INSTITUTE ON AGING

Enhancing the Aging Process throughout the Human Lifespan

Regina B. CarlsonDirector of Development

July 10, 2009

UVa is a comprehensive, robust, collaborative community

- Enables Translational and Interdisciplinary Research

Medicine

Comprehensive Medical Center

Top-ranked Business School&

Batten Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership

School of Nursing College of Arts & Sciences

Engineering School – 10 Depts, 1st Business minor in U.S.

School of ArchitectureEcoMOD for Sr. Living

#1-ranked Commerce School

Top-ranked School of Law

UVa Research Park562 acres – 3M sq. ft.

Bridging Disciplines at UVaIoA brings together the Schools and Faculty to promote integrated and interdisciplinary research, education and public service in the field of aging

•Reports to the Vice President for Research, serves entire university

•Encourages holistic, multi-dimensional approaches to meet complex problems and issues of 21st century

•Draws on faculty from the basic, applied and medical sciences as well as law, business and policy

Aging Studies Across GroundsNearly 300 faculty representing every school of the

University engaged in related research and teaching

Major collaborations and working groups in critical topics including:

•Senior driving safety and mobility (Medicine, SEAS, Architecture, A&S)•Fall prevention and detection (Medicine, A&S, SEAS) •Cognitive aging (A&S, Law, Medicine, Nursing, SEAS)•Exercise for healthy body and brain Aging (Education, Medicine, Nursing, SEAS, A&S)•Age-related neurodegenerative diseases (Medicine, A&S, Law, Nursing, SEAS)•Assistive technologies for independent living (SEAS, A&S, Medicine, Nursing, Architecture)•Law and policy (Law, Medicine, A&S)

IoA Mission

To meet the health, social, economic, political and cultural challenges posed by both the dramatic growth and increased longevity in the aging population - by 2025, global and national population 65+ will double– by 2015, population 85+ will increase 40%,

69% will require long-term care– Geriatric syndromes such as falls, cognitive impairment,

dementia are increasing – Psychological issues: depression, anxiety, drug abuse– Economic issues: sufficient funds for retirement, social

security, health care costs

Meeting Opportunities and Challenges

Emergent industries in aging services– Caregiving - long-term care facilities or home providers– Technologies to promote independent living– Brain and body health

Workforce –critical shortages in health care, social services; need growing in other fields such as finance, policy, law, housing and community design

Vulnerable populations – programs to ensure health and safety for those who are frail and impoverished

Approaches• World leader in lifespan development

researchand education• Views aging as a general process that begins at birth • Concept of plasticity - shows positive growth and

negative decline can occur at any stage of life• Potential to understand and improve environmental

effects, predict outcomes, enhance treatment

• We can take proactive steps to promote healthy and successful aging– Emphasis on prevention, delay or mitigation of

acute and chronic illness– Health based on related factors –body, brain,

social, psychological, financial and community

John Nesselroade

Director

ActivitiesKnowledge Generation• Seed grants for pilot and

community research• Sponsored research grants• Visiting scholars• Working groups

Knowledge Dissemination• Instruction for both graduate and undergraduate

students• Public Education

– Lectures • Aging 101 • Distinguished Speakers

• Consultation (policy, industry)• Conferences

SPECIAL INITIATIVES•Translational research consortium•Community Partnerships•Continuing education for long-term care workforce•Leadership training for Students

The Translational Research Consortium

Develop and test solutions in living

laboratory

UVA IoA Faculty

Partners

Jointly identify problems

Joint

R&D

Vision

Benefits• Comprehensive, advanced solutions using the full power of

all disciplines• Partnering with industry from related sectors (e.g., IT, long-

term care)• Feedback loop to research, informing next generation of

topics• A “Living Laboratory” to test technologies and services• “Contextual learning” approach for researchers and partners

Aging Assistive Products

and Services

First project: Gait & Motion Analysis

in the Living Environment

Casey Kerrigan, MD, Chair, Physical

Medicine & Rehabilitation

Director, Gait & Motion Analysis Lab

Long-term care facilities serve as the “Living Lab”

Partners

(Wireless infrastructure

systems for data collection, storage,

and analysis)

Assoc. Prof. John Lach Electrical &

Computer Engineering

AFrame Digital, Inc. (lead)

Jonathan Evans, MD Head, Geriatric

Medicine & Palliative Care

UVA Institute on Aging Faculty

Community PartnershipsPlanning and development for intergenerational

communities - Charlottesville region is model for both Commonwealth and Nation

Aging in place strategies through technology, housing, food systems, and transportation

Opportunity to pool resources, such as databases and clients, and personnel – Community-based Research and Student Internships

Current partners include:• Alzheimer’s Association• Jefferson Area Board for Aging• Senior Center• AARP

Continuing Education for Long-term Care Staff

UVa offers training opportunities designed to support caregivers in long-term care:

• bring state-of-the art knowledge in geriatric care• provide for greater acuity levels• help reduce turnover• attract others to the field

Programs• The annual Geriatric Caregiver Conference• Workshops at local facilities• Web-based learning

Leadership Training for Undergraduates

New program that seeks to train undergraduates to become future leaders in aging research, policy, and services. Will be distinguished by:

•Integrative curriculum – topics and faculty will be brought together in capstone seminar for interdisciplinary perspective

•Lifespan development approach

•International training opportunities

•Research- and service-based partners for real-world learning experiences

Opportunities for AIPBRT

Public/Private Partnerships with UVa, coordinated by IoA

Leading edge-research and knowledge related to aging in place - jointly study problems and develop solutions

Training for current and future workforce

Public awareness and outreach

Policy Forums