http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news.html CAC has awarded Certificate Student and Scholarship winner Josh Lang $1,800 to study a program seeking to improve the quality of life for elders in the "Amani Neighborhood," near 25th St. and Locust St. In October, the team met with residents of the Amani Neighborhood, their Alderman, a representative from the police department, the Director of the Milwaukee County Department on Aging and local stakeholders. Lang will contribute to the project by spearheading a systematic and scientific investigation of whether the established deficiencies in the neighborhood were addressed, using a pre-test/post-test design. The project will run from July 2008 through December 2009. Lang's work builds on previous neighborhood improvement projects, such as those in the Layton Blvd., Sherman Park, and the Prospect/Farwell areas. Teaming up with Rob Frediani of TherapyPlus, Sue Kelley of Connecting Caring Communities (CCC), and Carrie Henning-Smith of the UW-Madison Population Health Institute, they will ask neighborhood residents to participate in focus groups to reveal what they perceive as areas of need in their neighborhood. This will be followed by attempts to address those needs with existing resources. "My hope is to assess whether the intervention produces positive outcomes on older adults' sense of community, sense of safety and how well the residents' specific community concerns were addressed," Lang said. "As a doctoral student in Urban Studies with an emphasis on aging in the community, this project provided me the opportunity to work with a community organization that is actively promoting aging in community." http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/cac-supports-josh-lang-in-a-1.html Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:22:44 GMT CAC Director Anne Davis Basting has been chosen for Lutheran Home/Luther Daily Services Altenheim Award. The Altenheim Award is given annually to one outstanding individual who shows a commitment to Milwaukee Aging Community. Anne has been chosen because of her extensive commitments and contributions to our community. For the past decade, Basting has worked on innovative programs that help people with dementia in a personal way. Through person-centered programs she has developed, such as the popular TimeSlips, and by enhancing national programs, such as StoryCorps, to help those with dementia, Anne has made a significant impact on the lives of many older people. Founded in 1906, The Altenheim (Home for the Aged) served the needs of retiring pastors and teachers of the predominately Germanic Lutheran community in Milwaukee. Today, that rich heritage of compassionate service to older adults lives on at Lutheran Home. Because their mission extends outside their own walls, Lutheran Home developed the Altenheim Award in 1998. The purpose of the Altenheim Award is to recognize an individual who epitomizes compassionate service to the older adults in unique and special ways. "Anne's many accomplishments educating and serving the needs of older adults make her a perfect choice for this award," says Bob Peters, CEO Lutheran Living Services. "Anne leads and inspires the CAC's mission of improving and enhancing the lives of adults as they age. Lutheran Home is very proud to name Anne as our 2008 Altenheim winner." The Altenheim Award will be presented to Anne at the Monarch Ball, at the Pfister Hotel on Oct. 18. Congratulations Anne! http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/anne-basting-receives-altenheim.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:09:52 GMT Beginning November 2008, the TimeSlips national office teams up the Milwaukee Boys and Girls Club students of St. John Antida on a pilot project to facilitate storytelling with fellow students, healthy older adults, and older adults with memory loss. In March 2009, the St. Joan Antida students will present the stories they gathered at Milwaukee’s historic Central Library. The March celebration aims to raise awareness of the power of story to express who we are and to strengthen family and community bonds. TimeSlips stories capture the hopes, dreams, regrets, fears, humor, and desires of the storytellers. The method is particularly powerful for people with memory loss by nurturing creative communication and helping them connect with staff, family, and friends. The hope for this project is to help students better understand memory loss, engage in a meaningful service-learning project while also educating the community about memory loss, and how TimeSlips—and storytelling—offers a bridge between generations and abilities. Additionally, TimeSlips aims to offer an ongoing storytelling meeting in the libraries as a way to support families caring for loved ones with memory loss at home. TimeSlips was developed in 1998 by Anne Basting (PhD); groups across the world now use TimeSlips to generate stories, produce plays and art exhibits, and to rekindle hope for human connection among people struggling with dementia. To learn more about the program, become a trained facilitator or see the stories for yourself, visit www.timeslips.org. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/new-storytelling-project-teams-the-young.html Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:37:51 GMT On Saturday, September 27, 2008, more than 100 people from southeastern Wisconsin, ages 14 to 98, came together for a summit on race and race relations in our area, in hopes of generating solutions to some of our most vexing challenges involving race. Organized by Denise Wooten of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, the event was designed to explore the causes and effects of racism, and generate possible ways to decrease the conditions that promote it. "The event was especially unique in that ideas and solutions were solicited from five living generations in our society, with members of the African-American, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Native-American communities represented in each age-group," CAC Associate Director Tom Fritsch said. "Through intergenerational cross-talk, a unique forum was created, where people could hear and build on ideas from the different age cohorts. The contributions from seniors - especially the very old - was captivating!" Racial differences and ethnic diversity are a part of the fabric of American life. These differences enhance our greater culture, adding richness to life through the unique social, political, artistic, philosophical, and historical perspectives that different ethnic groups bring. The dialogue tried to identify reasons for why many minority groups don't have equal access to some of our most fundamental resources. Results from the dialogue will be presented in a summary statement, and an action plan will emerge from the dialogue. It is hoped that all of the dialogue participants will continue their work to see that recommendations generated through the dialogue process will be implemented. Organizations collaborating on the initiative included: Agape Community Center, Council for the Spanish Speaking, Indian Council of the Elderly, Milwaukee Intergenerational Intercultural Community Connection, Milwaukee Public Theatre, Shee Yee Community of Milwaukee, St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee. The Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee was the coordinating agency. The Center on Age & Community was also a proud co-sponsor. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/race.html Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:15:28 GMT With generous support from the Helen Bader Foundation, Tom Fritsch and co-researchers Martha Aslakson (Nursing) and Steve Bernfeld (Counseling Psychology) have begun their study of early memory loss (EML) clubs. Four clubs are participating in the study: two in Wauwatosa (Lutheran Home and Luther Manor); one in Waukeshaw (Lutheran Living Services); and another in Fairfield, CA (The Fairfield Senior Center). Last year, the clubs’ facilitators developed a one-year curriculum to stimulate and exercise the minds of club participants. Social and physical activities were also incorporated into the program. Tom and his team are following participants over the course of one year to see if participation in various components of the program is correlated with changes in their cognition. Said Fritsch, “The underlying idea—based on findings from epidemiological studies—is that we can slow rates of cognitive decline by building up peoples’ cognitive reserve. This reserve could fortify the brain against some of the changes that come with normal aging and diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.� http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/-early-memory-loss-program-study.html Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:32:42 GMT When it comes to dementia, today's world mostly relies on science to give us hope for cure or prevention. But as we wait for either or both, hope can be found now, in transforming the way we care for people with dementia. The ArtCare Program gives us that hope. This 60-page book tells the story of a program designed to bring growth and meaning to the lives of the people who attend and work at an adult day center. Started in 1994 at Milwaukee's Luther Manor Adult Day Services, ArtCare has brought joy to center staff, families, and participants by teaching them all the pleasure of self expression and mastery in skills in sculpture, dance, storytelling, fabric art, ceramics and gardening. Through Q&A with Luther Manor, the book describes Person-Centered Care (PCC), the evolution and philosophies of ArtCare and how it can be applied to daily life. There are many books and resources available that give lists of activities for people with dementia. The ArtCare program does not give ideas for keeping busy, but rather for building community and meaning in the lives of people with dementia through creative expression. This book is for people who work in long term care facilities, people with dementia, families of people with dementia, students looking toward careers in gerontology and teaching artists. ArtCare was written by Anne Basting, PhD, and published by the Center on Age and Community. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/artcare-manual-now.html Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:57:07 GMT CAC's Dr. Fritsch discusses how physical and cognitive fitness can fight Alzheimer's on Madison's WISC TV. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/tom-frischt-on-madisons.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:25:10 GMT Anne has been chosen because of her extensive commitments and contributions to our community. For the past decade, Basting has worked on innovative programs that help people with dementia in a personal way. Through person-centered programs she has developed, such as the popular TimeSlips, and by enhancing national programs, such as StoryCorps, to help those with dementia, Anne has made a significant impact on the lives of many older people. Founded in 1906, The Altenheim (“Home for the Aged�) served the needs of retiring pastors and teachers of the predominately Germanic Lutheran community in Milwaukee. Today, that rich heritage of compassionate service to older adults lives on at Lutheran Home. Because their mission extends outside their own walls, Lutheran Home developed the Altenheim Award in 1998. The purpose of the Altenheim Award is to recognize an individual who epitomizes compassionate service to the older adults in unique and special ways. "Anne's many accomplishments educating and serving the needs of older adults make her a perfect choice for this award," says Bob Peters, CEO Lutheran Living Services. "Anne leads and inspires the CAC's mission of improving and enhancing the lives of adults as they age. Lutheran Home is very proud to name Anne as our 2008 Altenheim winner." The Altenheim Award will be presented to Anne at the Monarch Ball, at the Pfister Hotel on Oct. 18. Congratulations Anne! http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/cac-director-anne-basting-receives-2008.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:28:51 GMT Jacqmin is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists, the co-founder of the Yale Playwrights Festival, and is the winner of the 2008 Wasserstein Prize (a $25,000 award for emerging female playwrights given by the Dramatists Guild and the Educational Foundation of America). Her plays have been produced and developed by Victory Gardens Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Culture Project, Perishable Theatre, Collaboraction, The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic/New Voices at the Atlantic Theater, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and the inaugural NNPN/University Playwrights Workshop at the National Center for New Plays at Stanford University, among others. Her play HAPPYSLAP was a winner of Aurora Theatre Company’s 2007 Global Age Project and was produced by the Ohio University School of Theater in their 2006-2007 season. She is the recipient of a 2006 Ohio University SEA research and development grant for 10 VIRGINS, which will receive its world premiere in Chicago Dramatists’ 2007-2008 season. She is currently working on a commission for Victory Gardens Theater, made possible by the Wallace Foundation. She earned an MFA in playwriting from Ohio University and a BA from Yale. The CAC Residency in Applied Arts is designed to provide an intensive learning experience for artists interested in exploring the topic of aging and memory loss, supported by grants from the Helen Bader Foundation and the Brookdale Foundation. Artists receive a $20,000 stipend for three months. The residency also provides housing, travel funds, and up to $7,000 in supplies. CAC’s first Artist in Residence was nationally recognized documentary photographer Wing Young Huie. The current Artist in Residence is artist and musician David Greenberger, who is collaborating with musician Paul Cebar to transform interviews with people with memory loss into music. Greenberger and Cebar will share the progress of their work at the October 28th Milwaukee Aging Consortium’s Networking Fair. The selection panel for the 2009 Residency in Applied Arts included Wing Young Huie (photographer), Lisa Dorin (Art Institute of Chicago), and Amy Horst (John Michael Kohler Art Center). http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/cac-announces-the-2009-residency-in.html Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:47:31 GMT More Americans are living longer than at any other time in history. Aging is a dynamic field of study where demographic and generational shifts are cracking open all disciplines and demanding innovations in how we care for older adults. We gathered at the Zelazo Center to celebrate 10 students who have chosen to focus on aging and who will, through their practice and research, contribute to those innovative efforts. The Center on Age & Community (CAC) is proud to be a part of educating the upcoming workforce to improve the quality of life of older adults. Graduate students pictured: Lisa Simolon, Samantha Klinger, Kathy Wolfgram, Jessie Weathersby, Joshua Lang and Jessica Linberts. (Missing from picture: Stephanie Bruce, Miho Fuji, and Susan Ringle). Read [more](http://cac.obiki.org/education/graduate_programs.html) about the Certificate in Applied Gerontology. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/cachonorsappliedgeronotologycertificategraduatestudentsatgradluncheonmay15.html Wed, 21 May 2008 15:00:16 GMT The Center on Age & Community (CAC), in partnership with the Helen Bader Foundation, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008-09 scholarships for UWM graduate students in the Applied Gerontology Certificate Program. Thanks to the generous support of the Helen Bader Foundation, an unprecedented $80,000 in scholarships were awarded This year's recipients are Steve Bernfeld, James H. Brown, Stephanie R. Bruce, Stacy K. Ehler, Gretchen Fairweather, Jennifer R. Fiscal, Elizabeth Grimm, Myounghee Jorn, Joshua Lang, Mark A. Proffitt, Chia-Jung Shih and Maggie Wallendal. These twelve students come from diverse backgrounds but have all demonstrated their commitment to the study of Gerontology through research, community service and extracurricular activities aimed to better the lives of older adults. The Scholarship Program is part of CAC's mission of linking University expertise to community innovation in aging services. Since the Center on Age & Community was first established in 2001, one of the primary goals has been to remove the barriers that prevent students from studying Gerontology. In today's world with so many older adults on the horizon, the study of Gerontology is needed more than ever before. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/congratulationstohelenbaderscholarshipwinners-1.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:10:20 GMT Listen to the power of songwriting with older adults. On WUWM 89.7, the Lake Effect program featured Songwriting Works!, the interactive songwriting workshop that uses the power of performance to foster healing and personal growth for older adults. Hear the transformative power of songwriting, from Founder [Judith-Kate Friedman's](http://www.songwritingworks.org/) performance recorded at Luther Manor, in Wauwatosa on April 16, 2008. Visit the [WUWM website](http://www.wuwm.com/) to hear a podcast of the event. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/tuneintowuwm897.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:33:37 GMT The CAC would like to congratulate the following individuals, who were recently awarded Helen Bader Scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year: Steve Bernfeld James H. Brown Stephanie R. Bruce Stacy K. Ehlers Gretchen Fairweather Jennifer R. Fiscal Elizabeth Grimm Myounghee Jorn Joshua Lang Mark A. Proffitt Chia-Jung Shih Maggie Wallendal http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/congratulationstohelenbaderscholarshipwinners.html Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:39:52 GMT Applications are on the Education page. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/scholarshipdeadlineapproaching.html Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:25:32 GMT Fritsch will discuss the latest research in memory, reducing the risk of memory loss, maintaining brain function, the role of computers as a training tool, and new ways to look at dementia. Generations on Line includes special guest Tobey Dichter, president of the nonprofit Philadelphia company that developed this computer program for getting seniors on-line in congregate settings. Also presenting are key individuals from the Milwaukee pilot program testing Generations on Line in 29 low-income housing communities: Robert Frediani, Institute for Collaborative Health Interventions (ICHI)/Therapy Plus, and Mike Soika, YMCA CDC. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/cacstomfritschtopresentatmacmembershipmeeting.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:26:18 GMT A Workshop with SWW founder, Judith-Kate Friedman. Come share in the creation of song in a group setting. The workshop is ideal for anyone interested in using songwriting to build community, particularly with older adults, or those with disabilities. No musical experience necessary. SWW is the winner of multiple awards. It models person-centered care principles and celebrates the creativity and gifts of every human being. 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Registration 9:00 - 2:00 p.m. Workshop Registration Fee: $60 (includes lunch and Manual) [Registration](https://www4.uwm.edu/ageandcommunity/songwriting_workshop/) now available. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/registrationavailableforswwworkshop.html Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:59:34 GMT The Center on Age & Community sent a strong contingency of staff, scholars, and graduate students to San Francisco, CA for the Gerontological Society of America's 60th Annual Conference in November. In addition to the papers, poster presentations, and symposiums showcasing a range of interesting research projects, the center's display booth attracted people from all over the country interested in our list of creative products, the upcoming Post Doctoral Fellowship opportunity, and the cool freebees! The following people participated in conference activities by presenting papers, posters, or taking part in symposiums on their projects: Anne Basting, CAC Director, Poster session on the impact of a service learning program with TimeSlips at UWM and at Lehigh University; Symposium with Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Dolores Gallagher-Thompson called "From the Lab to the Livingroom: Challenges in Translating Research on Memory-Loss." Thomas Fritsch, CAC Associate Director, Poster presentation entitled, "Prevalence and cognitive bases of subjective memory complaints in older adults: Evidence from a community sample." Jung Kwak, CAC Post Doctoral Fellow, Presented three posters and participated in a symposium: "Ethnic Differences in End-of-Life Care Planning and Preferences for Hospice"; "Neoliberalism and the Future of Retirement Security in the United States"; "Behavioral health problems and service costs for White, Black and Hispanic Medicaid beneficiaries before and after admission to nursing homes"; and "The Relationship between Filial Identity and Caregiver Burden among Adult-Child Caregivers." Joshua Lang, Office of Applied Gerontology, Presented poster entitled "The Impact of Creative Activities on Elder Engagement" Rhonda Montgomery, Office of Applied Gerontology, presented four papers: "The Development of a Caregiver Assessment Tool: Translating Research into Practice"; "Measuring Caregiver Identity and its Association with Caregiver Burden"; "The Impact of Creative Activities on Elder Engagement"; "The Impact of Social Embarrassment on Caregiving Distress in a Multi-Cultural Sample of Caregivers"; and "Beyond Eligibility: Caregiver Assessment as a Sustaining Device." Sarah Morgan, College of Nursing, Poster presentation entitled, Using Principles of Diffusion of Innovation to Improve Nursing Home Care (co-authored with Christine Kovach, PhD, RN, FAAN and Michael Brondino, PhD). Jeannine Rowe, Office of Applied Gerontology, Participant/Co-author of Symposium Session: The Relationship between Filial Identity and Caregiver Burden among Adult-Child Caregivers; Poster Session: The Impact of Creative Activities on Elder Engagement. Marie Savundranayagam, Social Work, Colloquium: What makes a stressor burdensome? Explaining the variability of burden in spouse caregivers. She also chaired a session on "Aging and Mental Health." http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/strongcontingencygoestogsa.html Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:06:02 GMT Click on the link below to visit our post doc page and access the application. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/2008-2010postdoctoralfellowshipapplicationsnowavailable.html Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:31:50 GMT CAC has hosted post-doc fellows in aging and the environment; nursing; and social work. We are thrilled to be able to continue offering these in-depth, interdisciplinary experiences for emerging scholars in gerontology, and to bring some of the countries best hearts and minds to Milwaukee. In addition to the Post-doc fellowship program, the Helen Bader Foundation funding will provide support for our Next Step Think Tank series each spring, and support the development of innovative products for the field of aging. Products in development include: a manual for the ArtCare program; a discussion guide for a lovely short film entitled Koyoko, Naturally; and an edgy graphic t-shirt design. http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/cacreceivesfundingforpost-docs.html Sat, 27 Oct 2007 20:04:48 GMT In partnership with Luther Manor, Lutheran Home, and Lutheran Family Services, Tom Fritsch will consult on the creation of a common curriculum and evaluate the program itself. This will be among the first in-depth evaluations of such programs in the country. Congrats to the team! http://www.ageandcommunity.org/news/earlymemorylossstudyfunded.html Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:57:28 GMT