Ralston grant focuses on elderly

Nursing students Nadine Jackson and Laura Norris have been named Ralston House Scholars. The students now have the opportunity to do intensive research with senior research scholars at the University over the next three years, School of Nursing spokesperson Susan Greenbaum said yesterday. The program was initiated with a grant from the Ralston House to enable students to do research in gerontology. Ralston House is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving and maintaining the health of the elderly in the Philadelphia area. Ralston House chose to initiate the program to help draw more interested people in the field of eldercare, according to Nursing School Director of Development and Alumni Relations Catherine Judge. "It's innovative," Judge said. "We're proud that Ralston House took a chance on this." She added that this is the first year the program has been offered at the University. "We're very excited about this," she said. "It's what we should be doing at Penn." Each of the students will be working with a member of the University faculty on a special project in eldercare. Jackson, a sophomore, will work with Nursing Undergraduate Dean Mary Naylor, a specialist in undergraduate education and co-director of the Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Norris, a student in the second degree Nursing program, will work with Nursing and Sociology Professor Linda Aiken, director of the Center for Heath Services and Policy Research. The students will begin their research work this summer, and will continue for the next three years. Judge said this program will allow students to have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the area of gerontological research. She added that the program is part of the Nursing School's response to the 21st Century Project on Undergraduate Education. "We're starting in the field of gerontology, but soon we hope to make programs like this available to students in all fields of nursing," she said. Judge added that students already have the opportunity to work with faculty members on a number of projects, such as research teams and the co-authoring of papers and reports. Norris said she is very happy to be involved with the program. "I've been involved in research since I was in high school," she said. Norris said she thinks the issue of health care for the elderly is an important one. "Health care is changing and no one is quite sure what direction it is going to go in," she said. Jackson also said she feels the issue is pressing. "People are always advocating for children and adults, but there is not a lot of support or advocation for people over 80," she said. Jackson added that she was excited to be accepted to the program since she has always had a general interest in public help.