Area agencies on aging face a brave new world as their mission endures to provide local, responsi... more Area agencies on aging face a brave new world as their mission endures to provide local, responsive, and coordinated services in the community for elders.ore than 600 area agencies on aging (AAA) provide locally responsive, coordinated services for older adults living in every commu- nity in the United States. These organizations are working in a very different world from the one that existed when the Older Americans Act (OAA) was enacted in 1965. The original OAA legislation and subsequent amendments estab- lished a local-to-federal infrastructure (includ- ing AAAs) to plan and coordinate services to enhance the ability of older adults to live inde- pendent and healthy lives in their communities for as long as possible.The OAA continues to provide the shared mission and organizational foundation of the aging services network. The services provided under the auspices of the Act remain essential for targeted groups of older adults. However, the resources available directly through th...
providers (N=9) and payers/providers (N=5) in the greater Philadelphia area when engaging with ac... more providers (N=9) and payers/providers (N=5) in the greater Philadelphia area when engaging with academic investigators. We conducted three focus groups. Participants were mostly female (64%), white (64%) and were at their organization between 1-10 years (79%).Conventional content analysis revealed that successful research partnerships were facilitated by: 1) trusted investigators and academic institutions and 2) demonstrated collaborative qualities of investigators (e.g., good communication; provides staff education). Negative experiences engaging with academic-led research were related to: 1) research leaving the community (e.g., results never being shared) and 2) organizational limitations (e.g., lack of internal resources to complete projects). These findings will inform the development of stakeholderacademic partnerships from 2020 onward to design useinspired aging research initiatives.
Area Agencies on Aging are increasingly partnering with health care organizations to address the ... more Area Agencies on Aging are increasingly partnering with health care organizations to address the health-related social needs of older adults and contribute to multisector coalitions that promote community health. Using survey data for the period 2008-13, we examined the potential health impacts of establishing such partnerships. Partnerships with hospitals located in an agency's service county were associated with a reduction of $136 in average annual Medicare spending per beneficiary, while partnerships with mental health organizations in an agency's service county saw potentially avoidable nursing home use fall by 0.5Â percentage points. When agencies were funded participants in livable community initiatives-multisector coalitions to promote the well-being and health of older adults-potentially avoidable nursing home use fell by nearly 1Â percentage point. Our results suggest that investments in health and human services partnerships through Area Agencies on Aging can yield health returns among older adults, in the form of reduced health care use and spending.
released in October 2013. The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views ... more released in October 2013. The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the
The age structure of the U.S. labor force has changed dramatically in recent decades, largely due... more The age structure of the U.S. labor force has changed dramatically in recent decades, largely due to the aging of the baby boomer cohort. This shift has increased the importance of gaining a better understanding of how adult education and training influences labor market outcomes for middle-aged and older workers.
PART I. UNDERSTANDING AGING: FRAMES OF REFERENCE 1. Aging and Society 2. Studying Aging 3. Aging ... more PART I. UNDERSTANDING AGING: FRAMES OF REFERENCE 1. Aging and Society 2. Studying Aging 3. Aging People in an Aging World PART II. DIMENSIONS OF AGING 4. Physiology of Human Aging 5. Psychological Perspectives on Aging 6. Sociological Perspectives on Aging PART III. SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND AGING 7. Aging in Families 8. Employment and Retirement 9. Economics and the Aging of Society 10. Health and Health Care 11. Politics, Government, and the Welfare State PART IV. THE FUTURE 12. Conclusion
Providing young adults opportunities to teach older adults mobile technology may have positive im... more Providing young adults opportunities to teach older adults mobile technology may have positive impact on their attitudes towards aging and health awareness. In this presentation, the experience of 140 IMTOP college student in Taiwan who served as IMTOP volunteers for 8 weeks was analyzed qualitatively using thematic coding by 2 researchers. The volunteers received preparatory training to learn about the concepts of aging and motivational interviewing. They then provided 16-hour services to teach older adults mobile technology skills related to learning about the CDSMP and the IMTOP app. From their self-reflections, young volunteers reported that the most important things they learned from this experiences were effective communication skills with older adults and health knowledge. The intergenerational interaction broke down their stereotypes about older adults and developed their empathy and patience with better understanding of difficulties and challenges older adults encounter when using technology products. Their health awareness was also enhanced.
Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and services are strongly linked to social determinants of hea... more Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and services are strongly linked to social determinants of health (SDOH) and integral to addressing social needs among older adults and individuals with disabilities and their families. Supported by the Administration for Community Living, researchers examined the intersection of OAA-funded programs and services under Titles III, VI, and VII and their impacts on SDOH. This study used an integration of extant literature; secondary data; and interviews with ACL office leadership, AAAs, Title VI program staff, and other local service providers to examine existing social needs among older adults, equity prioritization within OAA-funded program development, and impacts of OAA-funded programs and services. Study findings highlighted relationships between ACL and Aging Network entities, best practices for and process challenges of transforming grant funding into recipient services, and OAA-funded program areas for possible future development.
Area agencies on aging face a brave new world as their mission endures to provide local, responsi... more Area agencies on aging face a brave new world as their mission endures to provide local, responsive, and coordinated services in the community for elders.ore than 600 area agencies on aging (AAA) provide locally responsive, coordinated services for older adults living in every commu- nity in the United States. These organizations are working in a very different world from the one that existed when the Older Americans Act (OAA) was enacted in 1965. The original OAA legislation and subsequent amendments estab- lished a local-to-federal infrastructure (includ- ing AAAs) to plan and coordinate services to enhance the ability of older adults to live inde- pendent and healthy lives in their communities for as long as possible.The OAA continues to provide the shared mission and organizational foundation of the aging services network. The services provided under the auspices of the Act remain essential for targeted groups of older adults. However, the resources available directly through th...
providers (N=9) and payers/providers (N=5) in the greater Philadelphia area when engaging with ac... more providers (N=9) and payers/providers (N=5) in the greater Philadelphia area when engaging with academic investigators. We conducted three focus groups. Participants were mostly female (64%), white (64%) and were at their organization between 1-10 years (79%).Conventional content analysis revealed that successful research partnerships were facilitated by: 1) trusted investigators and academic institutions and 2) demonstrated collaborative qualities of investigators (e.g., good communication; provides staff education). Negative experiences engaging with academic-led research were related to: 1) research leaving the community (e.g., results never being shared) and 2) organizational limitations (e.g., lack of internal resources to complete projects). These findings will inform the development of stakeholderacademic partnerships from 2020 onward to design useinspired aging research initiatives.
Area Agencies on Aging are increasingly partnering with health care organizations to address the ... more Area Agencies on Aging are increasingly partnering with health care organizations to address the health-related social needs of older adults and contribute to multisector coalitions that promote community health. Using survey data for the period 2008-13, we examined the potential health impacts of establishing such partnerships. Partnerships with hospitals located in an agency's service county were associated with a reduction of $136 in average annual Medicare spending per beneficiary, while partnerships with mental health organizations in an agency's service county saw potentially avoidable nursing home use fall by 0.5Â percentage points. When agencies were funded participants in livable community initiatives-multisector coalitions to promote the well-being and health of older adults-potentially avoidable nursing home use fell by nearly 1Â percentage point. Our results suggest that investments in health and human services partnerships through Area Agencies on Aging can yield health returns among older adults, in the form of reduced health care use and spending.
released in October 2013. The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views ... more released in October 2013. The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the
The age structure of the U.S. labor force has changed dramatically in recent decades, largely due... more The age structure of the U.S. labor force has changed dramatically in recent decades, largely due to the aging of the baby boomer cohort. This shift has increased the importance of gaining a better understanding of how adult education and training influences labor market outcomes for middle-aged and older workers.
PART I. UNDERSTANDING AGING: FRAMES OF REFERENCE 1. Aging and Society 2. Studying Aging 3. Aging ... more PART I. UNDERSTANDING AGING: FRAMES OF REFERENCE 1. Aging and Society 2. Studying Aging 3. Aging People in an Aging World PART II. DIMENSIONS OF AGING 4. Physiology of Human Aging 5. Psychological Perspectives on Aging 6. Sociological Perspectives on Aging PART III. SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND AGING 7. Aging in Families 8. Employment and Retirement 9. Economics and the Aging of Society 10. Health and Health Care 11. Politics, Government, and the Welfare State PART IV. THE FUTURE 12. Conclusion
Providing young adults opportunities to teach older adults mobile technology may have positive im... more Providing young adults opportunities to teach older adults mobile technology may have positive impact on their attitudes towards aging and health awareness. In this presentation, the experience of 140 IMTOP college student in Taiwan who served as IMTOP volunteers for 8 weeks was analyzed qualitatively using thematic coding by 2 researchers. The volunteers received preparatory training to learn about the concepts of aging and motivational interviewing. They then provided 16-hour services to teach older adults mobile technology skills related to learning about the CDSMP and the IMTOP app. From their self-reflections, young volunteers reported that the most important things they learned from this experiences were effective communication skills with older adults and health knowledge. The intergenerational interaction broke down their stereotypes about older adults and developed their empathy and patience with better understanding of difficulties and challenges older adults encounter when using technology products. Their health awareness was also enhanced.
Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and services are strongly linked to social determinants of hea... more Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and services are strongly linked to social determinants of health (SDOH) and integral to addressing social needs among older adults and individuals with disabilities and their families. Supported by the Administration for Community Living, researchers examined the intersection of OAA-funded programs and services under Titles III, VI, and VII and their impacts on SDOH. This study used an integration of extant literature; secondary data; and interviews with ACL office leadership, AAAs, Title VI program staff, and other local service providers to examine existing social needs among older adults, equity prioritization within OAA-funded program development, and impacts of OAA-funded programs and services. Study findings highlighted relationships between ACL and Aging Network entities, best practices for and process challenges of transforming grant funding into recipient services, and OAA-funded program areas for possible future development.
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Papers by Suzanne Kunkel