Overview:

Susan McFadden, Professor of Psychology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.  She has been active in both the American Society on Aging and the Gerontological Society of America in bringing together researchers and practitioners interested in religion, spirituality, and aging.  Recently, she was awarded the 2008 Spirituality and Aging Award from the National Interfaith Coalition on Aging.  Her current activities include a year-long sabbatical (2007-2008) to investigate the existential and spiritual concerns of people who have received the diagnosis of early stage dementia. 

She also is also studying faith communities’ responses to these concerns.  In another research study, she is surveying and interviewing college students who have grandparents with dementia in order to learn how that experience affects religious development in young adulthood.

Issues Addressed by the Webinar:

• The changing nature of family caregiving and the social factors that have shaped these changes
• The family caregiving "career"
• What family caregivers say they need
• Research findings on family caregiving
• Types of support that are helpful to caregivers 

Materials:

• View the PowerPoint presentation