CARE at the UW-Madison School of Nursing
Pain that lasts at least three months—or chronic pain—can affect daily life and well-being. Chronic pain is associated with decreased quality of life and increased anxiety and depression, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It’s one of the top reasons adults seek medical care. Nearly one-quarter of U.S. adults reported chronic pain in …
“The more we address ageism in our society, the more we’re all going to live longer, healthier lives,” says Julie Ober Allen, PhD, MPH, an Assistant Professor of Health Promotion and Health Equity in the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Kinesiology. Allen studies how sources of chronic stress, including ageism and other forms of discrimination, …
“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 …
Receiving care shouldn’t come at the cost of an individual’s dignity, sense of self, or autonomy—especially when the care setting is the person’s home, as in long-term care. That’s why nursing home residents, families, and others have for decades advocated for person-centered care. Person-centered care is being “responsive to individuals and their goals, values, and …
“Environmental stresses reinforce existing physical and social vulnerabilities, and this is of particular concern for older adults,” says Michal Engelman, PhD, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Demography of Health and Aging at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Climate change and its associated weather extremes have implications for people of all ages. However, …
“We all know healthy behaviors are important, but sometimes they’re not our first choice,” says Wan-chin Kuo, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing. Everyone enjoys treats that aren’t so healthy. But imagine if most days you couldn’t get a good night’s sleep, or eat a home-cooked meal, or …
“I don’t want this to happen to anyone else, so I got involved,” says Rosie Bartel. Bartel describes herself as a wife, mother, grandmother, and educator. She’s also a patient advisor to health researchers and scholars, drawing on her own devastating healthcare experiences. “In August of 2009 I underwent a total right knee replacement that …
Following the tragic impact of the ongoing COVID pandemic on nursing home residents and staff, is there new momentum for reform? Some signs point to yes. In February 2022, the White House outlined actions through the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The measures would establish minimum staffing levels for nursing homes, encourage …
University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing Assistant Professor Kristen Pecanac, PhD, RN studies interactions among healthcare practitioners, patients, and family members as they make treatment decisions in hospital settings. She says the peer review process has provided her with clear examples of ageism. “I did a study where I looked at conversations between physicians and …
“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 …