eNews | Winter 2018
Scripps Gerontology Center researchers Phyllis Cummins, Bob Applebaum, Jane Straker, and Suzanne Kunkel
Helping Ohio chart a course for long-term care


For almost 30 years, Miami University's Scripps Gerontology Center has provided information to state decision makers through the Ohio Long-Term Care Research Project (OLTCRP), and a recent continuation of funding allows the partnership to continue.

"With more than 2.6 million people age 60 and older, Ohio ranks sixth nationally in the size of its aging population," said Suzanne Kunkel, executive director of Scripps Gerontology Center. "While a growing older population is a marker of societal advancement, such increases present pressing challenges for the state, particularly in the provision of long-term services ...



Miami students conducting age-friendly city research study
Kate de Medeiros

First Year Research Experience (FYRE) students are partnering with the Scripps Gerontology Center to complete a needs assessment for Oxford's Age-Friendly City Project.

For nearly ten years Miami's First Year Experience Program has provided students with authentic, hands-on research experiences in small teams led by research-active faculty during a two-semester course sequence. Under the leadership of Dr. Kate de Medeiros, associate professor of gerontology and faculty leader for one of the three FYRE sections, and through the support of Scripps Gerontology Center, the current program hopes to provide information that will enhance the quality of life ...

Resources based on Scripps Gerontology Center research

What Matters Most: A Guide for My Support and Care
The What Matters Most (WMM) project was funded by the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) with the goal of developing a tool for the PASSPORT program, Ohio's over-60 Medicaid home- and community-based (HCBS) waiver program. ODA is committed to delivering person-centered vs. agency-centered care and the WMM tool was developed as a practice tool to promote preference-based person-centered care. In developing What Matters Most, we collaborated with two Area Agencies on Aging (AAA7 in rural Southeastern Ohio and Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging in urban Northeastern Ohio.)

The What Matters Most Guide is a tool for gathering and organizing information to guide the delivery of person-centered care at home. Resources on the web include a downloadable guide and an extensive training video.




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Recorded webinars

Scripps Gerontology Center researchers share a focus on research that aims to positively impact the lives of older adults, their families, and the community. Through webinars, their research is shared with a wider audience of professionals in the field of aging, older adults and their family members, and others interested in aging issues.

These closed-captioned webinars present research findings and information on a variety of aging-related topics such as caregiving, preference-based care, and creative arts programming.

Note that continuing education credits are not available for recorded webinars.



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Recent research reports and briefs
  • Participant Satisfaction and the Impact of Senior Center Services in Lucas County, Ohio
  • A New Group of Medicaid Nursing Home Residents: The Unexpected Trend of those under age 65 Using Nursing Homes in Ohio
  • Ohio Guardianship, Guardians, and the Courts: Findings from a Survey of Adult Guardianship in Ohio
  • Implementation of the 2016 Ohio Nursing Home and Residential Care Facility Family Satisfaction Surveys
  • Policy Does Matter: Continued Progress in Providing Long-Term Services and Supports for Ohio's Older Population
See these and more on our publication page
Tenth year expansion of Opening Minds through Art (OMA)

Miami student and OMA Artist with OMA Director Elizabeth "Like" Lokon
In 2018 OMA is celebrating its 10th anniversary, having provided thousands of people with dementia with art-making opportunities and students with service-learning opportunities. OMA is now offered in over 70 facilities throughout North America with more being launched all the time. OMA's growth is due to its strong facilitator training program. So far, over 350 facilitators have been trained to conduct the program. In addition to Ohio, OMA facilitator training is now also offered in Richmond, VA and St. Louis, MO.

Thanks to the Ohio Department of Medicaid, nursing homes within Ohio can apply for funding to replicate this award-winning, evidence-based program and simultaneously meet the Quality Improvement Project (QIP) requirements mandated by the state.
The next application deadline for this funding is February 28, 2018. (CEUs are available from NCCAP, NCCDP, and BELTSS).


Dr. Bei Wu meeting with a gerontology student group during her visit to Miami University

P.K. Whelpton's legacy inspires tomorrow's experts in demography and aging

By AviElle Raymore, PhD in Social Gerontology Student

With the generosity of the Whelpton family, the P.K. Whelpton Memorial Lecture Series brings a nationally known scholar to Miami University each fall. This lecture, established in 1986, honors the memory of Pascal Whelpton who served from 1953-1963 as one of the early directors of what is now Scripps Gerontology Center. Whelpton's contributions to the field of demography and the research center left a legacy.

This inspirational annual event has evolved from a single lecture into a multi-day visit, giving the lecturer, Dr. Bei Wu from New York University (NYU) an opportunity to interact with faculty and students in a variety of settings. An internationally-known leader in gerontology, Dr. Wu is...

Unleash your entrepreneurial potential

Miami University's Social Entrepreneurship
& Aging Online Graduate Certificate

Designed for entrepreneurs and professionals in the field of aging, our four-course program mentors entrepreneurially-minded innovators for success in the longevity market created by today's aging world. 

This one-year certificate program is an innovative partnership between the Farmer School of Business, Scripps Gerontology Center, and the Department of Sociology and Gerontology.  

Learn more and apply

The Gerontology Alumni Advisory Group is planning two alumni gatherings in March. 

On March 2nd, during the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education meetings in Atlanta, we will have an informal dinner gathering at Truva Turkish Kitchen, 60 Andrew Young International Boulevard NE. 

On March 27th, during the Aging in America (ASA) Conference in San Francisco, we will meet for happy hour (5:00 - 6:30 pm) at Johnny Foley's Irish House, 243 O'Farrell Street.

Please contact Pam Mayberry mayberps@miamioh.edu or 513-529-8740 if you are planning to attend either of these events or would like more information.
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