CENTER on AGING. This Issue: Fall 2011

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1 CENTER on AGING Fall 2011 Dear readers, As I wrote in the last newsletter, I will be spending 6 months this year in Stockholm working with the Karolinska Institutet. You may not have known that a committee from this institution appoints the laureates for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Since it is almost time for the annual Nobel price festivities, I will take a moment to tell you about this interesting ceremony and this year s recipients. Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist who, among other things, invented dynamite and grew an international conglomerate and enormous wealth in the 19th century. After his death, Nobel s will provided a surprising and detailed last wish to establish an international scientific prize in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. The first Nobel prizes were awarded in In 1968, the Swedish Royal bank instituted the Nobel prize in Economics, in honor of Alfred Nobel. Most Nobel awards are given out in a specific ceremony on December 10 every year in Stockholm, while the peace price is given out in Oslo, Norway, on the same day. This year, the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine is going to three different individuals. One half will be given jointly to Bruce A. Beutler and Jules A. Hoffmann for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity and the other half to Ralph M. Steinman for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity. Sadly, Dr. Ralph Steinman died just days before the announcement. Steinman s employer, Rockefeller University in New York, learned of his death after the Nobel announcement. Steinman s wife, Claudia, said the family had planned to disclose his death Monday only to discover an to his cellphone from the Nobel committee. Colleagues in his laboratory claimed that his own research helped Steinman survive longer after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer more than 4 years ago. Steinman tried eight to 10 experimental therapies approved by the federal government, focusing in various ways on revving up his immune system to fight his cancer. This year s award winners in Physiology and Medicine have brought this field further, providing clues how to treat disorders related to inflammation that can both defend and destroy many systems in the body, and is involved in several age-related disorders including Alzheimer s disease, stroke, and Parkinson s disease. Reading about the men and women who have brought research forward during the more than 100 years of the existence of this prize is fascinating reading, and can be found at the Nobel committee s official site (www. nobelprize.org). The story about Dr. Steinman and his fight against his cancer bring to mind so many brave people that fight daily, a constant battle against a difficult and deadly disease, but never give up. The holidays are a time of year for reflection, kindness and family. I wish you all the best during the season and hope to see everyone soon in Charleston. Holiday Greetings, Lotta Granholm Lotta Granholm, PhD/DDS Director, Center on Aging David Bachman, MD Co-Director, Center on Aging This Issue: Trident Area Agency on Aging Aging News & Resources SC AHEC Neuropathology Laboratory Senior Mentor Program News Senior Mentor Program Spotlights

2 On Friday, October 28th Trident Area Agency on Aging held its first annual Rock-A-Thon fund raiser at Tanger Outlets to raise awareness and funds in the community for: Am I My Elder s Keeper? I Am. I ve worked hard all my life, raised children who are successful adults and planned for my golden years. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, many of my friends and I have questions or concerns about how we can continue to age successfully in our community. As we age, many activities of our daily lives that were taken for granted are now obstacles for staying independent. It s up to the community to keep our elders. The continuum of aging in place encompasses a broad spectrum of issues that will one day affect each of us, if we are fortunate enough to know and to share with our grandchildren and great grandchildren. Maintaining the house is not as easy as it used to be. But, I want to stay in my home. I just do not feel like cooking just for myself. Maybe I ll just snack on something later. Medicare open enrollment is so confusing. My sister is in a nursing home and I am not sure they are treating her as well as they should. What can I do? I relocated here to be closer to my adult children. The problem is, they work and are busy taking care of their children. How can I connect with people who may have similar interests? These and many other questions go through the minds of our elders every day. One of the problems is recognizing where to turn for the answers. Trident Area Agency on Aging, a 501(c)3 Not for Profit Corporation, provides assistance, advocacy and answers on aging. The organization works with the public and Medication Assistance Program Family Caregiver Support Program Home Safety Evaluation & Assistance Program private sectors to develop a cost-effective approach to longterm care services. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers. Information and Referral Assistance guides individuals through finding the services they need. Insurance Counseling Assistance provides health insurance counseling for Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Savings Program and Medicare Advantage Plans. The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents in long term care facilities. Alzheimer Disease Supportive Services provides assistance to caregivers of people with Alzheimer s disease and related disorders. The Family Caregiver Support Program offers information, assistance, training, peer support and counseling to help families cope with the stresses associated with caring for a loved one in the home. The Community Living Program offers assistance to individuals and families of someone at risk of nursing home placement. We are our elders keepers and should honor them with respect and dignity. If you have concerns about your aging, or that of a loved one, Trident Area Agency on Aging can help. Contact us at , or visit our website at:

3 Elder Rights Lawyer Receives 2011 MacArthur Fellowship The John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. Pet Peace of Mind offers nonprofit hospices a program model and funding to deliver in-home volunteer pet care services for patients who are unable to maintain appropriate routine health care and nutrition for their pets because of financial and/ or physical disability. It helps patients complete their end of life journey without worrying about their pet s current or future needs. Pet Peace of Mind also supports caregivers by providing an extra set of hands to relieve some of the workload. Lutheran Hospice, in partnership with Banfield Charitable Trust, receives funding from Pet Peace of Mind to provide a variety of pet care services, such as vaccinations, bathing, grooming, pet food, cat littler, dog walking, etc. for Lowcountry patients. This program meets an important need in the lives of hospice patients. For more information, contact Lutheran Hospice for Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester & Colleton counties at: One of the 2011 recipients of this fellowship is Marie-Therese Connolly, in support of her fervent dedication to combatting elder abuse and mistreatment. Her law career has been devoted to exposing, not only physical and psychological forms of abuse, but also financial exploitation and wrongful deprivation of rights. Marie-Therese Connolly, 2011 MacArthur Fellow Courtesy the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Connolly has served as the director of the Department of Justice s Elder Justice and Nursing Home Initiative, where she developed new legal theories of liability and novel investigation and litigation strategies that overcame loopholes in federal statutes and led to the prosecution of abuse and neglect cases in nursing homes. She was also instrumental in the drafting and passage of the Elder Justice Act, the first piece of federal legislation to address the issue specifically. As founder and director of the Life Long Justice initiative, Connolly s work continues to develop key legislation to prevent the suffering of older adults and make elder abuse a priority on the national agenda. MUSC at the 2011 Alzheimer s Association Walk to End Alzheimer s On Saturday, October 22nd Center on Aging and the Alzheimer s Research & Clinical Program staff raised nearly $1,500 for this year s event! Walk to End Alzheimer s, benefitting the Alzheimer s Association, is the nation s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. The ARCP s Greg Horres, was the star fundraiser for the MUSC team. Thanks to Caroline Mason for her hard work organizing the team. As of October 26th, the Alzheimer s Association has raised over $62,000 in Charleston and they continued to raise funds through November or

4 Videoconferencing Capabilities Expand Services for Health Professionals & Communities In the fall of 2010, the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium (AHEC) was selected to receive funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration after submitting an application for an initiative known as Equipment to Enhance the Training for Health Professionals. This American Recovery and Reinvestment Actfunded program has enabled the South Carolina AHEC to install Polycom videoconferencing equipment in the South Carolina AHEC Program Office, the offices of the four South Carolina AHEC regional centers, and in 20 rural hospitals across the state. The successful grant application lead to the creation of the South Carolina Health Occupations Outreach Learning System (SCHOOLS) that permits access to continuing education programs, health professions student rotation support, and research initiatives through the utilization of the videoconferencing equipment. Programs, trainings and meetings are delivered from any of the South Carolina AHEC locations over a high-speed, dedicated broadband highway known as the Palmetto State Providers Network (PSPN). OCONEE UPSTATE AHEC PICKENS ANDERSON GREENVILLE ABBEVILLE MCCORMICK SPARTANBURG LAURENS GREENWOOD AHEC Progam Office & Regional Centers EDGEFIELD Rural Hospital Host Sites CHEROKEE UNION NEWBERRY SALUDA AIKEN University of South Carolina YORK LEXINGTON BARNWELL Medical University of South Carolina CHESTER FAIRFIELD ALLENDALE MID-CAROLINA AHEC ORANGEBURG BAMBERG HAMPTON JASPER LANCASTER RICHLAND CALHOUN KERSHAW COLLETON DORCHESTER BEAUFORT CHESTERFIELD LEE SUMTER CLARENDON DARLINGTON CHARLESTON BERKELEY We are excited to launch SCHOOLS in partnership with the PSPN initiative, states Ragan DuBose-Morris, Director of Learning Services for the South Carolina AHEC and the project s principal investigator. The SCHOOLS network allows healthcare professionals in all areas of the state to participate in training programs that will directly impact patient care. The videoconferencing system can be utilized for research initiatives to train community-based personnel, facilitate meetings with partners across the state, and recruit study participants. The availability of the SCHOOLS network decreases the need to travel and increases the ability for investigators to apply for federal, state and foundation grants that require and support community-based research. MARLBORO FLORENCE WILLIAMSBURG DILLON MARION GEORGETOWN LOWCOUNTRY AHEC SCHOOLS Locations (see map): Abbeville Area Medical Center AnMed Women s & Children s Hospital Barnwell County Hospital Beaufort Memorial Hospital Cannon Memorial Hospital Chester Regional Medical Center Chesterfield General Hospital Clarendon Memorial Hospital Coastal Carolina Medical Center Edgefield County Hospital Fairfield Memorial Hospital Greenville Hospital System KershawHealth Laurens County Health Care System PEE DEE AHEC HORRY Loris Community Hospital Lowcountry AHEC (Walterboro) Marlboro Park Hospital McLeod Medical Center Darlington Mid-Carolina AHEC (Lancaster) Newberry County Memorial Hospital Oconee Memorial Hospital Pee Dee AHEC (Florence) Roper Hospital - Berkeley South Carolina AHEC (MUSC) The Regional Medical Center Upstate AHEC (Greenville) Upstate Carolina Medical Center Continuing education programs are offered regionally and statewide to any combination of the 25 SCHOOLS locations that are part of this initiative as well as other facilities that have compatible equipment. (see map) In addition, many programs that are recorded live can be viewed online by visiting the SCHOOLS website and selecting from content located on the Library page. Each program offers specific continuing education credit. We currently have an eight-part End-of- Life series for nurses and social workers that began this fall (see inset), as well as several other programs of interest for those who care for the elderly planned for early Calendar of Geriatric Programs on the SCHOOLS Network /6 End of Life: Communications 11/11 Legal and Ethical Considerations 12/8 Cultural Considerations /5 End of Life: Compassion Fatigue 2/2 End of Life: Symptom Management 2/7 Elder Abuse 3/2 End of Life: Pain Management 3/6 Financial Exploitation of the Elderly 4/5 End of Life: Final Hours 5/10 End of Life: Grief and Loss For additional information about SCHOOLS, visit or your regional AHEC website.

5 Think it is only important to become a brain donor if you have been diagnosed with a neurological disorder? THINK AGAIN! In order to perform research on brains that have been affected by diseases, such as Parkinson s or Alzheimer s, scientists must be able to compare them against normal agematched tissue. In addition, it is also important to study changes in the brain that occur with healthy aging. Why is it important to study brains of South Carolinians? - South Carolina has one of the highest rates of Alzheimer s disease in the nation - Stroke is also high in incidence in our state, and highest in the nation in terms of stroke-related deaths - Parkinson s disease has both genetic and environmental causes, and can be found in clusters downstream from paper mills and other factories in some of our South Carolina rivers In Other Words: Testimonial of a Registered Donor Through my work, I have the privilege of helping people and families affected by Alzheimer s disease and other dementia every day. The ability to plan ahead and donate my brain to the Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Neuropathology Laboratory gives me the opportunity to potentially help people with Alzheimer s even after my death. After I talked with my family and made my decision, the process to donate was effortless and straightforward. I hope my brain will be a valuable contribution to researchers as they strive to more clearly understand the causes of brain degeneration. -Laura Stefanelli, Charleston, SC The Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Neuropathology Laboratory continues to lead efforts to advance our understanding of neurological diseases. One of the major hurdles in battling these diseases is early detection. To address this problem, researchers have sought new ways to recognize the early stages of the brain deficits. Recently, in collaboration with Dr. Mark Eckert in the Otolaryngology Department, the laboratory began developing new imaging techniques of postmortem brain tissue to examine whether certain brain diseases can be identified before cognitive and physical deficits are seen. An area in the brainstem called the locus coeruleus degenerates early in Parkinson s disease (PD), and this degeneration may be involved in cognitive deficits that occur in patients with PD early in the disease progress, perhaps even before motor function deteriorates. This project aims at eventually developing in vivo imaging techniques to detect degeneration in this brain stem region, to be used as a potential Mammogram for the brain in the future. This project is part of the Udall grant application from the Movement Disorders group at MUSC, led by Drs. Gary Aston-Jones and Vanessa Hinson. Udall grants are large programmatic NIH funded research facilities focusing on PD and related disorders from a translational perspective. Interested in learning more about how you can contribute to the ongoing research of neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer s and Parkinson s diseases? Contact the MUSC Brain Bank Coordinator, Nicholas Gregory at or gregoryn@musc.edu

6 CENTER on AGING Welcome to the Class of 2015 and all of the new Senior Mentors! Senior Mentor Program What s happening with your medical students? The first year students have all met with their mentors and are turning in their Physiology on Aging papers. Second year students have all completed their Nutrition assignments and will soon be paired with Pharmacy students for their next assignment in the spring. Third year students are busy on their rotations and visiting their mentors while on their Internal Medicine and Psychiatry rotations. Fourth year students will have completed their final assignment by the end of December and will be looking forward to see their mentors at the Graduation Luncheon on March 15th! All mentors will receive letters by February with more details on the upcoming spring assignments. The Orientation Luncheon for new students to meet their mentors was on Monday, November 7th at the Citadel Alumni House. Dr. Wiley welcomed the 1st year students to the senior Mentor Program during student orientation on October 19th. Fall Assignment Schedule Class Assignment Due 2013 Fall Risk Assessment End of Internal Medicine Rotation* 2013 Life Review End of Psychiatric Rotation* 2012 Advanced Care Planning 12/31/2011 * This date will vary depending on each student s rotation schedule. The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change. - Carl Rogers

7 Senior Mentor Program Spotlight Thomasena Stokes-Marshall was born in Mt. Pleasant and moved to New York with her parents at the age of three. Educated in the New York City Public School System; Thomasena received her B.A. degree in Public Administration and Community Organization from New York University. After 24 years with the New York City Police Department; in 1991 she retired at the rank of Detective First Grade, and returned to her home town of Mount Pleasant SC. My parents had three children and I am the oldest and only girl. There is seven & twelve years between me and my two younger brothers. Both of my parents were hard working professionals and I cared for my younger siblings much of the time while they were at work. My mother was a victim of Alzheimer s disease and died at the age of 67 in My dad is currently 92 years old and also now a victim of Alzheimer s disease. I lost my husband and only child in 2003 and I have one grandson who lives in Tallahassee, Florida. I am who I am today because of the morals, values and principles that were instilled by my parents and extended family members. In 1998, Ms. Stokes-Marshall ran for a seat on the Mt. Pleasant Town Council and became the first African-American elected to serve on the Mt. Pleasant Town Council. In 2006 she was reelected to her third four-year term and currently serves as the Chairperson for the Planning Committee, a member of the Town s Fire, Annexation, Personnel and the Bids Purchasing Committee and chaired of the Action Committee for the Mt. Pleasant s Aging Population. My experiences in law enforcement provided me with opportunities to render a variety of services to people in all kinds of situations. I have always enjoyed working with and helping people whenever possible. My interests and greatest joy comes from serving people, mentoring youths and working to improve the lives of our growing senior population. Additionally, she has been the driving force towards establishing the Senior Service Center in the Town of Mt. Pleasant; that opened in October of 2009 to help position the town in a proactive position to address the growing needs of its active aging population. A dear friend, Ruth Towsend, had served as a Senior Mentor and told me about her experience with the program. She felt that I would be a good candidate for it. After talking with her about her experience and reading the information she provided me with, I too felt that it would be a wonderful opportunity for me, as well as the medical students who will soon become the doctors providing medical care to our senior population. The experience that I have had with my two students has been wonderful. They schedule and spend quality time with me. They have taken time to get to know me as a person. They are both inquisitive about my health issues and the medications that I take, my aches and pains and ability to move and get around. They have evaluated my home for safety issues, monitored my vital signs, and reviewed my overall health history and provide advice and suggestions concerning my health condition when they felt it is necessary. I know that the students will be selecting an area of medicine that they will want to specialize in. My advice to them would be to give consideration to specializing in geriatrics. For the first time in our country s history, our senior population is out-numbering any other age category. Seniors are living longer and we need more doctors who are well-versed in the practice of addressing the kind of illnesses and ailments associated with an aging population. I would like to commend the doctors, staff and all who are responsible for establishing the MUSC Senior Mentor Program. You all are to be commended for your foresight and visions for meeting the medical needs of our aging population. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with my two students and wish them all the best in their medical career. Matthew Tice 4th Year Medical Student I am from Spartanburg, SC and attended the University of South Carolina to study Biology/Chemistry. I was interested in laboratory science entering USC but after one semester, I didn t enjoy the lab classes as much as I did in high school. I wanted something more hands on. I heard that USC was holding an information session on being Pre-Med. I went and the rest is history. I plan to practice Emergency Medicine. Need to have a broad medical knowledge in the acute setting. Never know what you will see and treat in the Emergency Department. The most valuable thing I ve learned from my mentor so far has been to stay active in whatever you have interest in after retirement. The Senior Mentor Program has opened my eyes that sometimes its ok if the patient just wants live with the illness or medical problem as long as its symptoms don t prevent them from living their lives. I found it beneficial if you ask your mentors about major points in their lives or someone else life that effected them. Crystal Johnson 4th Year Medical Student I am originally from Camden, SC. I majored in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry at the University of South Carolina. My decision to pursue medicine was largely influenced by my father, a Paramedic and former director of our county s EMS department, since I used to go to some of the EMT classes he taught at night. His interactions with his patients and his students had a lasting impression on me. I have decided to pursue a career in surgery because I like being able to solve a problem surgically, and as a result, improve my patient s quality of life. The most valuable thing I have learned from my mentor is that you can continue to do whatever it is that your heart desires as long as you have the energy to do so. Age should never be a factor. From the Senior Mentor Program, I have learned the value of listening to older patients as they often have a lot of wisdom to impart to the younger generation. By listening, you also can learn quite a few things that may be affecting the patient s health. For other students, the time spent with your mentor is invaluable. You ll learn a lot from them, but also have fun!

8 CENTER on AGING STAFF Lotta Granholm-Bentley, DDS, PhD - Director, Center on Aging; Co-Director, Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Neuropathology Laboratory granholm@musc.edu David Bachman, MD - Co-Director, Center on Aging bachmadl@musc.edu Nyssa Sturbin - Business Manager sturbin@musc.edu Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. - Mark Twain Kathleen Wiley, MD - Director, Senior Mentor Program wileyk@musc.edu Rebekah Hardin, MHA - Education Coordinator Development, Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Neuropathology Laboratory hardinr@musc.edu Nicholas Gregory - Brain Donation Coordinator gregoryn@musc.edu Kelly Dillon - Program Assistant dillonk@musc.edu office: fax: CENTER on AGING 19 Hagood Avenue, Suite 806 MSC Charleston, SC 29425