PSU Institute on Aging Newsletter, Spring 2026

Springtime always feels like a celebration, and true to form, this term’s newsletter is packed with updates that deserve our applause: introducing new IOA team members, congratulating our gero certificate graduates, sharing new publications and projects, and plenty more! Put your party hat on and keep reading!

Join us for a free, in-person event that centers connection, community, and civic engagement! Part of PSU’s Age Friendly University Initiative, this event brings us together to explore “civic love:” one’s love for society, expressed through a commitment to the common good. We will provide lunch! 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM at the PSU Native American Student and Community Center.

Promoting Older Adult Wellness and Evidence-Based Resources in Oregon (POWER-OR): This 3-year grant will increase the number of older adults and people living with disabilities in Oregon participating in structured evidence-based chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) and self-management support programs to address behavioral health challenges, specifically depression and substance use disorders. 

Evaluating Experiences with Connective Technology Programs:  We are currently evaluating technology-based programs designed to reduce social isolation and feelings of loneliness among older adults receiving long-term services and supports via Medicaid in Oregon for the Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging and People with Disabilities Division. We’re in the process of talking with participants of these programs across the state to learn more about their experiences. 

Older Adults, Gambling, and Behavioral Health: This contract with the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling (OCPG) is to conduct a gap analysis of Oregon’s higher education curriculum to determine the extent topics related to older adult behavioral health, including problem gambling are included in social work, psychology, counseling, and gerontology programs across Oregon.

After a one-year moratorium on the graduate certificate, we are thrilled to highlight this small but mighty group of graduates who have added the OHSU-PSU Gerontology Graduate Certificate to their degrees. We look forward to working together for many years to come!

We are proud to announce the latest GERI grant research project: “Dying in Place or Finding a Place to Die? Navigating Supportive Housing for Older People Experiencing Homelessness at the End of Life” led by Kathleen Conte, PhD and Susan Avila, LCSW.

Older adults are the fastest growing demographic of people experiencing homelessness, yet research has elicited precious few insights into the needs of the most vulnerable among them – those with terminal or life-limiting illnesses. This project seeks to remedy this gap by partnering with people with lived experience and local service providers to produce findings for existing service system improvements. We look forward to sharing updates on this important work!

Juell Towns, MPH is a Workforce Development Project Manager at the Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health & Aging (OCEBHA). Juell earned her MPH in Global Health from the University of Washington and has a research background in cognitive health and culturally celebratory ADRD interventions.

Kelsey Porter-Livingston, MSW is a Senior Research Assistant at the Regional Research Institute and a project manager of the IOA’s Evaluating Experiences with Connective Technology Programs project. Kelsey earned her MSW from the University of Michigan and has a background in community-based research and evaluation focused on public health, specifically in youth wellness and suicide prevention.

Madeline Crocker, MPH is a Research Assistant who is providing support to the OCEBHA.org, POWER-OR, and Quality Memory Care teams. She recently completed her MPH from the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. 

Megan Melady, MPA is a Senior Research Assistant and Project Manager for the POWER-OR project, enhancing care and services for older adults with behavioral health needs. Megan earned her MPA-Nonprofit Mgt. from PSU. Megan joins the IOA with an extensive background in chronic disease education and outreach at organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer's Association.

Why and How is Private Equity Involved in Assisted Living Community Development & Operations? Co-authored by several researchers including Dr. Paula Carder, Dr. Sarah Dys, and Dr. Jacklyn Kohon, this article explores the private equity (PE) involvement in AL mergers, acquisitions, development, and operations based on interviews with 46 senior housing professionals and state agents. 

A catalyst for innovation in global dementia policy and advocacy: insights from walking the talk for dementia, co-authored by Dr. Walt Dawson and Dr. Sherril Gelmon, explores the impact of the Walking the Talk for Dementia, an immersive event along the El Camino route in Spain with advocates, people living with dementia, care partners, policymakers, and politicians.

Examining Temporary Agency Staff Use in Assisted Living in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing, co-authored by Dr. Sarah Dys and Dr. Ozzy Tunalilar, used Oregon Community-Based Care data to compare agency staff utilization in assisted living, residential care, and memory care.

The Senior Adult Learning Center is celebrating the PSU Day of Giving Campaign, which generated $6,901 across 95 donors, unlocking an additional $10,000 contribution for a total of $16,901! Thank you to all who contributed; your dollars help ensure that this program continues to support the hundreds of auditors who attend classes each term. Learn more about SALC and how to support this important program by visiting their website.

We are a cross-disciplinary group of students - undergraduate and graduate - who are passionate about working in the aging field! Join our student chapter to build relationships, learn from each other, and collaborate on projects with and for older adults. We’ll pause our meetings over the summer, but be sure to stay tuned as we pick back up in Fall 2026! 

🗓️ Final Spring meeting: June 2nd @ 12PM | 4th Fl PSU Urban Center

May 26: 36 Questions for Intergenerational Civic Love Event

May 27: Meet the 4Ms: Better Care for Older Adults - This OCEBHA Lunch ‘n Learn will share an evidence-based approach to caring for older adults that focuses on What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility.

May 27: OGA Meaning, Loss, and What Matters: Exploring End-of-Life Values and Beliefs - This moderated discussion will bring together panelists with diverse professional and personal perspectives to explore how values, beliefs, culture, and lived experiences shape how individuals and families approach end-of-life decisions, grief, and care.

June 2: Last GSA Student Chapter Meeting of the year! Join us at 12PM in celebrating the end of the school year, sending off our graduates, and eating pizza! You’ll find us at the Urban Center, 4th floor terrace.

June 10: OGA Virtual Death Cafe - By engaging in open conversation, participants are invited to increase their awareness of death as a natural part of life, with the broader aim of supporting more intentional and meaningful living. The group will be kept small to allow for depth, safety and genuine connection.

Sept 15-16: OCEBHA Annual Behavioral Health & Aging Conference (Free!) - Join OCEBHA and leading professionals in the fields of geriatric care, mental health, substance use, and social services for skills-based sessions related to supporting the behavioral health needs of older adults across care settings.

We'd love to hear from you! You can connect with us on LinkedIn & sign up for an account on Portland State's alumni network, PSU Works.