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High-resolution photos available for download at www.lsu.edu/pa/photos BATON ROUGE – LSU School of Social Work assistant professor Scott E. Wilks recently became the first faculty member from any Louisiana university to be chosen as a recipient of the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program, a venture funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation, and administered by The Gerontological Society of America. The program, now in its ninth year, annually selects 10 outstanding geriatric social work faculty members and provides opportunities for professional development and $100,000 in funding over two years for research related to improving health and care for older adults and their caregivers. The research Wilks will conduct focuses on the resiliency of caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. This is the first study to examine the Alzheimer's disease caregiving process that includes caregiving burden, coping strategies and the psychological health outcome of resilience. Resilience is identified as the positive characteristic of strength and hardiness as a result of successful adaptation to adversity. Potential ethnic differences in this caregiving process will also be explored. "I am ecstatic to be chosen as a Hartford Faculty Scholar," said Wilks. "I am honored to be recognized by Dr. Barbara Berkman, principal investigator and national director of the Hartford Faculty Scholars program, and the committee members. Hartford is at the forefront of geriatric research, and to be associated with this program has been a goal of mine since my doctoral studies. Having it become reality is a bit overwhelming. The support from Hartford is extraordinary -- including financial, professional development and networking. I am also fortunate to have collaborative partnerships with a number of social work and interdisciplinary colleagues, the Alzheimer's Association – Louisiana Chapter, Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area, the LSU Life Course and Aging Center and the Office of Social Service Research and Development. I look forward to working with a diverse group of Alzheimer's caregivers and sharing knowledge of their burden, coping strategies and resilience with the geriatric health care community." "The LSU School of Social Work is delighted to have Dr. Wilks recognized for his commitment to geriatric social work," said Christian Molidor, dean of the School of Social Work. "As the population ages, it is critical to have trained social work practitioners to meet the social and health care needs of these individuals. Dr. Wilks, in addition to his research, will focus on training the next generation of social workers to provide care to older Americans and their caregivers. The role of faculty members with geriatric expertise serving as mentors for young professionals will avoid the risk of developing a social work professional work force crisis." "I am delighted to welcome Dr. Wilks into the Hartford Faculty Scholars Program," said Barbara Berkman, principal investigator and national director of the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program. "His research focused on Alzheimer's disease and the resiliency of caregivers is very significant as we face an increasing number of individuals who will suffer from this disorder and increasing numbers of loved ones who will assume the burden of care. The Scholars Program aims to increase the capacity of social work practitioners to help older people cope with many aspects of living so that they can age with quality of life. Dr. Wilks' research will add to the evidence-based knowledge that is necessary to have an informed practice." Founded in 1929, the John A. Hartford Foundation is a committed champion of training, research and service system innovations that promote the health and independence of America’s older adults. The Foundation was established by John A. Hartford. Hartford and his brother, George L. Hartford, both former chief executives of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, left the bulk of their estates to the Foundation upon their deaths in the 1950s. Additional information about the Foundation and it programs is available on its Web site www.jhartfound.org. The Gerontological Society of America is the nation's oldest and largest multidisciplinary organization devoted to research, education and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society, and its 5,000-plus members, is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers and the general public. - 30 - |
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