Learn about the statistics and preventative measures surrounding suicide among older adults.
Older adults and suicide: How can mental health professionals increase prevention efforts?
Category: Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging
Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging Blog Posts
Using technology to increase independence & living life
Read this blog post about how older adults are using technology to bolster their independence.
Older Americans Month: Aging Unbound
Written by Michele Dinman, MPH, project coordinator for the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at the Institute for Public Health Happy Older Americans Month! For the past 60 years, the Administration for Community Living helps us celebrate and honor older Americans each May. This year’s theme, Aging Unbound, promotes the importance of enjoying independence […]
Social and Cognitive Stimulation for Individuals Living with Dementia: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Could be the Answer
In this blog post, MSW student Marissa Scofield discusses how Cognitive Stimulation Therapy can provide a social outlet and improve quality of life for those living with dementia.
Older Adults as Community Health Workers: Using their skills & experiences to strengthen the health care workforce
Read about how more older adults today are interested in working past retirement.
Suicide prevention among older adults
Learn more about suicide prevention among older adults in this blogpost by one of the students attending the course, Contemporary Perspectives on Aging.
The aging prison population: A rapidly growing issue
Written by Renee Hays, MSW candidate, Brown School; student in Contemporary Perspectives on Aging The American prison population has been aging at a rapid pace throughout the twenty-first century. According to the National Institute of Corrections, between 1993 and 2013, the number of prisoners in America aged 55 and older sentenced to at least one […]
Internalized Ageism – Discriminating against ourselves as we age
Read a perspective from a member of the Friedman Center for Aging staff, regarding how we often discriminate against ourselves as we age.
Experiencing College in Later Life: “When I’m 64: Transforming Your Future”
A participant in the “When I’m 64…” course at WashU talks about her experience.
A lesson in successful aging
Successful aging can be achieved through patient-focused care, according to this student in the Summer Research Program-Aging & Neurological Diseases Track.
Learning about clinical research by assessing fidelity
Learn more about how one study is helping reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression that older adult patients may face before/after surgery.
Learning new skills
Read reflections on her program experience from a student in the Summer Research Program-Aging & Neurological Diseases Track.
A new experience in Alzheimer’s disease research
Learn about the Karch Lab and this Summer Research Program student’s research experiences while participating in the Aging & Neurological Diseases Track.
The longest day
Learn more about the DRIVES Project in this blog post by a student in the Summer Research Program – Aging & Neurological Diseases Track.
Gaining perspective on aging
Learn more about stroke neurology and other physician perspectives on neurological diseases in this blog post by a student in the Summer Research Program – Aging & Neurological Diseases Track.
The halfway point of an exciting summer
A student participating in the Summer Research Program – Aging & Neurological Diseases Track discusses her work with the Stark Lab at WashU.
Aging 001: Do you see the difference in the mirror?
Read a reflection on aging in this blog post from a student in the Summer Research Program – Aging & Neurological Diseases Track.
Forward to the future: An immersive experience with empathetic exercises
A Summer Research Program — Aging & Neurological Diseases Track student talks about his experience Empathetic Exercises, which simulate physical disabilities associated with aging.
An afternoon as an older adult
See through the eyes of an older adult with macular degeneration in this blog post by a participant in the Summer Research Program-Aging & Neurological Diseases Track.
Remembering the lives of Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers
Learn about the documentary, The Alzheimer’s Project: The Memory Loss Tapes in this blog post by a student in the Summer Research Program-Aging & Neurological Diseases Track
Getting started in the Summer Research Program
Find out what’s happening with students in the Summer Research Program-Aging & Neurological Diseases Track in this blog post from a participating student.
Celebrating aging!
Read more about resources and tips for helping older adults celebrate Older Americans Month!
A Geroscientist’s perspective on Careers in Aging
Careers in Aging Week, April 17-23 is designed to bring awareness to the wide-ranging career opportunities in the field of aging. Read one geroscientist’s point of view here.
An aging professional’s perspective on Careers in Aging
Careers in Aging Week, April 17-23 is designed to bring awareness to the wide-ranging career opportunities in the field of aging. Read one professional’s point of view here.
A neuroscience scholar’s perspective on Careers in Aging
Commemorating Careers in Aging week (April 17-23), read a blog post authored by WashU professor, David Balota working in aging research.
A neuroscience PhD student’s perspective on careers in aging
Careers in Aging Week, April 17-23 is designed to bring awareness to the wide-ranging career opportunities in the field of aging. Read one student’s point of view here.
April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day
In this blog post, Faculty Scholar and contributor to the Friedman Center for Aging, Brian Carpenter, asks some important questions about health care as we age.
A Caregiver’s Guide to Palliative Care
Read this informative blog by Associate Professor, Karla Washington, also a 2022 Friedman Lecture & Awards’ panelist.
Age-inclusive language: Are you using it in your writing and everyday speech?
How we speak and write about aging matters. Learn more about what several national agencies say are best practices in eliminating age bias from written language.
Your Next Move: Transitioning to the New Retirement comes to UCollege this spring
Written by Chris Frey, LCSW, Your Next Move course instructor As an educator and counselor, my interest in how we navigate transitions of all shapes and sizes has grown significantly through the years. As I have aged, my journey to understand both the familiar and unique aspects of life changes that call on us to […]
“Kids these days”: Why youth-directed ageism is an issue for everyone
Written by Morgan Van Vleck, MSW candidate (’22) and Masters Research Fellow in Aging at the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging As we become an increasingly aged society, it is important to understand how stereotypes and bias against both younger and older age groups functions and leads to fractures in intergenerational relationships. Ageism against […]
Ageism – the unnoticed -ism
Written by Michele Dinman, project coordinator for the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at the Institute for Public Health “She looks so good for her age”…“I was having a senior moment”…“50 is the new 30”…“Old people go there”….“You don’t look 70”… “Millennials have an inflated sense of entitlement” …“She is too young to be […]
The endeavor towards healthy attitudes in aging
Paresa Chowdhury, a Summer Research Program participant, discusses the insight she gained on aging and ageism while working in the PATH Lab.
Return to normal
Mateo Blair, a Summer Research Program- Aging and Neurological Diseases Track participant, discusses her experiences in Dr. Susan Stark’s lab.
Remembering the people behind the disease
In this blogpost written by Sophia Tu, a Summer Research Program student in the Aging & Neurological Diseases Track, studies concerning dementia and Alzheimers are discussed.
Summer Research Program Experience 2.0
This blogpost written by Summer Research Program, Aging & Neurological Diseases Track student, Danielle Friz discusses various presentations on chronic diseases in aging adults.
Purpose for life over a lifespan
This blog post by Summer Research Program student Aja Jones assesses the connection between healthy aging and a continuous development of an individual’s purpose for life.
An exciting experience
In this blogpost written by Summer Research Program student, Josie Wright, the COMPASS program and home modifications for stroke patients are discussed.
Multifaceted effects of an aging society on public health
The multidimensional affects of aging on our population is the topic of this blogpost by Summer Research Program student, Lindsey Debosik.
Older American’s Month: The impact of aging on society
Guest author Behnaz Sarrami reviews area older adult service agencies and the need for a “voice” for adults as they age.
Friedman Center welcomes project coordinator
The Institute for Public Health & its Friedman Center for Aging welcome our new Project Coordinator, Michele Dinman.
COVID-19: Age & Race Lead to Compounding Risk
Issues affecting older adults during the time of COVID-19 are the topic of this blogpost by guest author, Morgan Van Vleck, masters research fellow in aging.
Calculating Your Lifespan: Reflections on “When I’m 64”
Students in the class, When I’m 64, have developed a Lifespan Calculator. Learn more in this blog by guest author, Donna Springer.
The growing intergenerational nature of social media
Social media isn’t just for kids anymore. Older adults today are adeptly winding their way through the social sphere more than ever.
Why older people are among the first to get the vaccine
By Nancy Morrow-Howell, MSW, PhD, the Bettie Bofinger Brown Distinguished Professor of Social Policy, Brown School of Social Work and director of the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging On December 8, 2020, the first Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine went into the arm of a 90-year-old woman, Margaret Keenan, with the second delivered to an 81-year-old […]
New Retirement Includes Purpose as Well as Leisure
Friedman Center for Aging “Your Next Move” Seminar Summary Written by Kim Furlow, Institute for Public Health Being in my early 50’s and thinking about “many years from now” when I’ll retire, (not really; it’s probably coming sooner than we all expect!) I decided to attend the Friedman Center for Aging “Your Next Move” Seminar […]
COVID-19 and Compounding Losses
by Barbara L. Finch, MLA, Alumna, Washington University in St. Louis The older adults I know are scared. In the independent living retirement community where I live, eight months of isolation because of Covid-19 is beginning to take its toll. While we are no longer “locked down” like we were during the first few months of […]
Aging: Something we all experience and should not be afraid of
Written by Mason Basler, BS candidate in biochemistry, Rockhurst University; participant in the Summer Research Program,- Aging and Neurological Diseases Track During the online summer internship in aging and neurological conditions, I attended an online presentation given by Brian Carpenter, PhD, who is a professor and researcher of psychological and brain sciences. During this presentation, […]
Music to my ears: Learning on Zoom
Written by Sophia Tu, BS candidate at Saint Louis University; participant in the Institute for Public Health Summer Research Program- Aging and Neurological Diseases Track I was sitting in front of my computer screen with the volume turned up, listening intently as the words coming through the speakers gave me goosebumps. Some nights I would catch […]
Bridging the gap: How purpose-driven research impacts everyday lives
Written by Lindsey Debosik, B.S. candidate in Public Health and Health Management at Saint Louis University and participant in the 2020 Institute of Public Health Summer Research Program For the longest time, I did not understand the value of research to society or to oppressed individuals within that society. As a public health student, I […]