Dear Friends,


These mid-winter months often become long and lonely for older people who may be homebound with few opportunities for socialization. Across the nation, we have states with Master Plans for Aging that focus on building age-friendly communities. Integrating "age-friendly" in our culture relies on reducing the stigma of aging and ensuring that older people feel a sense of "belonging" in their community. One way to reduce ageism is to increase opportunities for intergenerational relationships. Older people have so much to offer communities, and younger people from Gen Xers through Gen Zers and even young baby boomers can engage with older adults to learn from them and give them the gift of inclusion. This month, our guest columnist is a young man who speaks to us through the eyes of a teenager. It is refreshing to know that young people have some wonderful insights into aging well. 


Warm regards,

Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN, FAAN






Caregiving Youth Call to Action

Jacob Zwerling

Senior '24, High School




The Covid-19 pandemic provided insight into existing gaps in programs for mental health and well-being across generations. As a pre-teen during the pandemic, I saw an increase in household responsibilities among young people, including caring for loved ones in New York. Providing care to loved ones in an environment where access to support services was ever changing due to Covid-19 and the landscape of education was extremely stressful.


I cared for my grandmother who recently passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease. My mother had cared for her grandmother with Alzheimer’s Disease, too, often going to her house on weekends to spend time, clean, cook, and help out in any way she could.


Policy decisions have not kept up to include young caregivers. Caregivers below 18 have been left out of needed legislation, formal support programming and respite even in this post pandemic world.


Reflecting on this notable absence, faith-based organizations have the opportunity to be a catalyst for change and work with governmental agencies, private and public sector organizations to increase resources for teenagers caring for loved ones with chronic diseases. 


The rates of dementia and chronic disease are on the rise especially in marginalized communities. In addition, there is an increase in multigenerational households where teens play a pivotal role in caregiving – a fact highlighted by the pandemic. New York has programs that support caregivers, including families under the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). The program gives empowerment to families; however, it is directed to those over the age of 18. A large step into recognizing the heterogeneity of caregiving and the need to support different caregivers is outlined in the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. The strategy here is that local/state/nonprofit organizations will be aligned to direct recommendations to the federal government. This is an incredible coordinated effort – however, as noted the caregiving youth is often left out of the data for many reasons. The largest study looked at young adult caregivers ages 18-25 which still does not touch upon needs of people under 18 to be recognized and supported. Larger studies are needed to understand the nuances of being a youth caregiver especially in the areas of mental well-being.



How many of you as teenagers provided support to your loved ones in the form of respite, meal delivery, transportation accompaniment, or technology support for a grandparent? Have you been embarrassed to share your frustration with your friends about how difficult it was to bathe and dress your loved one in order to attend an event? All of this while struggling, especially during the height of the pandemic, to keep up with school work, sports, and your newspaper route or restaurant job. Research has shown that the frequency and level of intensity of caring for loved ones as a youth is related to higher levels of developmental risk in many domains including – social, physical health, and academics.


A systematic approach to understanding the needs of the caregiving youth is needed in order to tailor interventions. Utilizing faith-based organizations as a coordinated approach is one way to help us feel understood and share the best strategies.

Health and Aging Policy Fellows


The Health and Aging Policy Fellowship program is an opportunity to join a dynamic community who are all committed to improving health and quality life for older Americans. The program is now accepting applications through April 15.


The one-year Fellowship runs from October 1 – September 30 and has full-time and part-time tracks. It is conducted as a hybrid program of mentoring, networking, learning and practicum experiences. Health and Aging Policy Fellows work across diverse fields of aging, and develop lifelong partnerships and networks. Individually and collectively, they are improving the lives of older adults around the country.


Click here to learn more and apply!

The Plight of the Immigrant Workforce: A Moral Dilemma of the Current LTC Environment


NYU Meyers PhD nurse student Moroni Fernandez Cajavilca wrote a guest column for McKnight's Long-Term Care News on advocating for immigrants with a large presence in the long-term care workforce highlighting the importance of reforms & protections.


Click here to read the full column.

Foundations of Nursing Care for Older Adults


This series consists of 13 individual and interactive online courses featuring the latest content developed by faculty at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. This series can be taken by RNs who are working in a variety of settings including hospital care, home health care, assisted-living, PACE programs, and nursing homes.

The courses in the series can be completed individually or altogether. Nursing s will be provided for each of the courses. Nursing Continuing Professional Development Credits are available.


Topics:

Foundations of Practice for Gerontological Nursing

Integrating the 4Ms into the Care of Older Adults

Health Promotion and Assessment and Age-Related Changes

Geriatric Syndromes

Psychological Issues: The Three D's: Depression, Dementia and Delirium

Palliative Care

Pain

Common Cardiovascular Health Conditions

Common Health Conditions-Part 1

Common Health Conditions-Part 2

Legal and Ethical Issues

Healthcare Policy

Special Populations of Older Adults


Click here to learn more.


The NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing Center for Nursing Continuing Professional Development is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (Provider # P0367). 

Help Support Geriatric Scholars


Contributions to the J. Paul Trust HIGN Scholarship will help us to support more nurses in furthering their practice caring for older adults. 

Donate Now!

HIGN Highlights


Prof. Jasmine Travers was one of the seven academic physicians and nurses to be named as a JAMA Fellow to the New Editorial Fellowship Program. This program provides junior faculty and current research fellows an opportunity to learn about biomedical journals and scientific publications.


Associate Dean Selena Gilles was featured in Minority Nurse in an article entitled “Meet a Champion of Nursing Diversity: Dr. Selena Gilles.”


Research Scientist Xiang Qi was awarded a pilot grant from the Rutgers-NYU P50 Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity entitled “Assessing Differences in Cardiometabolic Diseases, Mental Health, and Health Care Utilization: A Comparative Analysis across Asian American Subgroups and Other Racial/Ethnic Adult Caregivers.”



Publications and Presentations:


Prof. Fidel Lim published an editorial in the American Journal of Nursing entitled “Solving the Nursing Shortage.”


Prof. Komal Patel Murali presented on The Tap In! Dementia Toolkit: Palliative Care and Hospice for People Living with Dementia: Virtual Forum with Black/African American Faith Based Communities with Chaplain Elder Denise Lawson. Westchester, New York. 


Prof. Komal Patel Murali was a presenter to Caring for Caregivers of People Living with Dementia in Skilled Nursing, Medicare Fee-For-Service Home Healthcare, and Post-Acute Care: Dementia End-of-Life and Serious Illness Education for Care Managers. VNS Health, New York, New York.


Research Scientist Xiang Qi and Prof. Bei Wu recently published an article entitled AI’s Role in Improving Social Connection and Oral Health for Older Adults: A Synergistic Approach. Qi, X., & Wu, B. (2024). AI’s Role in Improving Social Connection and Oral Health for Older Adults: A Synergistic Approach. JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 23800844231223097.


Research Scientist Xiang Qi’s publication Associations of social isolation and loneliness with the onset of insomnia symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in the United States: A population-based cohort study was recently highlighted on Psychiatry Research by journalist Lisa L. Lewis.

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