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Message The Southern GerontologistSPRING/SUMMER 2025 I S S U E 1V O L U M E 3 2 s we approach the end of another year, we wanted to highlight some of thedifferent places where SGS President, Dr. Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson has beenpromoting the work of SGS. We are currently planning out outreach efforts for the2025-2026 SGS year. In June 2025, Amanda James is excited to attend theAging in Texas Conference. We hope this trip will increase attendance fromTexas at our 2026 Annual Meeting & Conference in Dallas. We hope you will beencouraged to share information about SGS at events that you are attending. Ifyou would like to request some handouts to provide at an event, would like toinvite a representative of SGS to attend an event, or want to share contactinformation for potential speakers/exhibitors that you meet at events, pleasereach out to Amanda James at admin@southerngerontologicalsociety.org. Alzheimer’s Association Community Leader’sSummit in Atlanta, GA

American Geriatrics SocietyAnnual Scientific MeetingDr. Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson with AARP CEO,Dr. Minter-Jordan at the Virginia Governor’sConference on Aging. Dr. McQueen-Gibsonserved as a co-chair for the event.2025 ALTER Dementia Conference(Left) Dr. Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson and SGS Member Dr. Fayron Epps (Right) Dr. Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson, Loretta Veney, and SGS Member Chanel ReidS P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 2

IN THIS ISSUES P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 34811121416Annual Meeting & Conference Recap2025 Award Winners Thank You SponsorsClin-STAR Opportunities for Early Career Clinician Scientists in AgingResearchThe National Association for Professional Gerontologists (NAPG): ReenergizingGerontologyMember Achievements17SGS Resources18TCU Dementia Caregiver Research19JAG/GGM Information20Interviews with Older Experts in Aging24Check It Out: Ashland Terrace26Awareness That Empowers Series 27Master the Art of Qualitative Research: 3-Part Workshop Series282025 - 2026 SGS Board of Directors

Birmingham, AL played host to our last Annual Meeting & Conference whereattendees networked with their friends and colleagues, shared best practices andresearch, and enjoyed the local hospitality. We received 216 registrations and hadat least 19 additional attendees who participated as presenters only, exhibitorsonly, companions, and guests. We hope to see you at our upcoming conferences!ANNUAL MEETING & CONFERENCE RECAPS P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 4

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GRITS AWARDIshan Williams2025 SGS AWARD WINNERSS P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 8GORDAN STREIBACADEMICGERONTOLOGISTAWARDLeslie TaylorAPPLIED GERONTOLOGIST AWARDS(left) David Hage(right) Glenna BrewsterRHODA L.JENNINGS OLDERADVOCATEAWARDRose Marie FaganMEDIA AWARDS(left) Orange County Dept. on Aging, Aging Well Together Show (right) Corinne Auman, Keenagers: Telling A New Story About Aging

VICTOR MARSHALL FELLOWS(First Row, Left to Right)Karen AppertJennie de la CruzElise EifertS P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 92025 SGS AWARD WINNERSBEST PRACTICES AWARDS(left) Virginia Memory Project (right) Creative Aging Network - NC(Second Row, Left to Right)Cassandra GermainJeffrey LentzKellie Mayfield

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 102025 SGS AWARD WINNERSSTUDENT POSTER AWARDS1st Place - Douglas Gyamfi2nd Place - Jasmine Sampson3rd Place - Natalia Babenko (not pictured)STUDENT PAPER AWARDS1st Place - Lauren Catlett2nd Place - Sarah Cho (not pictured)STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP TRAVEL AWARDS(left to right) Jeremiah Assan, Jerena McNeil, Elizabeth Lutz. Yanjun Dong & Younghyun Kim

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 11THANK YOU 2025 CONFERENCE SPONSORS!The Riverside Martha W. Goodson CenterCONFERENCEBAG SPONSORGOLD SPONSORSSILVER SPONSORSBRONZE PLUS Living with Dementia SponsorBRONZE SPONSORSCerebroFitEast Carolina University School of Social WorkThe Doctoral Program in Gerontology, University ofMaryland Baltimore and University of MarylandBaltimore CountyThe Erickson School of Aging Studies at UMBCHBCU Aging ConferenceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Department ofSociologyUniversity of South Florida, School of Aging Studies

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 12Clin-STAR Opportunities for Early Career Clinician Scientists in Aging Research

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S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 14The National Association for ProfessionalGerontologists (NAPG): Reenergizing Gerontology

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MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTSWe want to celebrate your achievements - professional or personal! Please:send any news you want to share to Amanda James atadmin@southerngerontologicalsociety.org.Dr. Jeffrey Lentz completeshis first marathon!Cynthia Gayle Wilkersonreceived her MSW with aConcentration in MentalHealth & Trauma.Dr. Joy Birabwa receives herDoctorate in Human Development& Family Studies. Pictured herewith her SGS Mentor, Dr. AltheaTaylor JonesS P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 16

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 17Calling all Students, Junior Faculty, Early CareerProfessionals, And More!Are you looking for a mentor? If so, complete ourmentorship interest survey. This brief survey aimsto assess the need for a mentoring program formembers of the Southern Gerontological Society(SGS). The mentoring is specifically designed for, butnot limited to, students, junior faculty, andpractitioners. The goal is to pair SGS members whofeel they’d benefit from mentoring with a senior SGSmember who has significant experience in yourdesired mentoring area.The information from this survey is confidentialunless you choose to provide your name and contactinformation so a potential mentor can contact you.There is no fee or other obligation on your part formentoring service.

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Journal of Applied Gerontology (JAG) provides an international forum for information that hasclear and immediate applicability to the health, care, and quality of life of older adults. Publishedmonthly, it brings you comprehensive coverage of all areas of gerontological practice and policy,such as caregiving, exercise, death and dying, ethnicity and aging, technology and care, long-term services and support, mental health, and sexuality. Submit your paperSage Open Aging (GGM) is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open access journal focusingon the psychological, behavioral, social, and biological aspects of aging. The journal addressesa wide variety of topics in gerontology and geriatrics, including health economics, healthservices research, health outcomes, public health, medicine, biology, equity, social science,epidemiology, demography, and nursing. GGM reflects the global importance and interest in thissubject area and its particular relevance to countries that are experiencing an exponentialgrowth in older population. SGS members receive a discount on publishing fees. Submit your paperThe Sage Journal Author Gateway provides a variety of How to Get Published resources(including a how to get published webinar series) and Promote your article guidelines tosupport authors. SAGE Author Services, powered by Editage, offers high-quality professional language editingand manuscript formatting services for pre-peer review manuscripts. S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 19WRITING A PAPER?

INTERVIEWS WITH OLDER EXPERTS IN AGING: “OUR KNOWLEDGE HELPED US AND CAN HELP OTHERS”S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 20S u b m i t t e d by F. M i c h a e l M a r t i n a n d S u e H a z e l e t tI n S p r i n g , 2 0 2 4 , s ev e r a l m e m b e r s o f t h e S G S E n c o r e C o m m i t t e e p a r t i c i p a t e d i ni n - d e p t h i n t e r v i e w s fo r a s t u d y c o n d u c t e d b y F. M i c h a e l M a r t i n fo c u s e d o n t h e i rp e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s g r o w i n g o l d e r. M r. M a r t i n h a d r e c e n t l y r e t i r e d f r o m ac a r e e r h e a d i n g t h e L i fe l o n g H e a l t h D i v i s i o n o f R i ve r s i d e H e a l t h S y s t e m s i nV i r g i n i a a n d b e c a m e i n t e r e s t e d i n ex p l o r i n g fa c t o r s i n o p t i m a l a g i n g . I n t h es p i r i t o f c o m b a t t i n g a g e i s m b y p r e s e n t i n g r e a l i s t i c , n o n - d e f i c i t p e r s p e c t i v e s o na g i n g , t h e E n c o r e C o m m i t t e e i s p l e a s e d t o s h a r e t h i s s y n o p s i s o f t h e s t u d y ’sf i n d i n g s . A g i n g E x p e r t s - N o w P r a c t i c i n g W h a t T h e y P r e a c h e dW h e n w e r e c e i ve a d v i c e f r o m a p r o fe s s i o n a l o n m a t t e r s t h a t m i g h t h a v ep r o fo u n d , l i f e c h a n g i n g e f f e c t s o n u s , o u r f i r s t i n s t i n c t i s t o a s k t h a t p e r s o nw h a t t h e y w o u l d d o i f t h e y w e r e i n o u r s h o e s . T h a t i s w h a t I d i d t h i s y e a r t og a i n a c t u a l f i r s t - h a n d k n o w l e d g e o f h o w t o a g e w e l l . I a s k e d s u p e r i n f o r m e dex p e r t s i n a g i n g i n t h e i r o l d e r y e a r s – t h o s e w h o a r e n ow u s i n g t h e i r u n i q u ek n o w l e d g e t o g e t t h e m o s t o u t o f t h i s s t a g e o f l i f e . B e g i n n i n g i n t h e 1 9 7 0 ’s , a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m s b e g a n t o t r a i n g e r o n t o l o g i s t s a n dg e r i a t r i c i a n s t o p r e p a r e fo r t h e l a r g e s t n u m b e r o f o l d e r a d u l t s i n t h e h i s t o r y o ft h e w o r l d . N o w, fo r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n h i s t o r y, t h e r e a r e l a r g e n u m b e r s o f t h e s et r a i n e d a g i n g ex p e r t s l i v i n g i n t h e i r o l d e r ye a r s . I l a u n c h e d a s t u d y t od e t e r m i n e h ow w e l l a s a m p l e o f t h i s g r o u p o f ex p e r t s w e r e a g i n g , a n d w h e t h e rt h e y u s e d t h e s a m e e l e m e n t s o f o p t i m a l ag i n g t h a t t h e y i m p a r t e d t o o t h e r s i nt h e i r c a r e e r s. T h i s i n i t i a l l a r g e c o h o r t o f a g i n g e x p e r t i s e i n o u r n a t i o n i s t o b e r eve r e d fo rb u i l d i n g t h e fo u n d a t i o n s o f w h a t w e k n o w t o d a y a r o u n d a g i n g r e l a t e d s c i e n c e ,m e d i c i n e , h e a l t h , p o l i c y, an d s e r v i c e s . T h e i r l i v e d i n s i g h t s in t o w h a t h a s g i v e nt h e m t h e b e s t a g i n g e x p e r i e n c e p o s s i b l e m a y o f f e r p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n s f o ro t h e r s s e e k i n g a d v i c e o n o p t i m a l a g i n g .Pa r t i c i p a n t s : 7 3 0 Ye a r s o f E x p e r i e n c e , L e a d e r s h i p , E x p e r t i s e a n d W i s d o m !I r e c r u i t e d c a r e e r e x p e r t s i n a g i n g , l a r g e l y f r o m r e f e r r a l s o f o t h e r t r u s t e dex p e r t s i n a g i n g . S o m e p a r t i c i p a n t s c a m e f r o m r e s p e c t e d ex p e r t s I k n e w i n t h ef i e l d . U s i n g a n ex t e n s i v e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , I i n t e r v i e w e d 1 9 h i g h l y r e s p e c t e d a n de d u c a t e d p a r t i c i p a n t s s p a n n i n g i n a g e f r o m 6 5 t o 9 0 , r e p r e s e n t i n g a c o m b i n e d7 3 0 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e i n a g i n g r e l a t e d m a t t e r s . T h i s g r o u p i n c l u d e d n o t o n l yex p e r t s b u t t r u e l e a d e r s i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e f i e l d s o f a g i n g .

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 21T h o s e a f f o r d i n g o p t i m a l a g i n g a d v i c e b a s e d o n v e r y p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s w e r eg e r i a t r i c i a n s w h o s t a r t e d s o m e o f t h e f i r s t fe l l o w s h i p p r o g r a m s i n t h e n a t i o n ,g e r o n t o l o g i s t s w h o l e d t o p a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m s , r e s e a r c h e r s o f f e r i n gfo u n d a t i o n a l s c i e n c e o f a g i n g , a n d s e r v i c e p r ov i d e r s i m p r o v i n g t h e q u a l i t y o fl i fe fo r t h o u s a n d s o f o l d e r a d u l t s . I n v i t e d t o o f fe r d e e p i n s i g h t i n t o t h e i r c u r r e n t c o n d i t i o n s a n d ex p e r i e n c e s , a n dp r o m i s e d a n o ny m i t y, ex t r e m e l y c a n d i d fe e d b a c k w a s a c q u i r e d f r o m t h i s g r o u p . A l l c l a i m e d t o b e a g i n g s u c c e s s f u l l y a n d / o r o p t i m a l l y t o a l a r g e d e g r e e , r e l y i n gh e a v i l y o n t i m e - t e s t e d t o o l s a n d m e t h o d s fo r o p t i m a l a g i n g . T h e i r r a n k i n g o ft h o s e t o o l s w a s e s p e c i a l l y i n t e r e s t i n g , o f f e r i n g a u n i q u e i n s i g h t i n t o u s e f u lp r o f i l e s o f o p t i m a l a g i n g . T h e y a l s o f u l l y a c k n o w l e d g e d a r e a s w h e r e w e t h e yc o u l d h a v e d o n e b e t t e r, a n d c o l l e c t i v e l y, p r e s e n t a r o a d m a p o n c r i t i c a l a r e a sa f fe c t i n g a n o p t i m a l a g i n g e x p e r i e n c e . R e s u l t s : M e t h o d s o f O p t i m a l A g i n g A r e N o t N e w B u t M u s t B e P r a c t i c e dT h e i r c o l l e c t i v e fe e d b a c k i s a t o o l k i t fo r h o w t o a g e w e l l . T h e i m p l i c a t i o n s a r et h a t o p t i m a l a g i n g d o e s h a v e a p r o f i l e t h a t i s e v i d e n c e - b a s e d , a n d n o w h a s o n em o r e v e r y p o w e r f u l va l i d a t i o n o f e f fe c t i v e n e s s t h a t o f f e r s p o t e n t i a l b e n e f i t t oo t h e r s . T h e b e s t a n d b r i g h t e s t i n t h e f i e l d o f a g i n g o f f e r p r o f o u n d i n s i g h t f r o ma l i v e d ex p e r i e n c e a n d t h e i r d e c a d e s o f c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e f i e l d . A s o n ep a r t i c i p a n t o f f e r e d , “ A l l t h e p e a r l s o f w i s d o m a r o u n d a g i n g s t i l l a p p l y.” A B r i e f O v e r v i ew o f O p t i m a l A g i n g M e t h o d s T h a t Wo r kW h i l e t h e r e a r e p o t e n t i a l l i m i t a t i o n s o f a s k e w e d s a m p l e o f a g i n g r e l a t e dex p e r t s , t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e i r fe e d b a c k o f fe r a n i n s i d e l o o k a t t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o no f o p t i m a l a g i n g t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e a n d i t s e f f e c t s. T h i s g r o u p , t h e m s e l v e sn o w c o n f r o n t i n g t h e e n t i r e s p e c t r u m o f a g i n g r e l a t e d i s s u e s , c o n f i r m e d t h a tm o s t m e t h o d s o f o p t i m a l a g i n g a d d t o q u a l i t y o f l i fe . T h ey a l l b e l i e v e t h a t t h e i rc a r e e r r e l a t e d e f fo r t s o n o p t i m i z i n g a g i n g y e a r s a r e r e l e v a n t a s r ev e a l e d b yt h e i r o w n p o s i t i ve a g i n g ex p e r i e n c e s . T h e c o m m o n t h e m e s o f a g r e e m e n t w e r em a n y. P l e a s e r e a d t h e f u l l r e p o r t f o r h i g h l i g h t s f r o m t h e f o l l ow i n g t h e m e s :C o n f r o n t t h e t r a j e c t o r y o f a g i n g : “ I k n ow t o o m u c h .”B e i n g i n t e n t i o n a l : “ I fo l l o w t h e a d v i c e c o n s c i o u s l y.”R e l a t i o n s h i p s : “ E v e r y o n e l e a r n s t h a t t h i s i s a b s o l u t e l y a k e y t o o p t i m a la g i n g ”O p t i m a l H e a l t h : “ S t a v i n g o f f i n e v i t a b l e d e c l i n e i s c r i t i c a l .”E m o t i o n a l H e a l t h , L o s s a n d G r i e f : “ I t ’s m o r e a b o u t n a v i g a t i n g i t v s m a s t e r i n gi t ”I m p o r t a n c e o f P l a n n i n g : “ S t a r t a t h i r d l i f e a p a r t f r o m w o r k a n d f a m i l y a n d d oi t e a r l y.”

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 22S u m m a r y / R e l e v a n c e : “ We c a n l i v e o u r l i v e s t o t h e f u l l e s t ”T h e r e w e r e s o m a n y o t h e r “ p e a r l s o f w i s d o m ” f r o m t h i s g r o u p w h o b e l i eve “ i t ’so k t o b e o l d .” G r e a t a d v i c e w a s c o l l e c t e d o n a d a p t i n g t o f o r c e d c h a n g e ,e m b r a c i n g n e w b e g i n n i n g s , o v e r c o m i n g a g e i s m , b e n e f i t s o f s p i r i t u a l h e a l t h ,i m p r o v i n g p u b l i c p o l i c y a n d m o r e . B u t i t w a s t h e i r s t r o n g b e l i e f t h a t t h e y a r eo p t i m a l l y a g i n g d u e t o t i m e t e s t e d m e t h o d s t h a t w h e n p r a c t i c e d w i t h i n t e n t a n dd i s c i p l i n e , l e a d t o o p t i m a l l y f u l f i l l i n g l i v e s u n t i l w e d i e . T h e y f a c e b o l d l y a l l o fw h a t t h e a g i n g e x p e r i e n c e w i l l o f f e r, t h e r e b y b u i l d i n g t h e a s s e t s t o b e h e a l t h i e rl o n g e r a n d p u t t i n g t h i n g s i n t o p e r s p e c t i v e t o h a ve j oy i n t h e i r l i v e s w h e n l o s s e sh a p p e n . W h i l e t h e r e w a s a g r e e m e n t t h a t m u c h o f o u r a g i n g e x p e r i e n c e i s w i t h i n o u rc o n t r o l , t h e y a d m i t t h e r e a r e i n e s c a p a bl e c h a l l e n g e s . A c o m m o n t h e m e wa s t h a tp e r s o n a l i t i e s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s c a n a f f e c t o u t c o m e s p o s i t i v e l y a n d n e g a t i ve l y.A l s o, w h e n l o s s e s o c c u r, t h e y s t i l l c o m e a s a s h o c k n o m a t t e r t h e k n o w l e d g e o rex p e r i e n c e . A n d t h e r e a r e ex t e r n a l eve n t s t h a t c a n h a v e d ev a s t a t i n g e f f e c t ss u c h a s d e m e n t i a w h e r e c o n t r o l o f o u r p e r s p e c t i v e i s l o s t . H o w ev e r, t h e l a r g e r t h e m e w a s t h a t w e c a n i m p r o ve o u r c h a n c e s o f a g i n go p t i m a l l y i f w e u s e t h e a p p r o a c h e s t h i s g r o u p h e l p e d d ev e l o p a n d t h e n a p p l i e dt o t h e i r o w n l i v e s . T h e y d o n ’ t w a n t t o d w e l l o n d e c l i n e a s t h e o n l y a s p e c t o fa g i n g bu t a r e i n t e n t i o n a l a b o u t d e l a y i n g i t a n d h av i n g s o m e p l a n s i n p l a c e fo ri t s ev e n t u a l i t y. A n d t h e i r fo c u s o n a m e a n i n g f u l s o c i a l n e t w o r k , p e a c e o f m i n dt h r o u g h g r a t i t u d e , a n o u t w a r d f a c i n g d i r e c t i o n o f p u r p o s e , a n d s t a r t i n g e a r l y i np l a n n i n g , c o l l e c t i v e l y w o r k t o m a k e o u r a g i n g l i v e s s o m e t h i n g t o b e t r e a s u r e d .T h e y o f fe r e d k e e n i n s i g h t o n t h e p r a c t i c a l i t y o f t h e s e c r i t i c a l a s p e c t s o f o p t i m a la g i n g a n d h o w t h e y c a n i m p r o v e a n y o n e ’s a g i n g e x p e r i e n c e . F i n a l l y, I a s k e d w h a t w o u l d g i ve u s a l l t h e b e s t c h a n c e a t o p t i m a l a g i n g , b o t hw h i l e h e a l t h y a n d w i t h d i m i n i s h i n g f u n c t i o n : W h i l e h e a l t h y : “ G e t a w a y f r o mb e i n g d e f i n e d b y c h r o n o l o g i c a l a g e w i t h o u t d i s o w n i n g yo u r a g e … b e g e n e r o u sa n d i n vo l v e o t h e r s … a n d w h i l e y o u ’r e h e a l t h y, w o r k o n ex t e n d i n g i t , a p p r e c i a t ei t , k n o w i t ’s n o t fo r eve r, a n d t h e n t a ke a d v a n t a g e o f i t . ” W i t h d i m i n i s h i n gf u n c t i o n : “ P l a n fo r t h i s t i m e t o g i ve y o u r s e l f t h e h i g h e s t f u n c t i o n p o s s i b l e a n dd o n ’ t p a s s t h i s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o o t h e r s.” “ H a v e a d e e p w e l l o f a c c e p t a n c e a n dg r a t i t u d e a n d fa i t h , h a v e i n t e r e s t s t h a t a r e s u s t a i n a b l e , s t ay c o n n e c t e d , a n dd ev e l o p a p o s i t i v e o u t l o o k f o r w h a t t h e d a y b r i n g s .”

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 22W h i l e t h e r e w a s n o t a l l e n c o m p a s s i n g q u o t e o n t h i s m a t t e r, t h i s o f f e r i n g f r o ma n e s t e e m e d g e r i a t r i c i a n w a s c l o s e : “ T h e r e s e a r c h d o e s n ’ t ev e r c h a n g e b u tc l a r i f i e s t h e a b s o l u t e m e t h o d s t o s t ay h e a l t h y, f u n c t i o n a l l y o p t i m a l a n d a g ew e l l . E s s e n t i a l l y i f w e ’r e l u c k y e n o u g h , t h a t eve n w i t h f u n c t i o n a l d i s a b i l i t y a n dc h r o n i c d i s e a s e , w e c a n l i ve o u r l i v e s t o t h e f u l l e s t a n d s e t a d i f f e r e n t s t a n d a r dt h a n y e a r s p a s t . Pe o p l e a r e h u n g r y fo r t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n .” A b o u t t h e a u t h o r : M i c h a e l M a r t i n r e c e i v e d h i s g r a d u a t e d e g r e e f r o m t h e C e n t e rfo r S t u d i e s i n A g i n g a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f N o r t h Tex a s i n 1 9 7 8 a n d h a d a l e n g t h yc a r e e r i n a g i n g r e l a t e d s e r v i c e s . A s a s e n i o r o f f i c e r i n a m a j o r h e a l t h s y s t e m ,h e s p e a r h e a d e d t h e l a r g e s t n e t w o r k o f a g i n g fo c u s e d s e r v i c e s i n V i r g i n i ai n c l u d i n g m a ny f i r s t o f t h e i r k i n d o f fe r i n g s i n t h e S t a t e . H e i s n o w r e t i r e d ,c o n t e m p l a t i n g h o w t o o p t i m a l l y a g e , a n d a t t e m p t i n g t o u t i l i z e a l l t h e a d v i c ep r e s e n t e d i n t h i s s t u d y. T h e i n t e n t i s t o h a v e f u r t h e r a r t i c l e s a n d d e t a i l f r o mt h i s p i l o t s t u d y. T h e h o p e i s t h a t i t b e c o m e s a c a t a l y s t fo r m o r e c o n v e r s a t i o na n d i n t e r e s t o n h ow t o h e l p o t h e r s o p t i m a l l y a g e . A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s : S p e c i a l t h a n k s g o t o t h e E n c o r e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e S o u t h e r nG e r o n t o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y fo r t h e i r w o r k i n a s s i s t i n g w i t h p o t e n t i a l p a r t i c i p a n tc a n d i d a t e s , e n c o u r a g e m e n t t o p u r s u e t h i s w o r k , a n d h e l p i n a n y w i d e rd i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e f i n d i n g s . A l s o, I a m h u m b l e d b y t h e ex t e n s i ve , c a n d i d , a n de n l i g h t e n i n g fe e d b a c k f r o m a l l t h e e s t e e m e d p a r t i c i p a n t s o f t h e s t u d y. T h i se n t i r e e f f o r t w o u l d h a v e b e e n i m p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t t h e i r s e l f l e s s n e s s, o p e n n e s s,a n d w i l l i n g n e s s t o s h a r e v e r y p r i v a t e t h o u g h t s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s .R e a d t h e F u l l A r t i c l e

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 24I n t h i s n e w s l e t t e r i s s u e w e a r e i n t r o d u c i n g a n e w f e a t u r e— C H E C K I T O U T . I n e a c h N e w s l e t t e r w e w i l l f e a t u r e au n i q u e n o n - p r o f i t v e n t u r e l o c a t e d i n o n e o f o u r m e m b e rs t a t e s . T h i s i s n o t d e s i g n e d a s a n a d ve r t i s i n g p l oy fo r t h efe a t u r e d e n t i t y b u t r a t h e r t o b r i n g a t t e n t i o n t o i d e a s ,p l a c e s o r p r o gr a m s t h a t a r e t r u l y u n i q u e a n d i n n o va t i v ew i t h i n o u r r e g i o n .T h e i d e a i s t h a t i f y o u h a p p e n t o b e i n t h e v i c i n i t y, y o u w i l l b e a b l e t o s e tu p a v i s i t t o f i n d o u t m o r e a b o u t t h e f a c i l i t y o r p r o g r a m . W e h o p e t h a to v e r t i m e w e w i l l b e a b l e t o b u i l d a n i n v e n t o r y o f s u c h s i t e s ( a n d c o n t a c ti n fo r m a t i o n ) t h a t w i l l b e a v a i l a bl e t o S G S m e m b e r s s o t h a t t h e y c a n v i s i tw h e n t h ey h a p p e n t o b e n e a r by. T h e f i r s t p l a c e t o b e f e a t u r e d i s A s h l a n dTe r r a c e i n L e x i n g t o n , Ke n t u c k y. I f y o u h a v e a s u g g e s t i o n f o r a f u t u r es p o t l i g h t , p l e a s e e m a i l A m a n d a Ja m e s a t a d m i n @ s o u t h e r n g e r o n t o l o g i c a l s o c i e t y. o r g . A S H L A N D T E R R A C EI n a n e ra o f a c u t e h o u s i n g s h o r t a g e , p a r t i c u l a r l y fo r t h o s e o f l i m i t e dm e a n s, A s h l a n d Te r r a c e s t a n d s o u t a s a u n i q u e n o n - p r o f i t 5 0 1 ( c ) 3 p u b l i cc h a r i t y a n d i n d e p e n d e n t l i v i n g c o m m u n i t y o f v i b r a n t o l d e r w o m e n( a v e r a g e a g e c i r c a 8 5 ) . A bl e t o p r i va t e l y s u b s i d i z e r e n t b e c a u s e o fg e n e r o u s c o m m u n i t y d o n a t i o n s , A s h l a n d Te r r a c e o f f e r s a n a f fo r d a b l eo p t i o n fo r c o m m u n i t y l i v i n g ( fe a t u r e d a t t h e 2 0 2 4 S G S a n nu a l m e e t i n g ) .O v e r i t s l e n g t h y h i s t o r y, t h e m i s s i o n h a s r e m a i n e d t h e s a m e : t o p r o v i d ea s e c u r e, f r i e n d l y, a f f o r d a bl e h o m e t o w o m e n s i x t y y e a r s o f a g e a n do l d e r. A s h l a n d Te r r a c e o r i g i n a t e d i n 1 8 4 9 a s a c o m m u n i t y r e s p o n s e t o aC h o l e r a e p i d e m i c i n L ex i n g t o n , Ke n t u c k y. I n i t i a l l y k n ow n a s t h e “ H o m e o ft h e Fr i e n d l e s s ” t h e c o m m u n i t y s e r v e d a n y o n e l e f t d e s t i t u t e by t h es i ck n e s s – l a r g e l y w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n . A s t h e c h o l e r a e p i d e m i c e n d e da n d t i m e p a s s e d , A s h l a n d Te r r a c e b e c a m e k n o w n a s t h e “ O l d L a d i e sH o m e ” . I n D e c e m b e r o f 1 9 2 3 , A s h l a n d Te r r a c e i n c o r p o r a t e d a s t h e “ O l dL a d i e s H o m e ” .

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 25T h e c u r r e n t l o c a t i o n , a t 4 7 5 S. A s h l a n d Av e n u e , o p e n e d i n t h e S p r i n g o f1 9 6 0 a s t h e “ O l d L a d i e s H o m e ” . I n t h e 1 9 7 0 s , t h e r e s i d e n t s r e q u e s t e d an a m e c h a n g e t o “ A s h l a n d Te r r a c e .” A s i n d e p e n d e n t l i v i n g , A s h l a n dTe r r a c e r e q u i r e s p r o s p e c t i ve r e s i d e n t s t o b e : a g e 6 0 o r o l d e r, a bl e t od r e s s, t a k e c a r e o f t h e i r r o o m a n d g e t t o t h e d i n i n g r o o m o n t h e i r o w nt h r e e t i m e s d a i l y fo r m e a l s , w i t h o u t d e m e n t i a o r M i l d C o g n i t i veI m p a i r m e n t , a n d c o r d i a l a n d a p p r o p r i a t e f o r c o m m u n a l l i v i n g . Pe t s a r ee n c o u r a g e d . B e c a u s e o f i t s i n t e n t i o n a l l y l i m i t e d s i z e ( 3 5 r e s i d e n t s ) ,A s h l a n d Te r r a c e i s a b l e t o m a i n t a i n a s t r o n g f a m i l y - o r i e n t e d c o m m u n i t yc u l t u r e . I t s u n i q u e fe a t u r e s i n c l u d e vo l u n t e e r l i n k s w i t h t h e n e a r byU n i v e r s i t y o f Ke n t u ck y a n d a p u b l i c c u t t i n g g a r d e n t h a t r e i n fo r c e a s t r o n gl i n k w i t h t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c o m m u n i t y. I f y o u w o u l d l i ke t o v i s i t , p l e a s ec o n t a c t A s h l a n d Te r r a c e i n a d v a n c e a t w w w. a s h l a n d t e r r a c e . o r g o r ( 8 5 9 )2 6 6 - 2 5 8 1 .

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S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 5PAGE 28INCOMING SGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025 - 2026President: Dr. Ethlyn Gibson, DNP, MSN, RN-BCPresident - Elect: Dr. Abby J. Schwartz, MGS, MSW, FSGSSecretary: Sandi Lane, Ph.D.Treasurer: Lee Ann Steffen Ferguson, Ph.D.Treasurer-Elect: VACANTPast-President: Leland "Bert" Waters, Ph.D.Member - at- Large (Year 2 of 2)Noelle Fields, Ph.D., LCSWHeath Harllee, Ph.D, MHATracy McClinton, DNP, AGACNP-BC, APRN, HGET-C, EBP-CTimMarie Williams, Ph.D., MCG Member-at-Large (Year 1 of 2)Glenna S. Brewster Glasgow, Ph.D., RN, FNP-BCDavid Hage, PhD, MSW, LCSW, FACHE, ACSW, C-ASWCM, CDPJennifer Craft Morgan, PhD, FGSAKim Stansbury, Ph.D., M.S.W.Encore Representatives:Jodi Teitelman, Ph. D. Graham Rowles, Ph. D. Student Representative:Glynis Boyd Hughes , MS Student Representative-Elect: VACANT