the Hill 2004 - Hoover Library - McDaniel College

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A graduate certificate program in gerontologywill
be oHered hythe College
to individuals with III bachelor's degree
who want to pursue a core of work in the
field of aging.
McDaniel,which recently secured
Maryland Higher Education Commission
(MHEC) approval to oHer the certificate
program. has already made an initial
commitment to the study of aging by
an interdisciplinary undergraduate
establishing
minor in gerontology. Students
in a variety of majors can add this minor
to their program of study in order to better
prepare them to work with older adults.
Ultimately. the College plans to oHera
master's degree in this field as well.
UMcDaniel College has an opportunity
to build on its reputation asa leader in
communityservice,D says Psychology
ProfessorSherri Lind Hughes, who chairs
the committee that recommended the
gerontology program. ~Dur progrems with
Target Community and Education Services,
Inc., local social service agencies and
the public schools have demonstrated
our commitment to a strong and vibrant
community and model our capability to
oHerourfaculty,studentsandlacilities
inservicetothecommunity.~
The demographics of both tha mid·Atlantic
region and the nation as a whole reflect
rapid growth in the number of older adults:
by 2050, one in five U. S. citizens is
expected to be over 65. Maryland ranks
15th in the nation in that demographic shih
with local counties expecting average
growlh of 150 percent in the near future.
Hughes says.
demographic "The shih is likely to have
substantial social and cultural impact and
will demand a more thorough understanding
of the social,biological,and psychological
dimensions of aging throughout the workforce
and in our communities. H
says.
'This cohort of older adults is likely to
'"
stretch resources that are already under
significant strain from lalling market
values and reduced federal. state, and
local budgets.~
Because the committee found that most
centers and academic programs on aging
have a strong research focus while few
emphasizeserviceandintergenerational
programming. McDaniel's program will
balance research,theory and practice and
will integrate service learning throughout.
Students will have the opportunity to
connect their classroom learning with
real-world experience, reinforcing their
own learning and serving the community
at the same time.
Eventually. the College envisions a Center
on Aging that would bring students.
professionals.faculty,and
the elderly
together in meaningful ways through the
study of gerontology at the graduate and
undergraduate levels. intergenerationa!
programs and activities, and service
learning opportunities that meet the needs
of the regional professional community.
~Thecampusspirilofcollaborationand
service, as well asour close ties with
Episcopal
MinistriestotheAging,Catroli
Lutheran Village. and the Catroll County
Bureau ofAging,lostered the dreams lor
the McDaniel Collega Center on Aging. H
says Hughes, adding that the plans were
developed bya committee of community
leaders, established professionals and
interested faculty.
do it.' But of COurse he wouldn't, ifhe doesn'r
understand IVh~t's being asked of him."
There are In~lly ways to modify activities
to allow patients to continue doing things
for themselves. "If patients can't usc Forks,
they get finger foods. If they can't chew,
they ~ave pudding. If they only have an
appenre for sweets, then let them eat cake,"
Bake.r s~ys. "'-\forking with people in that
way IS the hallmark of what we do here."
Every member of the staff-c-from clinicians
housekeepers-participates in carrying
The committee surveyed students and to
employers to identify the program features Out the goals of the rheropeutic Daily Life
that would meet unique needs within the PbIl. Director of Activities Steve Vozzella '9 I
community. Research indicated that most focuses on
emp!ovees would need both a particular in
area of expertise and familiarity with ."One thing I've le'lrned about Alzheimer's
issues associated with aging. Professionals Disease is that the word 'moments' is key.
:o~~:!ni~e~:~;:::;i~~i:!~~~~::~ work That's what we're shooting for, to find those
supplementing their current expertise ~:o~:~;rs when we can have a good rime,"
with courses and programs on aging. Go d .
Baker explains. "But ,I caregiver has to
understand that they need to rake the time
to let that happen if they're going to honor
what's left."
Learnings gleaned from the Institute's
research guide the stnff's approach with restdents
to minimize the kind of "catastrophic"
reactions described by Dr. Peter Rabins, a
professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins
and key faculty member ar the Institute, in
his seminal book about caring for people
with dementia, Tbe 36-1-10111' Dny.
Patient;; lash out-sometimes striking
cursing their carcgiver -ebccause their
or
environment is too noisy or because they
don't understand what's happening to them
and thntcauses them to be confused and
scared. If a residcnt doesn't comprehend
that he's about to have a beth, he might
think he's being attacked when somebody
rakes a washcloth and wipes him with it.
All tasks must be broken into small steps
and explained in siIllple language.
"Don't say 'Go sit in thnr chair.' Always
approach p'ltienrs from the front, make eye
contact, touch them to reassure them and
:~~de them," Baker says. "An untrained per-
"We l~1V;I~l~:s~~~lnl;l~~: ~~~:;~~tv~:~~, so
nl~~~I~t;s~usekee~ing staff iS cleaning they
ask her ro assist," says Vozzella, a social work
I
sparked by an internship at a h~me for the af:,";ng in \Ves~ll:~:~:~.St III geronto ogy was
Residents ~by ~n nearby Fal: /-laven's three-hole golf COurse, take organized day trips
and hal'e theIr ha.'f don~ at tlle Ill-house salon. They plant flowers in table-to rdens ~nd
attend the \\:orshIP. serv~ccs offered ~or every faIth. In the comprehensive care\l~t where
60 mOf.e scnou~ly lmpalre~1 peopl: !lVe, Vozzella connects with them llsing hand n~assage or
~rell1iIl1sces" wIth them 1.lSlIlgfmnrllar SCents, such as coffee grounds and cinn~mon.
"Steve was so good with my mom, so SUPPOrtl\'e," Says Scott. "He wentoutofhis way to
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