About Us
Established in 1969, the Institute on Aging is located within the School of Community Health in the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University.
The Institute has three primary functions:
- To design, carry out, and facilitate research related to the issues, policies, and programs that affect the quality of life for elders and their families.
- To develop and implement training for persons interested in gerontology, geriatrics, and lifelong learning.
- To provide service to the community in the form of short-term training, educational programming, technical assistance and the sponsorship of organizations for elders.
Research
The faculty of the Institute on Aging is composed of a multidisciplinary group of nationally and internationally recognized scholars. Recent research projects have attracted federal, state, and private funding and have focused on family caregiving, long-term care, social relationships, housing, fitness and exercise, public policy, global aging and research methods.
Education and Training
The IOA offers courses in gerontology for undergraduate, master's and doctoral students, as well as research and teaching opportunities for students in the College's doctoral programs in Urban Studies and in Public Administration and Policy. The IOA coordinates the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology program. This post-baccalaureate program provides a multidisciplinary core curriculum and is designed for students seeking specialized career training in aging. A certificate in Long-Term Care Administration is under development.
Service
IOA faculty, staff, and students are actively engaged in the community providing consultation and technical assistance to a wide variety of aging-related organizations. A recent project is a service learning project in Nicaragua. The IOA coordinates with a local foundation, the Jesse F. Richardson Foundation, and the World Health Organization to provide field research and service to older Nicaraguans living in homes for the elderly throughout the country. The IOA is a member of and houses the Oregon Geriatric Education Consortium (OGEC), a partnership among the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oregon Health & Science University and Oregon State University. The OGEC is committed to improving health care services for older Oregonians through education and training for health care professionals, educators, and students. The IOA houses the OGEC Resource Center.
The IOA also is an organizational member of the Oregon Gerontological Association, and through the OGEC, a member of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.
The IOA houses and sponsors the Senior Adult Learning Center (SALC), which exists to enhance the quality of life of older people through continuous learning and to offer opportunities for intellectual enrichment, leadership, fellowship, and personal growth within the University setting. The SALC administers the University's tuition-free course audit program for persons aged 65 and older and hosts the Retired Associates of Portland State University, a membership organization open to anyone who is aged 50 or older and is interested in lifelong learning and fellowship.
