to verify researcher interpretations and aid in the analysis process. The researchers analyzed interview data using thematic analysis to cultivate an understanding of the phenomenon by identifying and interpreting patterns in the data. Three primary themes were drawn from the data analysis: (1) Importance of Clinician Trust and Support; (2) Balancing the Health of the Mother and Child; and (3) Other Support Structures That Facilitate Healthcare Decision-Making for the Mother and Baby Dyad. Participant experiences underscored the need for cohesive approaches by clinical providers of pre- and postnatal care. Group model approaches to postnatal care appear to mitigate or reduce the impact of PPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workers serving Ohio's aging population will require increased levels of gerontological education. Using data from 55 Ohio counties, this project investigated the educational needs and reasons for seeking education from professionals in aging. Respondents reported interest in attaining aging related education. Preferred delivery methods included web based and interactive satellite instruction. Continuing education credit was preferred over college credit even though a high percentage indicated a desire for an additional degree (69.8%). Despite over 30 years of Ohio's universities providing aging related education, 58.6% of respondents have no formal aging related training, and 11.7% have only a single course in aging. Gerontological topics that most interested participants in an area for further understanding were Alzheimer's/dementia, medication, and mental health issues.

Little is known about younger adults' attitudes towards age-related sexual changes and behaviors. Research using the Aging Sexuality Knowledge and Attitudes Scale (ASKAS) (White, 1982) has been effective in determining knowledge and attitudes among the staff of long-term care facilities, nurses, undergraduate nursing students, health care educators, and physicians. There is a dearth of literature on the knowledge about and attitudes toward aging and sexuality among students' emerging from an era of sexuality education focused heavily on abstinence-education. This study was conducted to determine the extent to which undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory gerontology course (n = 156) were knowledgeable about age-related changes in sexual expression; the role of political views on attitudes regarding aging and sexuality; relationships among prior sexuality education, knowledge, and attitudes regarding aging and sexuality; and differences in knowledge and attitudes between those with and without an intended career in aging. Results: Students espousing liberal political views were more likely to support continued sexual behaviors among older adults regardless of marital status or residential location. They held attitudes that sexual expression is a personal decision and not one to be made by family or facility staff. Prior sex education was not associated with attitudes toward or knowledge about sexual behavior in adulthood, indicating a deficiency in prior education on adult sexuality. Those who were considering a career in aging were more knowledgeable about age-related changes in sexuality. (Contains 3 tables.)

This article reports on the Gerontology Doctoral Student Assessment Model (GDSAM), a comprehensive web-based system premised on developing an evaluation mechanism attuned to the special requirements of advanced graduate education at the doctoral level. The system focuses on longitudinal tracking of selected dimensions of intellectual, professional, and personal progress. This involves interlocking elements of online personal dossier development, student self-rating assessment, faculty assessment of student progress, and a means of communicating interactive and iterative feedback among students and faculty. Preliminary findings from initial data collection using the assessment system indicate that students who have completed and passed their qualifying examinations are more confident in their ability to articulate diverse ideas in professional settings, work in direct contact with research participants, present research findings to scientific audiences, and adjust to the rigors of doctoral education. Additional feedback from participants in the system suggests that, although important ethical issues of confidentiality and appropriate use must be recognized and monitored, the GDSAM has strong potential to provide an appropriate assessment tool at the doctoral level. Implementation of such a system throughout doctoral education in gerontology provides a unique opportunity for tracking the impact and effectiveness of doctoral education in an emergent field as additional programs come on line. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

The purpose of this study is to document current practices and understandings about globalization of gerontology education in the United States. Better understanding of aging requires international perspectives in global communities. However, little is known about how globalization of gerontology education is practiced in U.S. graduate-level degree programs. The authors conducted qualitative interviews with representatives of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, the major national organization supporting higher education in gerontology, graduate program directors, and students. Although all respondents expressed their interest in globalizing gerontology education, actual practices are diverse. The authors discuss suggested conceptualization and strategies for globalizing gerontology education. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

This research seeks to examine the characteristics and goals of students enrolled in gerontology doctoral education. The authors seek to identify the unique characteristics of scholars enrolled in the interdisciplinary study of aging and elicit discussion on the ways in which these scholars will contribute to the growth and development of the field. This article describes results from an ongoing longitudinal study examining the relationship between gerontology doctoral education and overarching frameworks that define and advance the field. Four cohorts of first-year doctoral students were invited to participate in an online survey. Results reveal three distinct typologies of gerontology doctoral students: traditional academics, applied specialists, and general educators. Traditional academics are seeking postdoc and tenure-track faculty positions upon completion of the doctoral degree whereas the applied specialists intend to pursue careers in allied health fields or within a government setting. Educators plan to seek academic positions within teaching intensive or balanced teaching-research institutions. Gerontology doctoral students are being trained to serve as leaders in practice and research by linking and integrating multiple perspectives. Doctoral education will continue to facilitate applications of research to practice, identify the meaning of being a "gerontologist," and to advance the field of gerontology. However, students are entering with diverse academic and professional backgrounds and have varied career goals. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)

This study examined elder mentors' and students' roles, functions, and satisfaction with the Elder Mentorship program at the Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky. The Elder Mentorship program matches gerontology doctoral students with older adults in the community. Parallel surveys were constructed to evaluate the program from the perspectives of elder mentors and student mentees. Data were analyzed using descriptive frequency analyses, with open-ended questions analyzed thematically. Results show that students and elder mentors were mostly satisfied with their experiences. Elder mentors perceived their participation more positively than did student mentees. Future programs utilizing the elder mentorship model may benefit from matching students and elder mentors in terms of shared interests. (Contains 2 tables.)

The Graduate Center for Gerontology at the University of Kentucky incorporates three levels of mentoring in its PhD program. This project assessed satisfaction with peer and faculty mentoring and explored their perceived benefits and purposes. Core and affiliate faculty and current and graduated students were surveyed. Participants seemed satisfied with the mentoring they were giving and receiving, although all groups discussed limitations. Peer mentors were seen as social support and advice givers, while faculty mentors were viewed as responsible for direction and skill-building. These results can contribute to the development of new mentorship programs and the modification of existing ones. (Contains 4 tables.)

This study concerns the educational experiences and progression through the doctoral programs of two cohorts of students in 5 of the 6 gerontology doctoral programs within the United States. The project goals include assessments of change and/or stability in projected career trajectories, as well as an assessment of students' perceptions of the program-student fit in terms of curriculum, research experience, and faculty involvement. This paper focuses on the perceptions and expectations of students during their first year. Perceptions of the programs are mostly positive, but areas for improvement are identified. Further investigations of data through the subsequent years identify areas of focus for continued modification and potential improvement of doctoral programs. The following is appended: First Survey. (Contains 3 tables.)

The grief that nurses experience when patients and residents die can be complex and has been linked to both problematic (e.g., depression) and beneficial (e.g., gains in coping) outcomes. In this study, 380 nursing assistants working in the nursing home setting were surveyed to gain an understanding of the relationship between grief and well-being. Findings indicated that participants experienced both distress and growth in their grief. Those who experienced greater distress from grief reported significantly higher levels of burnout and lower levels of psychological and physical well-being. Conversely, participants who experienced greater growth from their grief reported significantly lower levels of burnout, higher levels of psychological and physical well-being, and higher levels of job satisfaction. These findings suggest that grief may be an important determinant of well-being in nursing assistants, which, in turn, may impact quality of care in the nursing home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]