2002 National Poll: Women 50+ Funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging
With support from the U.S. Administration on Aging, the National Center on Women and Aging (NCWA) has conducted a national poll focused on the evolving issues that confront women as they age. The poll moves beyond enumerating the vulnerabilities that face aging women to share the opinions and advice of this growing population of vibrant, vital, and engaged women.Focused on midlife and older women, the poll is the first of its kind. Participants completed a telephone survey, which examined health status, finances, life satisfaction, and concerns with a specific concentration on the different images, perceptions and attitudes that women have about aging. Among other unique contributions, the poll reports the experiences, attitudes, and opinions of women over age 80, a group that is rarely the focus of national polls.
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Topline Powerpoint presentation, as released on Monday November 18 at Washington DC's National Press Club
Press ReleaseThe Center continues to analyze poll results and will be posting more information in the months ahead.
Culture Shock: Exploring Ethnicity in the Nursing Home
A research project recently funded by the National Institutes of Health. This pilot study will explore racial relations in the nursing home environment, particularly among different levels of nursing staff nursing supervisors and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and how those relationships affect job satisfaction and retention of frontline nursing home workers. At the completion of this pilot project, a larger proposal will be submitted to develop a training program for CNAs and nursing supervisors based on the needs identified by these professionals. The second phase of the proposal also will conduct a systematic assessment of the training program at a national level.
Cancer Prevention and Treatment Demonstration for Ethnic and Racial Minorities
Funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Center is aiming to develop an evidence report on methods that reduce racial and ethnic minority group disparities in cancer prevention and treatment. The project will identify models that have a high probability of reducing risk factors and improving cancer-related health and clinical outcomes, satisfaction, quality of life, and appropriate use of Medicare-covered services for African American, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and American Indian and Alaskan Native elders.
Can Technology Relieve Caregiver Stress?
NCWA is collaborating with the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged to evaluate the potential benefits of technology in reducing employed caregivers' stress and burden. Caregivers will participate in either a "Low Tech" internet support group, or a "High Tech" group that will receive both the internet support group and Virtucare Technologies. The latter uses sensors to gather information about the frail elder's activities while the caregiver is at work. NCWA and its partners are designing the evaluation instruments and NCWA will be conducting the analysis of the data gathered over a two-year period.
The MetLife Juggling Act Study: Balancing Work and Caregiving and the Costs Involved Sponsored by a grant from the MetLife Mature Market Institute
The Center has conducted research in collaboration with the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) to examine the opportunity costs of caregiving among midlife and older women. By conducting in-depth interviews with 55 caregivers on their employment and caregiving histories, NCWA has estimated the costs borne by caregivers who must make adjustments to or sacrifices in their employment in order to provide care to relatives or friends who need assistance. This research provides a comprehensive picture of the compensation needed to address opportunity costs of workers who also provide unpaid care.Read a press release about the study and email MetLife for a free copy of the report.
