Projects
Recent Presentations and Reports
Fontane, Patrick E. and Lombardo, Maria C. , Pharm.D. "Some Preliminary Conclusions About Senior Volunteers: To Improve the Local Community ... or for Public Recognition?" podium presentation at the Midwest Sociological Society annual meeting in Chicago, IL March 31-April 3, 2010.
Harper, Patrick and Roe, Cathy "Thyroid Medication Use and Subsequent Development of Dementia of the Alzheimer Type," Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 23(1):63-69 (March 2010).
Shane Austin, Perceptions of the Elderly as Affected by the Geriatric Medication Game." Poster presentation at the Student Research Symposium, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, February 27, 2010.
Adam Bohn, "Modeling the Unfolding of the RRM2 of TDP-43 Molecule". Podium presentation at the Student Research Symposium, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, February 27, 2010.
Jonathan Day, "Dementia Studies: An Inflammatory and Multisystem Approach." Podium presentation at the Student Research Symposium, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, February 27, 2010.
Lauren Heimberger, "Effects of Religiosity on Feelings of Control in Older Adults." Podium presentation at the Student Research Symposium, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, February 27, 2010.
Vincent Jones, II, "Perceptions of the Elderly Population by College Freshmen." Podium presentation at the Student Research Symposium, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, February 27, 2010.
Current Activities
Geriatric Medication Game
The revised and updated (2009) Geriatric Medication Game is available for purchase. This structured simulation allows participants to experience the U.S. health care system from the perspective of older persons. Inquiries should be addressed to Patrick Fontane at pfontane@stlcop.edu or 314.446.8447. Please see the Geriatric Medication Game on this Web site for information about the Game.
Dimensions of Religiosity and Life Satisfaction Among a National Sample of Older Persons
There is consistent evidence of positive relationships linking religious behavior (e.g. attending religious services, group scripture study) and religious devotional activities (e.g. private prayer) to indicators of life satisfaction (e.g. "I look forward to beginning each new day") and general health (e.g. fewer days of illness). This is a secondary analysis of data gathered by Neil Krause in 2005 (NIA R01-AG-014749). Preliminary findings indicate that older persons' "religiousness" is related to a sense of control that includes perceived social support. Inquiries should be addressed to Patrick Fontane at pfontane@stlcop.edu or 314.446.8447.
Images of Aging: An Application of Participatory Photography
Understanding perspectives of aging in a specific community via photographs provided by older residents. This is an application of the Photovoice method of inquiry (participatory photography). Inquiries should be addressed to Elizabeth Rattine-Flaherty at Elizabeth.Rattine-Flaherty@stlcop.edu or 314.446.8458.
Perceptions of Older Persons by Entering College Freshmen
The Perception of Older Persons project began in 2000 with the intention to survey freshmen college students about their perceptions of older persons. Data consisted of results from a survey of the Introduction to Sociology class at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. The primary purpose was to longitudinally chart young adult views of the older adult population. A secondary issue was to assess students in a health profession curriculum to learn if their perception of older persons would change as they neared graduation from that curriculum.
Two schools have been added to the protocol in 2004 and 2006, and a variation of the instrument has been added to subjectively anchor the perceptions. Each year a different student is assigned to this project and their report is provided.
Click here for more information on the 2010 survey.
Past Projects of Selected Interest
Senior Center Survey
Healthful Aging and Leisure Activities of Senior Citizens Center Participants. The survey was conducted in October 2001; N=735 respondents; response rate exceeds 80%. Primary Investigator was Dr. Patrick Fontane. The purpose was to determine characteristics of persons who regularly attend community senior citizens centers, in this case, sponsored by the Mideast Area Agency on Aging (Manchester, Mo.). This survey was intended to obtain baseline information. Future directions include comparing these respondents to community residing older persons who do not attend a senior center; querying why persons attend the senior center; and evaluating senior center programming.
Senior Athletes Project
The Senior Athletes Project gathered survey data from participants in the U.S. Senior Games from the Senior Olympics between 1989 and 1999. The Senior Games occur in alternate years. Profs. Patrick Fontane and Peter Hurd were the co-investigators. Approximately two-thirds of each survey contained the same questions. The remainder targeted a topic of special interest for the investigators. These topical areas, the year they were explored, and interim year surveys are listed.
1989 - Basic demographic information
1991 - Fitness regimens and equipment used
1992 - Leisure activities of national senior athletes*
1993 - Voluntary association memberships and leisure activities
1995 - Utilization of health care system
1996 - Treatment of athletic injuries among hypertensive national senior athletes*
1997 - Preparation for competition
1998 - Use of herbal and natural products among national senior athletes*
1999 - Reasons for athletic competition
*Student projects
The primary focus has been motives for maintaining regular exercise and competition. Competitive health, as the expression of one’s good health compared to peers, or stereotypes, has emerged as a common explanatory concept. Adjustment to retirement, and the camaraderie with those who are similar to themselves also have influenced the behavior choices of the senior athletes. Current focus is upon motives of older women who exercise to the level of athletic competition.