Pitt gets grant to study falls

The University of Pittsburgh has received a $7.5 million federal grant to establish a new center to study causes, consequences and prevention of falls among older adults.

The National Institute on Aging awarded the five-year research grant for creation of a Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at Pitt. It will involve more than 50 individuals from the university's School of Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, School of Nursing, School of Engineering and School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Dr. Stephanie A. Studenski, principal investigator for the grant, said many of the factors related to mobility problems and balance disorders among the elderly "are not well understood or not even recognized. In both clinical and research settings, assessment of balance and falls and therapeutic exercise are not standardized and may not be targeted toward specific impairments."

The Pepper center will integrate 11 ongoing projects on the topic at Pitt and sponsor six new ones in the first year. Its goal, ultimately, is to identify the most useful research findings and put them into practice in the community, reducing injuries from one of the greatest threats to the health of older adults.

Author to talk about caregiving

Jacqueline Marcell, an author who writes about caring for parents with Alzheimer's disease, will be the featured speaker at a May 5 forum hosted by the St. Margaret Foundation discussing options for dealing with dementia.

"Laughter and Tears in the Caregiving Years" is the title of Marcell's keynote lecture at 8:45 a.m. at the meeting co-sponsored by the university of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Center for Continuing Education. It will be held at the Holiday Inn in RIDC Park, 180 Gamma Drive in O'Hara.

Marcell, of Irvine, Calif., is a former television executive who cared for her parents after she quit working and wrote the book, "Elder Rage," about what she learned. She also hosts "Coping With Caregiving," an Internet radio program. She covers such topics as elder care law, communication between families and health professionals, caregiver needs, elder abuse and long-term care planning and insurance.

Other speakers will join Marcell May 5 in leading workshops on caregiving-related issues. Anyone may attend for an $8 fee by registering in advance by calling 412-784-4144. Professionals may earn continuing education credits for an additional $40.