Projects/Programs
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCS) for Older Adults
Co-Principal Investigators: Faith P. Hopp, Ph.D., Cheryl Waites, Ed.D.
Co-Investigators: Fayetta Martin, D.L., Anwar Najor-Durack, PhD
The implementation of the Affordable Care Act provides new opportunities for health care and social services providers to address these concerns by lending their considerable expertise to promote goals related to preventing disease, reducing health disparities, and cutting health care costs For these health and social care initiatives to be effective, they must be accessible to older adults living in a variety of community settings. One type of setting, referred to as Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) are geographical areas not originally designed for older adults, but where a significant number of elders reside. Organized service provision for persons living in NORCS is an emerging strategy for addressing the needs of the many older adults who prefer to age in place. As a means of effectively developing their own programs and services to serve the needs of older adults living in NORCS, agencies such as the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) has engaged a group of Wayne State School of Social Work researchers to research and disseminate comprehensive information on the characteristics and outcomes from existing NORC service programs.
This project addresses the following research questions:
1. What programs have been developed to address the needs of older adults living in NORCS, and what are the characteristics of these programs in terms of participant demographic characteristics, geographic location, and service provision?
2. What types of research designs have been utilized to evaluate the efficacy of NORC service provision, and what kinds of program outcomes have been observed, and what is the relevance of these studies for NORC service provision by DAAA?
3. What resources are available to inform the development of new service programs to address the needs of older adults living in NORCS? These resources may include program development guides, national organizations, and nationally known experts in the field.
The information obtained from this study will inform the development of future NORC service models in the Detroit area.
Co-Principal Investigators: Faith P. Hopp, Ph.D., Cheryl Waites, Ed.D.
Co-Investigators: Fayetta Martin, D.L., Anwar Najor-Durack, PhD
The implementation of the Affordable Care Act provides new opportunities for health care and social services providers to address these concerns by lending their considerable expertise to promote goals related to preventing disease, reducing health disparities, and cutting health care costs For these health and social care initiatives to be effective, they must be accessible to older adults living in a variety of community settings. One type of setting, referred to as Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) are geographical areas not originally designed for older adults, but where a significant number of elders reside. Organized service provision for persons living in NORCS is an emerging strategy for addressing the needs of the many older adults who prefer to age in place. As a means of effectively developing their own programs and services to serve the needs of older adults living in NORCS, agencies such as the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) has engaged a group of Wayne State School of Social Work researchers to research and disseminate comprehensive information on the characteristics and outcomes from existing NORC service programs.
This project addresses the following research questions:
1. What programs have been developed to address the needs of older adults living in NORCS, and what are the characteristics of these programs in terms of participant demographic characteristics, geographic location, and service provision?
2. What types of research designs have been utilized to evaluate the efficacy of NORC service provision, and what kinds of program outcomes have been observed, and what is the relevance of these studies for NORC service provision by DAAA?
3. What resources are available to inform the development of new service programs to address the needs of older adults living in NORCS? These resources may include program development guides, national organizations, and nationally known experts in the field.
The information obtained from this study will inform the development of future NORC service models in the Detroit area.
The Hartford Partnership Program for Education in Aging (HPPAE)
Principal Investigator: Anwar Najor-Durack, Ph.D
HPPAE recruits and trains MSW students to engage in customized rotational field placements and specialized coursework and seminars that build competencies and leadership skills in geriatric social work. Benefits of the HPPAE program are:
• Rotational field placement
• Opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners
• Strong integration between gerontology fieldwork and coursework
• Development of knowledge and leadership skills in the aging field
• State and national networking opportunities
Principal Investigator: Anwar Najor-Durack, Ph.D
HPPAE recruits and trains MSW students to engage in customized rotational field placements and specialized coursework and seminars that build competencies and leadership skills in geriatric social work. Benefits of the HPPAE program are:
• Rotational field placement
• Opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners
• Strong integration between gerontology fieldwork and coursework
• Development of knowledge and leadership skills in the aging field
• State and national networking opportunities
Arab Elders: Diverse Community Perspectives on Adult Day Programming
Principle Investigator: Faith P. Hopp, Ph.D
This study was designed to obtain information about the perceptions of older adults, caregivers, and community leaders concerning their interest in the development of adult day care (ADC) programming in a multicultural community in Dearborn, Michigan. Focus groups (between two and eight participants) were conducted in English for older adults (two groups) caregivers (one group) and one group that included both older adults and caregivers. One of the older adults groups was conducted in Arabic. Eight interviews were conducted with religious leaders and administrators of aging services organizations. The resulting qualitative data was analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Themes identified included those related to transportation, socialization, access to care among the multicultural community in metropolitan Detroit, the desire of seniors to feel productive and display cultural talents, and the need for adult day centers celebrating varied cultural practices and languages. Older adults in the Detroit area, many of whom are of Arab descent, face many challenges in accessing supportive health and long-term care services. They are excited about possibilities to support their community by developing an adult day center that celebrates diverse multicultural programming while providing needed social and medical support.
Principle Investigator: Faith P. Hopp, Ph.D
This study was designed to obtain information about the perceptions of older adults, caregivers, and community leaders concerning their interest in the development of adult day care (ADC) programming in a multicultural community in Dearborn, Michigan. Focus groups (between two and eight participants) were conducted in English for older adults (two groups) caregivers (one group) and one group that included both older adults and caregivers. One of the older adults groups was conducted in Arabic. Eight interviews were conducted with religious leaders and administrators of aging services organizations. The resulting qualitative data was analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Themes identified included those related to transportation, socialization, access to care among the multicultural community in metropolitan Detroit, the desire of seniors to feel productive and display cultural talents, and the need for adult day centers celebrating varied cultural practices and languages. Older adults in the Detroit area, many of whom are of Arab descent, face many challenges in accessing supportive health and long-term care services. They are excited about possibilities to support their community by developing an adult day center that celebrates diverse multicultural programming while providing needed social and medical support.
Innovations in medical education: Experiential interprofessional education using an older adult home visit
Principal Investigator: Cassandra Bowers, Ph.D
Dr. Bowers is working with an interprofessional team of medicine, pharmacy and social work researchers related to providing a holistic approach to working with older adults. The first phase of this project entails conducting team interviews with older adults in their homes. Inter-professional teams are fundamental for collaborative patient care. This older adult home visit program was developed to introduce teamwork concepts to medical social work and pharmacy students. The majority of the students felt that teams deliver comprehensive care and that working in teams would contribute to their professional success.
Afonso, N., Mendez, J., O'Connell, M., Bugdalski -Stutrud, C., Smith, G., Waites, C., Bowers, C., Bruer, S., (2012). Innovations in medical education: Experiential interprofessional education using an older adult home visit. Medical Science Education, 23(4), 583-586.
Principal Investigator: Cassandra Bowers, Ph.D
Dr. Bowers is working with an interprofessional team of medicine, pharmacy and social work researchers related to providing a holistic approach to working with older adults. The first phase of this project entails conducting team interviews with older adults in their homes. Inter-professional teams are fundamental for collaborative patient care. This older adult home visit program was developed to introduce teamwork concepts to medical social work and pharmacy students. The majority of the students felt that teams deliver comprehensive care and that working in teams would contribute to their professional success.
Afonso, N., Mendez, J., O'Connell, M., Bugdalski -Stutrud, C., Smith, G., Waites, C., Bowers, C., Bruer, S., (2012). Innovations in medical education: Experiential interprofessional education using an older adult home visit. Medical Science Education, 23(4), 583-586.
Leaving Home in Late Life: A Post-Move Study of African American Elders and Their Kin in Detroit
In partnership with National Institute of Health (5P30 AG015281) : Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research
Principal Investigator: Tam Perry, Ph.D
A research project to understand and analyze relocation experiences of African Americans in and around Detroit. The study also focuses on recruitment strategies of African American older adults. This study is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, 5P30 AG015281, and the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research. Dr. Perry's mentors for the project are Dr. Letha Chadiha, University of Michigan School of Social Work and Dr. Cathy Lysack, Deputy Director of Wayne State University's Institute of Gerontology.
In partnership with National Institute of Health (5P30 AG015281) : Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research
Principal Investigator: Tam Perry, Ph.D
A research project to understand and analyze relocation experiences of African Americans in and around Detroit. The study also focuses on recruitment strategies of African American older adults. This study is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, 5P30 AG015281, and the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research. Dr. Perry's mentors for the project are Dr. Letha Chadiha, University of Michigan School of Social Work and Dr. Cathy Lysack, Deputy Director of Wayne State University's Institute of Gerontology.
Post-Move Follow Up Project
In partnership with St. Aloysius Parish : United Community Housing Coalition
Principal Investigator: Tam Perry, Ph.D
This project was recently approved by the Wayne State University Institutional Review Board and is funded by the Hartford Foundation's ChangeAGEnts Action Award. The results expected will help those working with seniors and senior housing in Detroit plan more effective housing transitions. The project is a research partnership with St. Aloysius Neighborhood Services and United Community Housing Coalition.
The link between housing and health comes to the forefront in times of housing instability and subsequent transition. Considering neighborhood distress and decline in Detroit, it is critical to examine relocation in an urban context, along with its relationship to health and well-being. This project contributes to the understanding of diverse experiences in housing transitions and the development of supportive interventions. Second, this research will enhance our capacity to communicate with policy makers about the impact of redevelopment on seniors. Senior advocates in Detroit have limited data related to these involuntary relocations, and with the expected involuntary displacement of 2000 low-income older adults in Detroit over the next decade, an understanding of the impact of this process early on is an important contribution as we work to revitalize a Detroit for all ages.
In partnership with St. Aloysius Parish : United Community Housing Coalition
Principal Investigator: Tam Perry, Ph.D
This project was recently approved by the Wayne State University Institutional Review Board and is funded by the Hartford Foundation's ChangeAGEnts Action Award. The results expected will help those working with seniors and senior housing in Detroit plan more effective housing transitions. The project is a research partnership with St. Aloysius Neighborhood Services and United Community Housing Coalition.
The link between housing and health comes to the forefront in times of housing instability and subsequent transition. Considering neighborhood distress and decline in Detroit, it is critical to examine relocation in an urban context, along with its relationship to health and well-being. This project contributes to the understanding of diverse experiences in housing transitions and the development of supportive interventions. Second, this research will enhance our capacity to communicate with policy makers about the impact of redevelopment on seniors. Senior advocates in Detroit have limited data related to these involuntary relocations, and with the expected involuntary displacement of 2000 low-income older adults in Detroit over the next decade, an understanding of the impact of this process early on is an important contribution as we work to revitalize a Detroit for all ages.
Surviving in Detroit: Men Experiencing Homelessness Due to Death of a Parent
In partnership with The Humanities Center at Wayne State University : Neighborhood Service Organization
Principal Investigator: Tam Perry, Ph.D
In the spirit of the theme “Survival”, we will be engaging with older adult men who experienced homelessness in the city of Detroit after the death of an older relative with whom they were living. Using qualitative methods, we will seek to better understand participants’ experiences of survival on the streets of Detroit, looking specifically at the nature of their intergenerational relationships and other social supports, their interaction with social services, and their ability to locate and utilize basic day-to-day necessities (e.g., food, shelter, hygiene, etc.). This research project will not only shed light on the survival of study participants, but will also ensure that their stories, possibly unique to Detroit’s current context, survive as well.
Through collaboration with the social service agency Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO), participants will also have access to housing and other necessary services whether or not they choose to participate in the research study. In addition, this partnership with NSO will allow us to gain an understanding of our study participants’ interaction with social service agencies, and provide us with an opportunity to recommend strategies for practitioners working in homeless services. Interviews with a number of service providers at NSO will further contribute to our understanding of this unique population of individuals experiencing homelessness in the city.
In partnership with The Humanities Center at Wayne State University : Neighborhood Service Organization
Principal Investigator: Tam Perry, Ph.D
In the spirit of the theme “Survival”, we will be engaging with older adult men who experienced homelessness in the city of Detroit after the death of an older relative with whom they were living. Using qualitative methods, we will seek to better understand participants’ experiences of survival on the streets of Detroit, looking specifically at the nature of their intergenerational relationships and other social supports, their interaction with social services, and their ability to locate and utilize basic day-to-day necessities (e.g., food, shelter, hygiene, etc.). This research project will not only shed light on the survival of study participants, but will also ensure that their stories, possibly unique to Detroit’s current context, survive as well.
Through collaboration with the social service agency Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO), participants will also have access to housing and other necessary services whether or not they choose to participate in the research study. In addition, this partnership with NSO will allow us to gain an understanding of our study participants’ interaction with social service agencies, and provide us with an opportunity to recommend strategies for practitioners working in homeless services. Interviews with a number of service providers at NSO will further contribute to our understanding of this unique population of individuals experiencing homelessness in the city.
