CARE at the UW-Madison School of Nursing
“I am a dedicated and passionate person about making a difference—not only in my community, but in the world,” says Edith Lawrence-Hilliard. “Volunteerism is one of my great loves and being active in my community is a real privilege for me. I am committed.” Lawrence-Hilliard is a lifelong Madison resident who works to uplift marginalized …
“In the world of research, we usually get asked [for input] after the questions are already formed,” says Mary, a member of the Madison Board of Older Adult Advisors (BOAA). “So, to include us from the very beginning of the process—I just feel it’s imperative!” The Madison BOAA—like their colleagues on the Rural BOAA in …
As we age, our cells accumulate damage. Over time, the damage can lead to disease, disability, or death. Yet time does not affect everyone’s cells equally. Some public health practitioners argue that time should be considered one of the social determinants of health. “Aging and racism is not about Black people who are old,” says …
“This is part of Black Lives Matter,” says Tracy Schroepfer, MSW, PhD, a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work. “Racism and discrimination are embedded in systems. We need to dig through policies and practices and make changes to meet the needs of all older adults, in particular older adults …
“Almost everyone experiences stress,” says Megan Zuelsdorff, PhD, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing. “Stress is an underlying construct for a lot of my research. I think of it as both an outcome and as a social determinant of other aspects of health,” she says. She points out that …
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 …
Whether you’re a health care professional, direct care worker, or housing or service provider, the conversations that you have with older adults can help identify potential mental health issues. “It’s about forging relationships,” says Earlise Ward, PhD, a licensed psychologist and faculty director of the Cancer Health Disparities Initiative at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Carbone …