Anne Asman, Gerontologist and Psychiatry's Director of Advancement and Outreach, along with Briana Sisofo, Master of Science student in Gerontology, co-authored and presented a poster in November at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Their poster, which has now been accepted and published by the GSA, is titled "How a Rural Community Adapts to an Aging Population Using an Alliance."
A summary of the poster is as follows:
Aging in rural communities can be challenging and affect people’s quality of life. A severe lack of geriatric providers and resources across rural America is leading to an increasing crisis in older adult care, which is aging initiatives are becoming more important. The Summit County Aging Alliance, created by the Summit County Mental Wellness Alliance and the Summit County Health Department, addresses older adult issues in their community. This novel Alliance constituency includes interdisciplinary geriatric professionals, county and city officials, non-profit aging service organizations, and a passionate and vocal contingent of older adult citizens representing the various geographic areas of the county. The unique model brings together a group of advocates who have become the voice of the older adult population in Summit County.
Read the published poster's full text here - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337181056_HOW_A_RURAL_COMMUNITY_ADAPTS_TO_AN_AGING_POPULATION_USING_AN_ALLIANCE