Center on Aging Studies
at the University of Missouri-Kansas City

ABOUT US

Background Information:

The Center on Aging Studies  has been part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City since the 1970s. Originally established for research and education in aging, the Center was active in such landmark ventures as helping to establish and evaluate the first Area Agency on Aging (AAA) in Kansas City--one of the original five "pilot" AAA's funded by the federal government. Post doctorate studies in gerontology were also offered at that time by the Center on Aging Studies.

The year 1985 brought the addition of a program that utilized a "train the trainer" approach to educating persons in rural areas about such matters as caregiving, nutrition, and general health issues of the elderly. This program, The Volunteer Information Providers Program, was tested throughout Missouri through University of Missouri Extension Homemakers' Clubs, and was later disseminated nationwide.

In 1986, two landmark activities took place at the Center on Aging Studies. Dr. Warren Peterson, the original director of the Center, retired--and was replaced by Dr. Linda Breytspraak. Second, a program of graduate studies in gerontology was implemented, and the Center became home to a large project funded by the Kellogg Foundation: The Center on Rural Elderly (CORE). This project developed many educational materials, particularly in the areas of rural elders, minority elders, and intergenerational programming. The original Principal Investigators for this project were Dr. Philip Olson and Dr. Neil Bull. In 1989, Dr. James Gallaher assumed the role of principal investigator (PI) for the CORE project, and remained so until the end of the project, in 1993.

In 1988, another program--The National Resource Center for Rural Elderly (NRCRE), designated and funded by the Administration on Aging (AoA)--provided more educational and resource materials for aging rural elderly population and those who worked with them. The original PI for NRCRE's  projects was Dr. David Howard. Dr. Howard resigned his position in 1991, and was succeeded by Dr. Share DeCroix Bane, who remains the director of the NRCRE. One significant product of the NRCRE under Dr. Bane's direction, was "Mental Health and Aging: Training for Service Providers," which offered instruction to professionals in the field of aging on how to identify mental health issues among clients, and proper procedures for follow-up and intervention. This program has won several national awards.

A Gerontology Certificate Program was implemented in 1990, offering an organized plan of studies in gerontology for both undergraduate and graduate students. This eighteen-credit-hour program has become a popular credential among students who are in fields of study such as nursing, pharmacy, social work, and liberal studies. In ____, an undergraduate minor in gerontology was added to the curriculum of aging studies.

The late 1990s also brought the addition of a program for relatives raising children: The Grandparents As Parents (GAP) Outreach Program. Through this program, an extensive survey was done in Kansas City, Missouri, to determine the actual numbers of grandparents and other relatives raising grandchildren. Based on the findings of that survey, numerous activities were initiated through the GAP Outreach Program, including a Summer Academy and a mentoring project for children living with their grandparents, monthly educational programs for grandparents raising grandchildren, and a cooperative effort with the Toys for Tots program which provided help for close to 100 families at Christmastime.

Looking to the future:

As we proceed into the twenty-first century, the future of aging quickly becomes the here and now. Life almost expectancy doubled during the twentieth century. Life expectancy was approximately 45 in1900. Today it is almost 80 and is expected to continue for sometime. Approximately 7.5 thousand Baby Boomers celebrate their 65th birthday each day.

Retirement's face is changing dramatically. Rather than the end of productive years, retirement for more and more people becomes another career shift. While some remain in the workforce well past the age of 65, others take the opportunity of retirement to fulfill lifetime dreams of changing their careers. A pioneer of this trend was the late Col. Sanders, who built his Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) into a national operation after age 65.

Still other seniors opt to give back to their society after retirement. Some examples of that are AARP volunteers, members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and those who volunteer for the National Park Service during the summertime. (In fact, without senior volunteers, most of our National Parks would have to close or drastically reduce their services!)

As the aging population grows, not only will current career opportunities in aging expand; new careers will emerge which have not yet been identified. For those reasons, a gerontology credential will be a solid investment for anyone considering a career in most any human services, health care provision, and people-oriented professions.

The Center on Aging Studies will continue to stay in the educational forefront for those seeking to better understand the process of aging. We will also continue to be involved in research and education programs related to aging across Missouri, through our association with the University of Missouri Extension.