Office the Study of Aging: About Us

The Office for the Study of Aging (OSA) is committed to advancing research and education in aging issues. In the coming decades, record numbers of older people will face the risks of age-related disease, frailty, and dependence. This growing population presents unique challenges and opportunities in healthcare and long-term care.

As baby boomers age, SC’s older population will become more educated and sophisticated. They will be more interested and involved in health and long-term care decisions and will demand more personalized services. OSA seeks to enhance the quality of the lives of these individuals as they age.

OSA is in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. OSA is formerly the Alzheimer’s Disease Registry. This registry is the nation’s most comprehensive statewide registry of residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders.

All services and programs provided through OSA are grounded in research. We strive to present findings in practical, useable formats.

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the largest national association for professionally operated assisted living communities for seniors. OSA presented its Recruitment and Retention in Community Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs) initiative at the SC affiliate meeting on June 10, 2008 at the Columbia Conference Center. During the presentation, OSA engaged SC ALFA members in a discussion on recruitment, retention, and training challenges. The members learned their issues were similar to the CRCF data gathered from other administrators in SC. This data was used to identify SC’s workforce issues and to research strategies to address them. OSA presented an overview of the recruitment and retention training provided to date. Members also heard from a pilot site representative and SC ALFA Advisory Panel Member, Kelly Crouch. Crouch shared her experiences with the training workshops, including the strategies she has implemented, the successes and challenges she has had, and the impact of the training on recruitment and retention in her facility. Upcoming workshop topics were also presented. The SC ALFA meeting provided an opportunity for OSA to promote the recruitment and retention initiative and generated interest among the members who are faced with the challenge of long term care workforce issues.

The 5th Annual Nurse Aide Training Coordinators/Instructors Workshop was held April 16, 2008 with over 150 attendees. This year's workshop focused on Learner/Teacher Excellence with presentations on person-centered care, adult learning techniques and skills development. Carol Cornman, OSA Director, is the chair of the planning committe for Nurse Aide Training Workshop and Marcia Lane, OSA Associate Director, is on the plannning committee and provides evaluation and technical expertise. Additional sponsors of the workshop include key state and national entities involved in nurse aide training and testing in South Carolina. Improving the long-term care delivery systems is a key component of OSA's mission. South Carolina is one of the few states in the nation that brings together those who certify nursing assistants, the backbone of long term care, to learn, share ideas and network. Learn more about OSA's involvment in Nurse Aide Training.

Over the past six years, OSA has been conducting Dementia Dialogues, a basic course for caregivers leading to a Dementia Specialist Certificate, across the state of South Carolina. During the month of April, 2008 Jan Merling welcomed the 10,000th participant to the series and celebrated the 5,000th graduate. Offered statewide since 2002 in over 250 locations in 34 counties, the series has been widely attended. Fifty seven percent of the participants in Dementia Dialogues were direct caregivers employed in provision of services with an additional 7% being family or volunteer caregivers. Ten percent of attendees were in administrative or policy making positions.

Great class, every caretaker and family member should attend.

Family Parcipant

Based on the South Carolina Alzheimer’s Disease Registry, the number of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) is increasing in institutions and at home as the population ages. It is projected that 66,000 individuals in South Carolina will have a diagnosis of dementia by 2015. An understanding of both the disease process and the unique care requirements are necessary to maintain the quality of life for the individual with ADRD and their formal and informal caregivers.

I appreciated a real nuts and bolts series.

Registered Nurse

Dementia Dialogues is a five-part learning experience designed to educate individuals who care for persons who exhibit signs and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders. In collaboration with the Bureau of Long Term Care, South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, this training is provided to facilities and other related organizations at no cost. For more information about Dementia Dialogues please contact Jan Merling at 803-318-1601 or at jmerling@sc.edu.

The SC Alzheimer's Disease Registry 2007 Annual Report (PDF Format) is now available.

Over 60 agencies currently have a representative in training who will be able to conduct the Dementia Dialogues training.

The focus of this year's conference was Maintaing Vitality. OSA participated in the conference with several poster presentations, and both staff and students attended lectures and poster sessions.