The Option in Aging Newsletter

In this Issue:

1. Salute to the Graduates
2. Management Committee Membership
3. Central Park Lodges Convocation Prize
4. MAG membership
5. History of the Option
6. Forum on Undergraduate Education
7. For Your Information

Salute to the Graduates of the Option in Aging: 1993-1995

As graduation approaches, students are beginning to think about life after university. Am I going to be able to find a job? Should I go on to grad school? After interviewing a number of former graduates of the Option, it is clear that that Option graduates have a significant advantage in the workplace. Considering the diverse background of the disciplines and indviduals that enter the Option, fromer students indicated high success and satisfaction with their chosen careers. In addition, many of the graduates are contributing to Winnipeg's older adult community. Here is a sample of the individuals that I spoke to and what they are currently doing:

• Judy Coleman, a graduate of Nursing in 1993 is now the head of the Special Needs Alzheimer's unit at Golden Links Personal Care Home. The option in aging assisted her in the decorative scheme, furniture design and layout to suit the special needs of individuals suffering from dementia. Judy supervises the care of 17 individuals.
• Tracy Wayne graduated from Social Work in 1993 and was the 1993 convocation prize winner. Tracy is the Executive Director of Good Neighbour's-- a community based organization for seniors. Good Neighbour's offers seniors fitness classes, dances, crafts and daytrips. There is also a support group for caregivers which meets monthly. Tracy strongly believes that the option gave her a well-rounded perspective on aging and is now pursing her Master's in Social Work at the University of Manitoba.
• Manuela Fontes, graduated from Human Ecology/Family Studies in 1994. Manuela has two positions at Central Park Lodges in Winnipeg. She is both the Part-Time Activity Coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator.
• Maureen McCatty also graduated from Human Ecology/Family Studies in 1994. Maureen is the Northwest Senior's Coordinator for the Seniors Escort Transportation Service; a division of the North Winnipeg Cooperative Community Council. Maureen assists seniors in getting assistance for roundtrip transportation, home maintenance and grocery shopping. "Busy" is how Maureen defines her job- she not only coordinates the referrals, she makes presentations within the community.
• Sandy Goatcher graduated from Physical Education and Recreation Studies in 1995. Sandy is working on her Master's in Physical Education and is also a research assistant at the Health, Leisure and Performance Institute at the U of M. Her research interests include aging and developmental abilities.
• Dianne Urquhart graduated from Human Ecology/ Family Studies in 1995. Dianne just finished a 5 month term position with Age and Opportunity Centre. She organized various educational programs, contacted instructors and speakers, and was also the coordinator of their volunteer program. Dianne is now looking for part-time employment.
• Connie Magnusson Schimnowski was a graduate of Social Work in 1994. Upon graduation, Connie was hired to conduct a needs assessment of seniors living in the Municipalities of East and West St. Paul which was funded by the Federal Government and the Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg. As a result of her research and final report, Connie was hired by the Middlechurch Home of Winnipeg and Manitoba Health to create services and offer them to the seniors in the Communities of East and West St. Paul. Her work was instrumental in implementing various services such as meals on wheels, housekeeping, snow clearing, nursing foot care and yard work. In Connie's words, "This is a great job. I love working with seniors in the community"!
• Mary Bell graduated from Nursing in 1995. Mary is currently teaching Nursing at the Misercordia Hospital's R.N. Program. She is currently developing a research project that involves older adults and is hoping she will receive funding for this project.

  As you can see, graduates of the Option are pursing interesting and challenging careers and at the same time, contributing to the care of the older adults in Manitoba. All of the graduates I interviewed enjoyed their experience in the Option and believe it gave them a definite advantage when it came time for them to look for employment. Congratulations to all the graduates and we wish them continued success in their future endeavours!

  Management Committee Membership

  The members of the Management Committee represent each of the six participatin facilities. Do not hesitate to get in contact with the members for more information on the Option:
  • Judy Chipperfield, Physical Education and Recreation Studies
  • Cynthia Cameron, Nursing
  • Lena Horne, Human Ecology
  • Barbara Payne, Arts
  • Nancy Maruca, Architecture
  • Sharon Taylor-Henley, Social Work
  • Laurel Strain, Director of the Centre on Aging is a member of the committee and information between the Option in Aging and the Centre on Aging is facilitated through her particpation.

  Central Park Lodges Convocation Prize for the Option in Aging

  Since 1993, Central Park Lodges has offered a convocation prize to the university of Manitoba to demonstrate its support for undergraduate education in aging. Central Park Lodges, an international organization founded in Winnipeg in 1961 provides accommodation and care-related services for older adults throughout North America. One prize of $500 is awarded annually to the graduating student who has the highest average in the 18 credit hours that constitute the Option in Aging. Previous recipients are:

  1993 Tracy Wayne (Social Work)

  1994 Christine Nykiforuk (Arts)

  1995 Margaret Kamer (Social Work)

  The 1996 recipient will be announced at the Convocation Luncheon on May 30th.

  MAG provides Membership to Option in Aging Student!

  The Manitoba Association on Gerontology (MAG) grew out of the interest and needs of many persons working in the field of aging throughout the province. It was established in 1980 and membership is open to those interested in and/or working in the field of gerontology. This year, MAG is offering a membership to a third year student with academic standing (minimum 3.0 GPA) who volunteers or is employed in the field of gerontology for a minimum of five hours per week. The recipient of the MAG membership for this year is Dan Lapuk, a third year nursing student. Dan is currently the research assistant to Lorna Guse of the Faculty of Nursing. He will be working this summer at the St. James/Assiniboia Senior Centre as part of the National Development Program for Seniors at Risk.

  History of the Option in Aging

  The Option in Aging was established in response to changing needs within the community and to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students at the University of Manitoba to focus on aging-related courses. The thrust of the Option is interdisciplinary education in aging. Initial support for the Option came from the Centre on Aging and the Program Development Fund at the University of Manitoba. Since January 1992, the Management Committee has overseen the Option in Aging, supervising the core courses ('Health and Physical Aspects of Aging' and 'Social Aspects of Aging') and providing leadership and advice to interested students. Each of the six of the participating faculties (Social Work, Nursing, Human Ecology, Arts, Architecture and Physical Education and Recreation Studies) is represented on the committee with a chairperson elected from that group. The director of the Centre on Aging is also a member. The Option has been operating for four years and we look forward to many more years of promoting undergraduate education in aging.

  Forum on Undergraduate Education in Aging

  On April 17th, 1996 the Management Committee of the Option in Aging held a forum on undergraduate education in aging. The purpose of the forum was to bring togehter instructors from the six participating faculties who teach aging-related content in their courses and who have taught within the two core courses of the Option in Aging (Health and Physical Aspects of Aging and Social Aspects of Aging). Individuals responsible for registration in the six faculties were also invited. The forum promoted an exchange of information and raised issues regarding the linkages among courses. Deemed as a success, the forum will be held again next April 1997.

  For Your Information

  Margot Christie, Associate Director of Nursing at Deer Lodge Centre has good things to say about students in the Option in Aging. Margot is involved in interviewing applicants for positions at Deer Lodge Centre and she always asks if the applicants program included completing the Option. Her observations are that the Option provides individuals with a broad knowledge base and a good understanding of the facts of aging. It's good to recognition for the Option in Aging in the community.

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  For more information on the Option in Aging contact Barbara Payne:

  Department of Sociology, University of Manitoba. R3T 2N2 204-474-8903.
  Questions or comments about this web page contact the webmaster.

  

  The Option in Aging Newsletter/ April 1996 Issue/ revised November 1996