Welcome to the Aging/Gerontology RIIG
The Aging/Gerontology Research Interest and Implementation Group (RIIG) is committed to facilitating the advancement of research for the care of older individuals. We recognize the importance of the nurse scientist’s role in providing older adults with high quality care through knowledge gained by research. More and more people are living longer, resulting in an unprecedented increase in the population of older adults in the United States and throughout the industrialized world. As the numbers of aged increase, so does the need for new and innovative approaches to guide and promote the care of healthy, chronically ill, and frail older people. We provide a forum for nurses and other healthcare providers interested in networking in the Southern Region of the U.S. to meet and connect, share information, promote best practices, identify nursing leadership, and link these together to build capacity for advancing the care of older adults.
The current chair is Ladda Thiamwong, PhD, RN.
Ladda Thiamwong, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
An expert on the aging population with 15+ years of experience in gerontological nursing, Ladda Thiamwong focuses her research on healthy aging and fall prevention in ethnically diverse older adults. She developed the Fall Risk Assessment Test for screening Thai community-dwelling older adults, and the Healthy Aging Instrument to assess processes involved in healthy aging, which is now available in several languages. Her research ndings have led to a paradigm shift in fall risk assessment through tailored fall interventions. Thiamwong has recently been awarded more than $4 million in funding, including three NIH grants, and currently leads an interdisciplinary team implementing a technology-based body and mind intervention for older adults in low-income settings (R01MD018025). Her previous study on technology-based fall risk assessments received a Catalyst Award from the U.S. National Academy of Medicine Healthy Longevity Global Challenge. She is a co-convener of the Gerontological Society of America-Aging Among Asians (GSA-AAA) interest group. She is an associate editor of the Frontiers in Public Health, Specialty Section of Injury Prevention and Control. At the local level, she shares her expertise as a member of the City of Orlando Mayor’s Committee on Livability and Healthy Aging and the Disability, Aging, and Technology Faculty Research Cluster at the University of Central Florida.
RIIG Awards and Eligibility Criteria
The overall purposes of the Aging/Gerontology Research Interest and Implementation Group (RIIG) awards are to recognize excellence in gerontological nursing research and to provide recognition for the work performed by our RIIG members. At the request of our RIIG members, we have added two awards this year. We encourage those that meet the criteria (following) to apply.
Criteria for Evaluating Applications:
- Progression in their program (publications, presentations, completed pilot work, success in receiving funding).
- The theoretical underpinnings and methodology used to examine the problem addressed in this study, including: Innovativeness of the methodology or theoretical approach.
- Potential for establishing a program of research in gerontological science.
- The potential impact of the program of research for understanding a clinical problem.
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize the contribution of a rising investigator who has conducted gerontological nursing research that has the potential to enhance the science and practice of gerontological nursing. Read more…
II. Distinguished Dissertation Award
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize the contribution of a rising student-investigator who is conducting a dissertation in the area of gerontological nursing research that has the potential to enhance the science and practice of gerontological nursing. Read more…
III. Excellence in Geriatric Nursing Research Mid-Career Award
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize the contribution of a mid-career investigator who has conducted gerontological nursing research that enhances the science and practice of gerontological nursing. Read more…
We offer networking opportunities, peer support, and inspiration to others interested in this area of work and research. We encourage all members to participate. We welcome all interested parties in our area of work–researchers, clinicians, academicians, and students to our RIIG. Be sure to “sign-up” by logging in to the Members-Only section and choose which RIIG(s) to join. There is no fee to participate and you can join up to three RIIGs as part of your membership benefits. Just “click” on the topic!