Nila Priyambodo
News Editor
With older adults representing the fastest growing segment of society, the University of La Verne’s College of Business and Public Management established the Center for Health and Aging, making it the first in the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley.
Launched two weeks ago, the center supports the growing field of gerontology and will focus on improving the quality of life of adults as they age.
“These older adults are not only living longer but with greater vitality,” said Associate Professor of Health Services Management Joan Branin, who is also the center’s director. “They want an active and engaged lifestyle.”
According to Branin, the center will achieve this goal through education and training programs, research and consulting, community outreach and community/business partnerships and hosting major events that address health and aging issues.
For example, the center will train future healthcare and gerontology professionals, provide community educational outreach programs, conduct research on older working adults and health promotion and host annual research conferences.
In 2000 approximately one out of eight U.S. residents was age 65 or older and by 2030 one out of every five U.S. residents, which is 70 million people, will be age 65 or older, according to statistics from the United States Census Bureau.
“We came to the conclusion that the aging field is a growing need,” said Gordon Badovick, dean of school and business and global studies and professor of marketing.
Branin agreed with Badovick.
“We do not have a long time to get ready for this huge number of adults,” she said.
Being the first center in the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley, the University plans to make the center a major resource for businesses caring for the elderly in the area.
“The University is uniquely positioned to provide a leadership role because it is located near numerous retirement communities, healthcare providers and business organizations,” Branin said.
In addition, the center will expand upon the University’s three health and aging programs, including Master of Science in Gerontology, Certificate in Geriatric Care Management and Certificate in Gerontology.
Larry Boles, director of development and planned giving for Hillcrest, is currently working with Branin to create a life-long program with the center.
“This center is a great thing,” Boles said. “The center can raise interest in meeting the needs that seniors in the community have, but have not yet been met.”
The center was launched on Oct. 27 where it received a certificate of recognition from the state senate and state assembly.
The future for the center includes a conference in Washington D.C. in October 2005.
“I would like to see the center become a place where anyone in the state can go for anything cutting edge that happens in aging,” said Leslie Kerr, development director for the center.
“I want them to say ‘I went there first for this’,” Kerr added.
Overall, the center has received a positive response.
“Our objective is to supply, build and secure a presence and recognition in healthcare,” Badovick said. “We now have a foundation that can build into something in the next three to four years to give ULV good recognition.”
Nila Priyambodo can be reached at npriyambodo@ulv.edu.
