CARE at the UW-Madison School of Nursing
“I work at a nursing home, so I see people coming in at all different ages,” says Kayla Olmstead, MS, a registered dietician who works in Wisconsin’s Chippewa and Barron Counties. “With some people, you can see the effects of poor nutrition over time. So if you can get to people before they’re that sick, …
“I am always looking for affordable educational opportunities, but don’t find many that are close enough to attend,” said Kathryn Nachreiner, who has managed a residential care home in Plain, Sauk County, for 14 years. Kathryn was excited to participate in a one-day conference for direct care staff at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, organized …
Each spring, several University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing undergraduate students spend three weeks in northern Wisconsin with a faculty member, to learn about public health and nursing in rural communities. This year, they also helped with tornado recovery efforts. “I spoke with the family of an older gentleman who lived on his own in …
Overall, fewer than half of U.S. adults gets enough physical activity, according to federal guidelines. For African Americans, the numbers are even lower. That makes healthy aging especially challenging. “Less than 25 percent of older African Americans meet recommended levels of physical activity,” says Wan-Chin Kuo, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School …
Regular physical activity is powerful. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. It improves mental health and increases the likelihood that people will live longer and more independent lives. The benefits of physical activity are so wide-ranging that Elisa Torres, PhD, RN, began her research looking at its impacts …
Compared to a decade ago, there’s greater awareness, more reporting, and stronger laws in place to address the financial exploitation of older adults. The issue was not even recognized for many years, says Kevin Hansen, PhD, JD, LLM. “The first people we protected were animals, actually,” says Hansen. “We had animal abuse statutes before we …
“In order to improve geriatric care, we have to go upstream and help the educators who are preparing those who are entering nursing practice,” says Colleen Gullickson, PhD, RN, GNP, Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Edgewood College’s Henry Predolin School of Nursing in Madison, Wisconsin.
What is the difference between the medical model of care and person-centered care? For Tonya Roberts, RN, PhD, it’s all about the relationships.
Direct care workers meet the daily needs of older adults in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and continuing care retirement communities, and greatly impact the care provided by hospitals and home health agencies. Yet most have limited access to educational opportunities. The CARE conference is changing that.
Today, older adults account for more than one-third of hospital stays and 15 percent of emergency room visits. These numbers will rise as the 65-plus population grows, intensifying the need for more nurses with experience in geriatric care. How can nursing schools better prepare students to work with older adults? At the University of Wisconsin–Madison …