Aging & End-of-Life Issues Episodes
inSocialWork® is the podcast series of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. The purpose of this series is to engage practitioners and researchers in lifelong learning and to promote research to practice and practice to research. inSocialWork® features conversations with prominent social work professionals, interviews with cutting-edge researchers, and information on emerging trends and best practices in the field of social work.
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The following episodes are in the *Aging & End-of-Life Issues* category:
Episode 263 - Dr. Nancy Kusmaul: Trauma-Informed Care in Residential Long-Term Care for Older Adults
Interviewer: Ziv Noam
Monday, May 06, 2019, 9:07:18 AM

In this episode, our guest Dr. Nancy Kusmaul defines trauma-informed care within residential long-term care, and describes regulations that will soon require skilled nursing facilities receiving federal funding to incorporate trauma-informed principles into person-centered care. Dr. Kusmaul compares and contrasts how trauma-informed care is viewed in residential long-term care settings as opposed to other social work settings, and why trauma-informed care is critical when working with older adults. The episode concludes by emphasizing social work’s role in long-term care, and how social workers can create environments that eliminate or mitigate triggers that have the potential to cause re-traumatization.
- Episode 263 - Dr. Nancy Kusmaul
Episode 250 - Dr. Richard Smith and Dr. Amanda Lehning: Aging in Place in Gentrifying Neighborhoods: Implications for Physical and Mental Health
Interviewer: Shaanta Murshid, PhD
Monday, October 22, 2018, 8:16:23 AM

In this episode, our guests Dr. Richard Smith and Dr. Amanda Lehning discuss aging in place and why it is important to understand how older adults experience their communities, in particular their physical and social environments. Our guests describe their research examining the effects of remaining in gentrifying neighborhoods on older adults' self-reported health and mental health, and highlight why social workers need to be concerned with how the sense of place and community impacts the aging population.
- Episode 250 - Dr. Richard Smith and Dr. Amanda Lehning
Episode 227 - Dr. Kristie Seelman: Sexual Minority Older Adults: Addressing Health Disparities and Promoting Healthy Aging
Interviewer: Louanne Bakk, PhD
Monday, November 06, 2017, 7:53:57 AM

In this episode, our guest Dr. Kristie Seelman discusses the unique challenges that lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults face, as well as the need for services that are culturally competent and account for their unique realities. She describes her current research emphasizing coping strategies and differences in mental, cognitive, and physical health among sexual minority older persons.
- Episode 227 - Dr. Kristie Seelman
Episode 208 - Dr. Nancy Kusmaul and Lisa Kendall: Impacts of Trauma in Later Life
Interviewer: Jacqueline Mcginley, MSW
Monday, January 30, 2017, 7:45:29 AM

In this episode, our guests Dr. Nancy Kusmaul and Lisa Kendall discuss the possible impacts of traumatic experiences as people transition into older adulthood. They describe specific applications of a trauma perspective with elders and what helping professionals might observe in their clients to warrant further assessment. Dr. Kusmaul and Ms. Kendall highlight the distinctive opportunities and manifestations for re-traumatization with the older adult population, and the trauma-informed care implications for organizations and caregivers serving older adults.
- Episode 208 - Dr. Nancy Kusmaul and Lisa Kendall
Episode 157 - Dr. Joanne Cacciatore and Kara Thieleman: Witness to Suffering: Mindfulness and Compassion Fatigue Among Traumatic Bereavement Professionals and Volunteers
Interviewer: Nurit Fischer Shemer, MEd, MSW
Monday, December 08, 2014, 8:40:45 AM

Compassion Fatigue has been the subject of considerable concern in the social work profession. The provision of service to people who are experiencing a highly stressful situation can take a significant emotional toll on those providing assistance. However, few experiences are more stress-invoking that the loss of a child. In this episode, Dr. Joanne Cacciatore and Kara Thieleman discuss their research with the professionals and volunteers that provide service to parents who have experienced a child's death.
- Episode 157 - Dr. Joanne Cacciatore and Kara Thieleman
Episode 124 - Amanda Hunsaker: Advances in Dementia Diagnostic Technology: Preparing Social Work for a Changing Practice
Interviewer: Rachel Rotach, MSW
Monday, August 05, 2013, 9:25:28 AM

In this episode, Amanda Hunsaker discusses the current landscape related to the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and how advances in diagnostic technology associated with dementia will provide the potential for new insights in the care of these patients. Challenges and opportunities for social work practice are reviewed.
- Episode 124 - Amanda Hunsaker
Episode 123 - Christine Scott: Shadow Grief: Perinatal Loss and Bereavement
Interviewer: Rebecca S. Rouland Polmanteer, MSW
Monday, July 08, 2013, 9:24:17 AM

In this episode, Christine Scott defines perinatal loss and discusses the impact of perinatal bereavement on the parents and family. Using her personal experience with this type loss as a backdrop, Ms. Scott describes the effect of perinatal bereavement on the individual and family, and offers suggestions for the social work response at all three levels of practice.
- Episode 123 - Christine Scott
Episode 119 - Dr. Dona Reese: "A Friendly Face:" Addressing Barriers to Hospice Care for African American Clients by Hiring African American Social Workers
Interviewer: Adjoa Robinson, PhD, MSW
Monday, May 13, 2013, 8:59:13 AM

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reported that in 2011 over a million and a half people utilized hospice services in the United States. In this podcast, Dr. Dona Reese talks about the lack of utilization of hospice care by African American patients. This includes identifying variables that influence African American hospice use. One of those barriers is the almost complete absence of African American staff or volunteers in hospices across the nation. Dr. Reese describes a field placement and community intervention project that was a successful first step in accomplishing the goal of increasing African American staff. Additionally, she offers her thoughts on what must be done to expand the number of African American social work professionals in hospice settings.
- Episode 119 - Dr. Dona Reese
Episode 107 - Dr. Allan Barsky: Ethical Issues in End-of-Life Decision Making
Interviewer: Deborah Waldrop, PhD, LMSW
Monday, November 12, 2012, 8:06:53 AM

In this episode, Dr. Allan Barsky focuses on ethical issues in end-of-life decision making. In order to assist clients and families with end-of-life choices, Dr. Barsky argues that social workers need to be aware of ethical issues that may arise in relation to self-determination, informed consent, mental capacity, and principles such as the sanctity of life, client autonomy, and judicious management of resources. He discusses a model for engaging clients, family members, and co-professionals in discussions and problem-solving processes when conflict about end-of-life decision making arises.
- Episode 107 - Dr. Allan Barsky
Episode 105 - Dr. David Hodge and Dr. Fei Sun: Positive Aspects of Caregiving Among Alzheimer's Family Caregivers: The Roles of Ethnicity and Spirituality
Interviewer: Deborah Waldrop, PhD, LMSW
Monday, October 15, 2012, 7:23:20 AM

In this episode, Drs. Hodge and Sun discuss their study examining the effects of spirituality and the positive aspects of caregiving among Latino family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Episode 105 - Dr. David Hodge and Dr. Fei Sun
Episode 97 - Dr. Robin Bonifas: Mean Girls at 70: Bullying Among Residents at Assisted Living Facilities
Interviewer: Nancy Kusmaul, LMSW
Monday, May 28, 2012, 10:03:06 AM

In this episode, Dr. Robin Bonifas discusses her research on senior bullying and relationship changes in assisted living facilities. Dr. Bonifas shares her findings on how seniors experience problematic behaviors in assisted living facilities, how they cope, and their ideas on how to address bullying at the individual and facility level.
- Episode 97 - Dr. Robin Bonifas
Episode 90 - Dr. Priscilla Gibson: Disproportional Suspension Among African American Youth: The Experience of Kinship Caregivers
Interviewer: Adjoa Robinson, PhD, MSW
Monday, February 20, 2012, 8:52:13 AM

Dr. Gibson speaks about her research exploring the experiences of kinship caregivers parenting African American children, who are disproportionately suspended under school zero tolerance policies. Dr. Gibson describes the emotional and relational costs of suspensions on families and strategies to help caregivers (often grandmothers) avoid pitfalls in the education system.
- Episode 90 - Dr. Priscilla Gibson
Episode 87 - Dr. Pam Miller: Oregon's Death with Dignity Act: Hospice Social Work and End-of-Life Decision-Making
Interviewer: Deborah Waldrop, PhD, LMSW
Monday, January 09, 2012, 9:12:51 AM

In this episode, Dr. Pam Miller discusses her research on social worker attitudes, values, and practices since the enactment of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act.
- Episode 87 - Dr. Pam Miller
Episode 86 - Dr. Nicole Ruggiano: Doing It Their Way: Consumer-Directed Long-Term Care
Interviewer: Adjoa Robinson, PhD, MSW
Monday, December 12, 2011, 9:02:12 AM

In this episode, Dr. Nicole Ruggiano discusses a client-driven and self-directed approach to consumers' long term health care, providing an alternative to traditional, agency-provided and managed care. She describes the positive outcomes related to the consumer-directed model and anticipates the barriers and costs in embracing the approach.
- Episode 86 - Dr. Nicole Ruggiano
Episode 72 - Dr. Jan Ivery and Dr. M. Lori Thomas: Aging in Place on the Streets: Homelessness Among Older Adults
Interviewer: Nancy Kusmaul, LMSW
Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 8:14:14 AM

Drs. Jan Ivery and M. Lori Thomas discuss the findings of their research with the often overlooked older adult homeless population. Our guests describe the challenges of meeting the unique needs of this population and the contradictions that are raised as the older adult homeless population burgeons.
- Episode 72 - Dr. Jan Ivery and Dr. M. Lori Thomas
Episode 62 - Dr. Jay Wolfson: Head, Heart, and Hope: The Complex Challenges of Decision-Making at End of Life
Interviewer: Deborah Waldrop, PhD, LMSW
Monday, January 10, 2011, 9:46:33 AM

In this episode, Dr. Jay Wolfson discusses his experience and reflections serving as guardian ad litem for Terri Schiavo, the young woman whose case captured the nation's attention in 2003. Dr. Wolfson describes the clinical, political, and legal issues he encountered and the complex drama between the head (science) and the heart (hope) present as families and professionals make critical decisions that affect the life (and death) of others.
- Episode 62 - Dr. Jay Wolfson
Episode 57 - Dr. Robert Milch and Dr. Donald Shedd: Good Outcomes at the End of Life: The History of Hospice Buffalo
Interviewer: Deborah Waldrop, PhD, LMSW
Monday, October 18, 2010, 10:56:06 AM

Drs. Robert Milch and Donald Shedd have been leaders in the hospice movement since its early days. In this episode, they discuss the history of hospice and hospice in Buffalo, NY, the challenges of the early days of hospice, changes in hospice care over the years, and what they see as the future of hospice and palliative care.
- Episode 57 - Dr. Robert Milch and Dr. Donald Shedd
Episode 51 - Dr. Jean Kutner: The Evolution of Evidence-Based Practice in Hospice
Interviewer: Deborah Waldrop, PhD, LMSW
Monday, July 26, 2010, 10:06:34 AM

In this episode, Dr. Jean Kutner discusses the history and role of evidence-based practice in hospice care, changes in hospice care, and barriers and facilitators to building an evidence base.
- Episode 51 - Dr. Jean Kutner
Episode 31 - Dr. Nancy Kelley-Gillespie and Dr. Karen Rolf: Too Old To Care?: Older Adult Caregivers and Their Children with Disabilities
Interviewer: Deborah Waldrop, PhD, LMSW
Monday, October 19, 2009, 10:22:14 AM

Rising life expectancy over the last two decades has resulted in increases in the number of aging parents caring for adult children with disabilities later in life. Drs. Kelley-Gillespie and Rolf discuss their work to understand the needs of these families toward quality of life improvement, better services, and more informed choices for caregivers.
- Episode 31 - Dr. Nancy Kelley-Gillespie and Dr. Karen Rolf
Episode 22 - Dr. Lori Wiener: Children with HIV/AIDS: Issues Of Survival, Disclosure, and Transition
Interviewer: Robert Keefe, PhD, MSSA
Monday, June 15, 2009, 9:40:04 AM

In this podcast, Dr. Lori Wiener discusses her decades of work bridging clinical experience with research methodology to address the needs of children with HIV/AIDS and their families. Dr. Wiener offers guidance to helping professionals and families with regard to current challenges associated with survival and transition to adult care, diagnosis disclosure, child and parental adjustment, and child and parental survival.
- Episode 22 - Dr. Lori Wiener
Episode 16 - Dr. Wooksoo Kim: Drinking Behavior Among Elderly Korean Immigrants
Interviewer: Adjoa Robinson, PhD, MSW
Monday, March 23, 2009, 11:50:30 AM

In this episode, Dr. Wooksoo Kim discusses her research on alcohol use among elderly Korean immigrants in Toronto, Canada.
- Episode 16 - Dr. Wooksoo Kim
Episode 8 - Dr. Deborah Waldrop: End-of-Life Care for Our Nation's Elderly - In Their Own Words (part 3 of 3)
Monday, December 01, 2008, 1:48:30 PM

This is the third of three episodes in which Dr. Waldrop discusses her research on end-of-life care decision-making begun in 2007. In this episode, Dr Waldrop gives us a status report on the progress she's made in her research on end of life care decision-making and what she has learned thus far, sharing with us participant experiences in their own words.
- Episode 8 - Dr. Deborah Waldrop
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Episode 7 - Dr. Deborah Waldrop: End-of-Life Care for Our Nation's Elderly - Methods and Challenges (part 2 of 3)
Monday, November 17, 2008, 12:11:34 PM

This is the second of three episodes in which Dr. Waldrop discusses her research on end-of-life care decision-making begun in 2007. In this episode, Dr. Waldrop explains her research aims and methodology and some of the challenges to conducting this type of research.
- Episode 7 - Dr. Deborah Waldrop
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Episode 2 - Dr. Deborah Waldrop: End-of-Life Care for Our Nation's Elderly - History of Hospice Care (part 1 of 3)
Monday, September 08, 2008, 11:08:35 AM

This is this first of three episodes in which Dr. Waldrop discusses her research on end-of-life care decision-making begun in 2007. In this episode, Dr. Waldrop explains the personal nature of studying end-of-life care and answers the questions, "What is hospice care?" and "What is its history?"
- Episode 2 - Dr. Deborah Waldrop
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DISCLAIMER: The content shared by the presenter(s) and/or interviewer(s) of each podcast is their own and not necessarily representative of any views, research, or practice from the UB School of Social Work or the inSocialWork® podcast series.
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