SON: Connections - Spring 2002

Headlines | Briefly | From the Deans Desk | Alumni News

First Master's Scholar Reaching Out to "Invisible" Adults

Ellen Pourpore focuses on older adults who refuse care for fear of losing control over their lives.

The majority of people over the age of 60 live healthy, active and productive lives. For most, changes associated with normal aging, such as the loss of a loved one or declining health, become a part of everyday life.

But what about that other percentage of the population, older adults who are isolated, have no support system, and are not likely to seek help on their own? Living in rural communities may make the task of identifying such older adults even harder. They become invisible to the service network, placing them at risk for needless suffering, premature nursing home placement, or even death. Moreover, some of these individuals may refuse help once it is offered, reacting to the stigma of mental health services, the fear of losing control over their lives, or other factors.

It is this latter group of older adults that is the focus of a research study being conducted by Eileen Poupore, the first student to receive a de Tornyay Master's Scholarship. A psychiatric nurse since 1985 and a resident of rural Pierce County, Poupore is working with the HEROS program (Helping Elders through Referral and Outreach Services), focusing on the 40% of older adults who refuse services once they are identified as needing them.

"The key to working with older adults is to focus on their needs, rather than speculating about the reasons for their behavior. It is important not to be paternalistic. Rather, my job is to help them stay afloat," explains Poupore. "People may say, 'She should be in a nursing home.' But if that is not what the person wants, we need to help them to not have to do that."

Poupore is studying to be a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She is being mentored in her research by Margaret Dimond, Aljoya Endowed Professor in Aging.

Return to Headlines
Headlines | Briefly | From the Deans Desk | Alumni News