Challenges and Opportunities of Aging in Rural Communities

Joseph E. Gaugler, PhD
Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care (LTC) and Aging & Professor
Director, SPH Center on Aging
Division of Health Policy and Management
University of Minnesota

My research examines the sources and effectiveness of long-term care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic conditions. An applied gerontologist, my interests include Alzheimer’s disease and long-term care, the longitudinal ramifications of family care for persons with dementia and other chronic conditions, and the effectiveness of community-based and psychosocial services for older adults with dementia and their caregiving families. Underpinning these substantive areas, I also have interests in longitudinal and mixed methods.

Aging Safely and Productively: What you need to know

Lisa F Schiller, PhD, APNP, RN, FNP-BC
Associate Professor / Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Graduate Programs Director
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Department of Nursing
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Lisa Schiller is an Associate Professor and Graduate Programs Director at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. She has been at the University since 2009. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner and has been practicing in rural Wisconsin for 23 years. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and has a certificate in Agricultural Health and Safety from the University of Iowa. Her area of research has been focused on agricultural health and safety, particularly with dairy workers in Wisconsin.

Act your Age: Resistance Training for Healthy Aging

Nicholas M. Beltz, PhD, ACSM-RCEP, CSCS
Assistant Professor
Director, Community Fitness Program
Department of Kinesiology
University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire

Dr. Beltz is currently in his 3rd year as a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology at UW-Eau Claire. He teaches Exercise Physiology, Exercise Physiology Laboratory Assessment, and Community Fitness Programming. Alongside his teaching responsibilities, he serves as the Director of the Exercise Physiology Laboratory and the Director of Community Fitness Program. His ongoing research involves the impact of resistance training on arterial compliance as well as investigating changes in dysmobility syndrome in community-based fitness programs.

Jeff Bender, DVM, MS, DACVPM
UMASH Director
Former Director, USAID One Health Workforce Project
Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
School of Public Health
University of Minnesota

Dr. Jeff Bender is a Professor in the School of Public Health and an adjunct professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. He is the Director for the NIOSH funded Upper Midwest Agriculture Safety and Health Center (UMASH), a Center focused on improving the health of agriculture workers and their families. In addition, he is the Director for the USAID funded One Health Workforce Project, a workforce development program focused on preventing, detecting, and responding to emerging pandemic threats. His primary teaching and research interests include infection prevention, disease surveillance, emerging zoonotic diseases, occupational safety, food safety and antimicrobial resistance.

Reasons for Continuing to Farm and Meeting Health Needs in Later Years

Florence Becot, PhD
Rural Sociologist and Research Scientist
National Farm Medicine Center

Florence Becot is a rural sociologist who recently joined the National Farm Medicine Center in Marshfield, WI as an associate research scientist. Florence’s research is focused on the health, well-being, safety, and economic viability of farm families in the United States and France. Recent work includes farmers’ access to health care and health insurance and farmers’ mental health. Florence earned her PhD from the Ohio State University, her masters’ degree in community development and applied economics from the University of Vermont and was previously a researcher at the University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies.

Aging in Place: Challenges and Opportunities for Farmers

Jane Strommen, PhD
Gerontology Specialist
North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension

Jane Strommen, Gerontology Specialist with North Dakota State University Extension, has 30+ years of experience working with older adults and their family members in various settings including nursing home, assisted living, senior housing, and community-based care. In her current position, she is responsible for educational outreach in numerous areas, such as falls prevention, aging well, health promotion, and family caregiving. Jane received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from North Dakota State University, a Master’s in Health Services Administration from University of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois, and a Ph.D. in Human Development – Gerontology, from North Dakota State University.

Aging and Agriculture: Health, Hazards, and Issues of North American Elderly Farmers

Carla Wilhite, ODT
Associate Professor
Occupational Therapy Graduate Program
University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Dr. Carla Wilhite is a licensed and registered occupational therapist, assistant professor at the University of New Mexico-Division of Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, and a state AgrAbility partner. She is experienced in assessing and evaluating the occupations of agricultural production and recommending resources, services, environmental modifications, adaptive strategies, and assistive technologies to promote safe participation by people with disabilities in farming and ranching activities. Carla has lectured and presented on many topics relating to AgrAbility including hand injuries, gait and ambulation issues on farm surfaces, occupational therapy farm assessment, and musculoskeletal issues as well as presenting on panels related to peer counseling, resource development, and increasing the competency of physical rehabilitation professionals in agricultural health and physical rehabilitation issues.

Dan Younggren
Fourth Generation Sugarbeet Farmer

Dan is a fourth-generation sugarbeet farmer who has successfully transitioned the farm to the fifth generation (his son and nephew). He served as the elected Vice President of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association in 2018. He is married to his wife Diane and has two children Kailey, 25 and Blair, 22.

Jeff Bender, DVM, MS, DACVPM
UMASH Director
Former Director, USAID One Health Workforce Project
Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
School of Public Health
University of Minnesota

Dr. Jeff Bender is a Professor in the School of Public Health and an adjunct professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. He is the Director for the NIOSH funded Upper Midwest Agriculture Safety and Health Center (UMASH), a Center focused on improving the health of agriculture workers and their families. In addition, he is the Director for the USAID funded One Health Workforce Project, a workforce development program focused on preventing, detecting, and responding to emerging pandemic threats. His primary teaching and research interests include infection prevention, disease surveillance, emerging zoonotic diseases, occupational safety, food safety and antimicrobial resistance.