Older Adults / en George Mason students travel to Japan to learn about international approaches to supporting older adults /news/2024-08/george-mason-students-travel-japan-learn-about-international-approaches-supporting <span>George Mason students travel to Japan to learn about international approaches to supporting older adults </span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/1391" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Taylor Thomas</span></span> <span>Mon, 08/26/2024 - 09:25</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/minoue2" hreflang="und">Megumi Inoue, PhD</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p>A<span class="intro-text">cross the globe, <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health" target="_blank">the number of older adults is rapidly increasing</a> and health care systems around the world are adapting to the needs of this population. This summer, a group of AV graduate and undergraduate students, led by Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work <a href="https://socialwork.gmu.edu/profiles/minoue2" target="_blank">Megumi Inoue</a>, participated in the study-abroad program in Japan—Rise of the Super-Aged Society. </span></p> <p>Students explored policies, programs, and services to meet the unique needs of an aging global population. During the program, students visited governmental and nonprofit agencies working with the older population and interacted with local older adults in community settings.   </p> <p>“Study-abroad programs offer students experiential learning opportunities in different cultures that go beyond traditional classroom education. By immersing themselves in new environments, students gain practical skills in cross-cultural communication, adaptability, and problem-solving while they are studying a specific topic. They also develop a deeper understanding of local issues and perspectives, enriching their academic knowledge and broadening their worldview,” said Inoue. </p> <div class="align-left"> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-08/inoue_study_abroad_summer_2024.jpg?itok=g8cqqpGd" width="350" height="284" alt="Inoue and students Japan study abroad" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <p>Samiah Clark, a <a href="https://socialwork.gmu.edu/program/social-work-bsw" target="_blank">bachelor of social work</a> student set to graduate in May of 2025, attests to how students gained valuable, firsthand knowledge that can only be accomplished through immersing oneself in the culture. </p> <p>"The trip enhanced my education and observational skills surrounding the cultural differences between the U.S. and Japan,” Clark said. "Additionally, I learned about their customs of respecting older adults and traditions families partake in when caring for their parents. If I had the chance, I would go again."</p> <p>The course is designed to introduce and examine strategies implemented in Japan in response to issues and challenges surrounding its rapidly aging population. Students explore the strengths and limitations of strategies that Japan has incorporated expanding their perspectives on interventions for other aging countries, including the United States. </p> <p>“Taking students on study-abroad trips is important for their educational and personal development,” said Inoue. "It enriches their academic experience, enhances cultural competence, and prepares them for the globalized world. After the program, students often express how cultural exposure facilitated personal growth, professional development, and self-reflection."</p> <p><a href="https://masonabroad.gmu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10670" target="_blank">Learn more about the Japan - Rise of the Super-Aged Society Mason-led study abroad.</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1676" hreflang="en">study abroad</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/16356" hreflang="en">International Health Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/11991" hreflang="en">Older Adults</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/20261" hreflang="en">healthy aging</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9876" hreflang="en">Social Work Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3181" hreflang="en">experiential learning</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:25:23 +0000 Taylor Thomas 113756 at ‘Don’t treat us like fragile babies’: Can intergenerational mentorship programs reduce ageism in medicine?  /news/2024-02/dont-treat-us-fragile-babies-can-intergenerational-mentorship-programs-reduce-ageism <span>‘Don’t treat us like fragile babies’: Can intergenerational mentorship programs reduce ageism in medicine? </span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/1221" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Mary Cunningham</span></span> <span>Thu, 02/29/2024 - 18:42</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/ctompkin" hreflang="und">Dr. Cathy Tompkins</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/eihara" hreflang="und">Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">Ageism is a problem in health care, and the <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240016866" target="_blank">World Health Organization Global Report on Ageism</a> points to factors such as increased human life expectancy, declines in birthrates, and the lack of investment to address health inequities among older people as reasons for strategies to eliminate ageism. </span></p> <p>Ageism can impact the quality of patient care and be a source of frustration for older patients. Senior Mentor Programs (SMP) are one way to address ageism and improve the quality of care delivered to older patients by better understanding their unique needs, perspectives, and societal contributions.  </p> <p>Intergenerational mentoring programs are beneficial to both young and older people, according to a new study led by Emily Ihara, chair of AV’s Department of Social Work, and Catherine Tompkins, the College of Public Health’s Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs, who are co-PIs of Mason’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program.  </p> <p>“The results show the importance of reciprocal relationships, where both young and older people benefit, in addressing ageism in health care,” said Ihara. “The program served to defy existing stereotypes especially for younger medical students who may not have had experience working with older adults. Building relationships with an older mentor helped them to gain a better understanding and much-needed perspective of older people, which will hopefully translate into better provision of care for this population.” </p> <p>The team from AV and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) analyzed the perspectives of older adults (mentors) who participated in a SMP involving first-year medical students. Three themes emerged from the mentors’ responses: generational guidance, volunteerism, and life satisfaction. The responses illustrated how intergenerational mentorship programs can help older adults maintain a desire to promote the well-being of younger generations (such as by volunteering) by providing an opportunity for older adults to form meaningful connections (life satisfaction) and positively influence members of the younger generation (generational guidance). Participants in the study spoke about wanting to help stop health-related discrimination toward older people. </p> <p>“Do whatever it takes to get medical personnel to treat and understand older adults. We are not wrinkly old babies, which is how a lot of doctors treat us,” said one participant. </p> <p>The SMP provided older adults the opportunity to have an open conversation with students in the medical field and address the stigma related to caring for older adults. For example, several mentors discussed being treated unfairly or being misunderstood when receiving medical services. The program allowed older adults to connect with students and to pass on advice or experiences that they believe are important to improve patient care. Student responses to the program were analyzed in a different academic paper. </p> <p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15350770.2024.2310654" target="_blank">“’Don’t treat us like fragile babies:’ Mentors’ perspectives of an intergenerational mentoring program for medical students”</a> was published online in the <em>Journal of Intergenerational Relationships</em> in February 2024. Additional authors include Mason undergraduate student Vianey Velazquez-Dominguez; three Mason Master of Social Work alumni—Harveen Pantleay from Loudoun County Schools; Kendall Barrett from Wise Mind Psychotherapy; and Madeline Holden from Wesley Housing Development Corporation; and Kimberly Ivey, Leland Waters, and Sarah A. Marrs from VCU. </p> <p>This work was supported by the Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [grant number U1QHP28744], Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program. </p> <p><em>Thumbnail photo </em>by Andrea Piacquadio <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/young-positive-lady-showing-photos-on-smartphone-to-senior-man-while-sitting-at-laptop-3823542/" title="Pexels photo">via Pexels.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/11991" hreflang="en">Older Adults</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/16176" hreflang="en">Intergenerational Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/19461" hreflang="en">Mentorship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14891" hreflang="en">Social Work Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18511" hreflang="en">CPH research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9876" hreflang="en">Social Work Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 29 Feb 2024 23:42:29 +0000 Mary Cunningham 112091 at