Gerontology Theory Communicated in the Primary Grades through Picture Books

Educational Objectives 1. To recognize children’s first literature as a means of socialization to aging and older people. 2. To identify children’s books that reflect basic principles of gerontology theory. 3. To help primary school teachers, grandparents, and others interested in human development use books and activities to capture children’s attention. 4. To identify a unit of six brief, overlapping modules, each with objectives, activities, and recommended readings

Meeting Aging-Related Needs in 2016

Our Virginia Center on Aging has four program focuses. These programs are: dementia, elder abuse and domestic violence in later life, geriatrics education, and lifelong learning. Each achieved substantially in calendar 2016

Finding Light in the Darkness: The Role of Humor

The human story of confrontations with darkness can be lightened with the aid of humor and laughter

The Benefits of Physical Activity on Depression

Physical exercise can be an effective counter-measure against depression. Activity need not be strenuous and it may reduce the risk for depression, even among those with a family history or genetic disposition for depression. And depression in itself may not cause a reduction in physical activity. It could be that we will see health care providers increasingly prescribing doses of physical activity for our mental health

The Year in the Rear-View Mirror

The year 2018 is the Virginia Center on Aging\u27s 40th anniversary. Our programs and activities have evolved over time but we have remained true to the charges given us in the Code of Virginia, essentially to conduct interdisciplinary studies, including training practitioners and offering educational opportunities for older adults, conducting research on and advancing knowledge about dementia, and serving as an information resource to those committed to the well-being of older adults. Our current operations feature four program areas: abuse in later life (domestic violence and elder abuse); dementia research; geriatrics and gerontology education; and lifelong learning

Interprofessional Geriatrics: Improving the Health of Older Adults

We have received a five-year award (2019-2024) from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to grow our Virginia Geriatric Education Center (VGEC) project, which aims to improve health outcomes across Virginia for older adults by developing a healthcare workforce that maximizes patient and family engagement, integrating geriatrics and primary care, and demonstrating measurable impact

Blue Zones and Longevity

We can embrace the generalizable characteristics of Blue Zones: a plant-based diet, friendships, spiritual or religious grounding, awareness of and immersion in our community, physical activity as a regular, normalized part of our daily routine, and, more philosophically, an opening up to our own sense of place and purpose

Lewy Body Dementia

While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common and widely known cause of dementia, it is not the only cause. Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), in fact, may be the second most common cause of progressive dementia but it is certainly less well known

Oral Health and Aging

The sooner we recognize the importance of oral health to our well-being as older adults, the better we age. We need to consider our dentist as part of our health care team. For those of us in health professions, we should work together more to incorporate oral health into primary care

Dementia-Friendly Resources

While dementia caregiving challenges continue for individual caregivers and communities, Alzpossible.org and Dementia Friendly America (dfamerica.org) can offer immediate support and a hopeful vision