THE GERONTOLOGIST

INNOVATION IN AGING
AnAOpen Access
Journal Journal
of The of The Gerontological
Gerontological Society Society of America
of America

EDITORIAL BOARD
Steven M. Albert, PhD Joseph E. Gaugler,
Katherine PhD
Abbott, PhD* Loretta Pecchioni, PhD
University of Pittsburgh University
Miami of Minnesota
University Louisiana State University
Kathleen Abrahamson, RN, PhD*
Rebecca S. Allen, PhD Laura N. Gitlin,
Purdue PhD
University Nancy J. Petersen, PhD
The University of Alabama Johns Hopkins University Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Tamara A. Baker, PhD
Jacqueline L. Angel, PhD University of Kansas
Kathy E. Green, PhD Center, Houston
The University of Texas at Austin Scott R. Beach,
University PhD*
of Denver
University of Pittsburgh Carl F. Pieper, DrPH
Tamara A. Baker, PhD R. Turner Goins,
Sara J. Czaja, PhD
PhD* Duke University Medical Center
University of South Florida WestUniversity
VirginiaofUniversity
Miami
Larry Polivka, PhD
Adam Davey, PhD*
Daniel Béland Leslie K. Hasche,
University PhD,
of Delaware, MSW
Newark Claude Pepper Center
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy University of Denver
Nancy R. Gee, PhD
SUNY, Fredonia
Thomas R. Prohaska, PhD
Jennifer Bellot, PhD, RN, MHSA William E. Haley, PhD University of Illinois at Chicago
Megan Gilligan, PhD
Thomas Jefferson University University of South
Iowa State Florida
University
Jill Quadagno, PhD
MaryHendricks,
Jon Ann Johnson,PhD
PhD The Florida State University
Mercedes Bern-Klug, PhD, MSW The University of Georgia
The University of Iowa Oregon State University
Yoshinori Kamo, PhD Anna Rahman, PhD
Louisiana
Pamela State
Herd,University
PhD
Richard Birkel, PhD University of Southern California
National Council on Aging University
Giyeonof Wisconsin
Kim, PhD
University of Alabama Ruth E. Ray, PhD
Christine E. Bishop, PhD Robert B. Hudson,
Min-Ah Lee, PhD PhD Wayne State University
Brandeis University Boston University
Chung-Ang University
David A. Nace, MD, MPH Virginia E. Richardson, PhD, MSW
Jamila Bookwala, PhD Kathryn Hyer,
University PhD, MPP
of Pittsburgh The Ohio State University
Lafayette College University of South
Marcia Ory, PhD* Florida
Texas A&M Sara E. Rix, PhD
Hayden Bosworth, PhD Marshall B. Kapp, JD, MPH
Karen A. Roberto, PhD* AARP Public Policy Institute
Durham VA Medical Center and Florida State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Duke University Medical Center Karen A. Roberto, PhD
Brian
Noah J.Kaskie,
Webster,PhD
PhD
University of Michigan Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Barbara J. Bowers, PhD, RN, FAAN University of Iowa
Richard Winett, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison Nancy Kelley-Gillespie,
Virginia Tech PhD Miriam S. Rose, MEd
University ofB.Nebraska Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
Margaret P. Calkins, PhD Jeremy Yorgasson,atPhD
Omaha
Brigham Young University
IDEAS Consulting Inc. Mary Ann Kluge, PhD Michael J. Rovine, PhD
Anna Zajacova, PhD*
University ofWestern
Colorado, Colorado Springs
University
Pennsylvania State University
Francis Caro, PhD
University of Massachusetts Boston Peter A. Lichtenberg, PhD, ABPP Laura P. Sands, PhD
Wayne State University Purdue University
Nicholas G. Castle, PhD
University of Pittsburgh *Fellow ofPhoebe S. Liebig,Society
The Gerontological PhD of America Andrew Scharlach, PhD
University of Southern California University of California- Berkeley
Barbara B. Cochrane, PhD, RN, FAAN
University of Washington Rebecca G. Logsdon, PhD Rick J. Scheidt, PhD
University of Washington Kansas State University
Constance L. Coogle, PhD
Virginia Commonwealth University Ronald J. Manheimer, PhD Richard Schulz, PhD
The Manheimer Group University of Pittsbugh
Teresa Cooney, PhD
University of Missouri Graham J. McDougall Jr., PhD, Debra Sheets, PhD, MSN, RN
RN, FAAN, FGSA University of Victoria
Katrina Cubit, PhD The University of Texas at Austin
Australian Nursing & Midwifery A. Lynn Snow, PhD
Lisa C. McGuire, PhD University of Alabama
Accreditation Council
Center for Disease Control and
Sara J. Czaja PhD Prevention Avron Spiro, PhD
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine VA Boston Healthcare System and
Kate de Medeiros, PhD
Boston University Medical Center
Jeanette M. Daly, RN, PhD Miami University
The University of Iowa Maximiliane E. Szinovacz, PhD
Suzanne Meeks, PhD
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Kara Bottiggi Dassel, PhD University of Louisville
Arizona Association of AAAs Claudia Meyer, MPH Jeanne A. Teresi, EdD, PhD
National Ageing Research Institute Columbia University and Research Division,
Adam Davey, PhD Hebrew Home, Riverdale
Temple University Edward Alan Miller, PhD, MPA
University of Massachusetts Boston Jennifer L. Troyer, PhD
Howard B. Degenholtz, PhD University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Pittsburgh Nancy Morrow-Howell, PhD, MSW, ACSW
Washington University in St. Louis Jim Vanden Bosch, MA
David J. Ekerdt, PhD Terra Nova Films
Naoko Muramatsu, PhD, MHSA
Innovation in Aging, 2017, Vol. 1, No. S1
THE ASILA PROGRAM: IMPROVED CARE IN
NURSING HOMES FOR FRAIL SENIORS
V. Boscart1, G. Heckman2, K. Huson1, M. Heyer1, J. Hirdes2,
1. School of Health & Life Sciences and Community
Services, Conestoga College, Bright, Ontario, Canada, 2.
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
The Applied Simulated and Integrated Learning Approach
(ASILA) aimed to advance targeted clinical outcomes for sen-
iors through the use of evidence-informed case simulations
of conditions among frail seniors with cognitive and physical
challenges. The ASILA program is based on the use of the
Minimum Data Set as a comprehensive geriatric assessment
(CGA) and quality improvement framework to facilitate care
planning.
A mixed method, repeated-measures design was used to
assess changes in nursing assistants’ (NA) knowledge and
perceptions of CGAs and resident clinical outcomes.
Quantitative data indicated meaningful improvements in
key knowledge areas. Qualitative data provided a description
of the impact of the ASILA program on staff knowledge and
role perceptions and how that translated to care practices.
The ASILA program successfully enhanced NAs’ knowl-
edge and perceptions of CGAs, and improved resident out-
comes, while emphasizing quality of life and promoting best
practices within a financial framework of accountability.
MASTER ON GERONTOLOGY: A PERSPECTIVE IN
GERONTOLOGY EDUCATION IN MEXICO
E. Arias-Merino, N.M. Mendoza Ruvalcaba, I. Díaz-García,
M. Flores Villavicencio, Salud Pública, Universidad de
Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
In order to prepare high-quality human resources in
Gerontology able to face the challenges of our aging soci-
ety, the University of Guadalajara (Mexico) had offered the
Master of Gerontology degree since 1994. Based on this
program, it has been developed a new program evaluated
and accepted in 2016, in the National Quality Graduate
Program of the National Council of Science and Technology
(CONACYT).
For this Master degree, gerontology is understood as a
field of the scientific knowledge inter-multi-transdisciplinary,
dedicated to the study of the process of aging, the old stage
and the older persons as individuals; from bio-psycho-social
perspectives.
From a Public Health approach, and based in solid ethi-
cal values and attitudes, the gerontologist profile includes the
knowledge to: 1)  describe understand and explain the life-
span from a bio-psycho-social perspective, 2)  differentiate
successful, active and healthy aging from pathological, 3) use
methods and techniques for the generation of knowledge and
intervention in the aging process, 4) understand the admin-
istrative process of institutions in gerontology, 5)  analyze
social policy and legislation, 6)  analyze the importance of
social perception of the older persons, 7) analyze the impor-
tance of the family and social network, as well as social sup-
port in gerontology interventions.
Is a competence-based program, and in a review, it was
found that its approach applies the gerontology competen-
cies for undergraduate and graduate education published by
AGHE in November 2014.
IAGG 2017 World Congress
389
HIGHER-LEVEL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AMONG
THE COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY IN JAPAN
P. Zhang1, H. Hayashi1, H. Sato2, T. Yamashita3, 1.
Department of Nursing, Saitama Prefectural University,
Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, 2. Takesato District
Public Hall, Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, 3. Chuo
Public Hall, Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Objective: Japan is a rapidly aging society, and thus nurs-
ing approaches that enable the elderly to lead longer and
more independent lives are needed. Therefore, the purpose of
this study was to gain a better understanding of higher-level
functional capacity among community-dwelling elderly.
Methods: A  questionnaire survey was conducted at a
Japanese community center for the elderly in October 2015.
The questionnaire was designed to identify the characteris-
tics of the elderly and assess higher-level functional capacity
according to the following four aspects: “using a new instru-
ment”; “collecting information”; “life management”; and
“social involvement”.
Results: A  total of 135 elderly individuals (42 men, 93
women; mean age, 74.6  years; range, 65–90  years) com-
pleted the questionnaire. Fifty-nine (43.7%) respondents
were living in a married household, 86 (63.7%) had a
chronic disease, 111 (82.2%) were pursuing a hobby, and
67 (49.6%) frequently participated in activities. The mean
(± standard deviation) higher-level functional capacity score
was 10.5 ± 3.8 points out of a possible total of 16. The mean
scores for “using a new instrument”, “collecting informa-
tion”, “life management”, and “social involvement” were
2.5 ± 1.3, 3.1 ± 1.1, 2.8 ± 1.1, and 2.0 ± 1.6, respectively.
Conclusions: According to a previous study, the mean
higher-level functional capacity score for a nationally rep-
resentative sample of community-dwelling elderly was
9.7 ± 4.2; that of this study was higher in comparison, indi-
cating that the elderly individuals in this study had excellent
functional capacity. In the future, nursing approaches that
help rejuvenate the community by enabling the elderly to
lead even longer and more independent lives are expected.
TRAINING AND MOTIVATION OF MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS FOR WORK WITH OLDER PEOPLE
IN BULGARIA
S.M. Mladenova, E. Ivanov, P. Balkanska,
A. Vodenicharova, A. Yanakieva, Faculty of Public Health,
Medical University - Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
Introduction: In the recent decades, in Bulgaria and in
Europe there is a steady trend of increase of the aging popu-
lation and as a result of this raising of the proportion of older
people.
One of the main tasks of our society is to provide appro-
priate conditions and satisfactory levels of care in order to
achieve good quality of life for older people. It is especially
important to take actions to provide a dignified aging of the
elderly.
The training of nurses in Bulgaria in the curricula is
included a course “Nursing care for elderly” which meets
the increased needs for specialists ready to work with old
people.
The aim of the study is to examine the need for special-
ized training, the readiness of medical specialists to work