“I am humbled and honored to be named as a Fellow inductee of the American Academy of Nursing. I consider myself a change agent and enjoy challenges promoting innovative effectual change. I will eagerly lend my experience, passion and time to the Aging Expert Panel to develop policy recommendations that eradicate age-related health disparities, systemic racism, and ageism contributing to poor health equity,” Harrington said.��

The academy is an honorific society that recognizes nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration and academia. Academy Fellows, from nearly 40 countries, hold a wide variety of influential roles in health care. Induction into the Fellowship represents more than recognition of one’s accomplishments within the nursing profession. Fellows contribute their collective expertise to the academy, engaging with health leaders nationally and globally to improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.��  

“Dr. Harrington was recruited to the university because of her expertise in the care of older adults. Recognition with the awarding of fellowship in the academy is one of the highest honors a nurse can receive. It signifies the level of esteem to which she is held by her peers,” said Mary DeLetter, interim dean of the School of Nursing.��

Harrington has 37 years of experience as a nurse leader and has had regional, national and international impact on nursing practice, interprofessional health science and intraprofessional nursing education, and knowledge-generating research. She earned a diploma in nursing in 1982 from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Charlotte, North Carolina, a BSN from Gardner Webb University in 2002, an MSN with an adult gerontology nurse practitioner concentration from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 2005, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Vanderbilt University in 2011.��Harrington earned a PhD in Nursing in 2018 from East Carolina University and completed a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing ����ֱ�� at the same institution in 2019.��

Through a competitive, rigorous application process, the academy’s Fellow Selection Committee reviewed a record number of applications, representing a 30% increase from the previous year, to select the 2022 Fellows. Harrington was one of 250 individuals selected to be inducted. The 2022 Fellows represent 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 17 countries.�� 

The 2022 inductees will be recognized for their significant contributions to health and health care at the academy’s annual , taking place on October 27-29, 2022 in Washington, DC at the Marriott Marquis during the Induction Ceremony on the evening of October 29. Once the newest Fellows are inducted, the academy will be comprised of more than 3,000 leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally.��

At this month’s Beer with a Scientist, Sam Cotton, PhD, program manager of Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program at the and director of the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias program, will share the latest updates on what we all can do to prevent development of Alzheimer’s disease. For those who have developed Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, Cotton’s talk also will include how to care compassionately for people who have the disease.

This month’s Beer with a Scientist event is part of , a citywide event going on Sept. 10-13 highlighting health research for physicians, nurses, researchers and other health care providers and students. In addition, September is Optimal Aging month, with a focus on aging well.

Cotton’s talk begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at , 8023 Catherine Lane. A 30-minute presentation will be followed by an informal Q&A session.

The article pointed out that Louisville is home to the largest cluster of aging care businesses (nursing homes, hospice, home-based health care, etc.) and boasts a number of health care and health insurance giants, such as Humana and Kindred Healthcare.

“These businesses employ more than 21,000 professionals, producing over $50 billion in revenue. City leaders want Louisville to build on that foundation to become a center of innovation for improving the quality of life for America’s growing elderly population,” the article states.

The objective to become an aging capital was first outlined in 2012 when Mayor Greg Fischer noted that Louisville is a leader in developing targeted economic development strategies around its strengths, including aging care and lifelong wellness.

The University of Louisville was recognized in the article for pitching into the cause alongside city government and business leaders. Specifically, UofL and other key institutions have “combined resources and backed several aging initiatives,” the article states.

In November, , called the Hive, which is focused on creating healthcare technology solutions for aging care. These solutions include a mobile compliance app that was developed with the help of J.B. Speed School of Engineering students.

Kindred is also working on another app that would allow nurses to assess a patient’s eligibility for hospice care.��  

UofL’s contributions will likely increase thanks to a new, nearly $2 million grant awarded to the Institute for Sustainable Health and Optimal Aging by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A strategy to engage primary care practitioners in meeting behavioral health needs of older adults is at the heart of the grant.

The to students in social work, psychology and psychiatric nursing programs who will be part of the Rural Geriatric Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care Training Network.��

“When you look at a disease like dementia, patients deal with many behavioral disorders like paranoia or agitation, and there can be a lot of anxiety on how to problem-solve around those factors. This grant is important in not only getting behavioral health specialists into rural areas but also in opening up opportunities for physicians and nurse practitioners to coordinate with behavioral specialists to improve patient outcomes from a social support stand-point,” said Christian Furman, MD, the Institute’s medical director and a professor of geriatric and palliative medicine.

The Institute for Sustainable Health and Optimal Aging is devoting its resources to educational efforts throughout March and April as well. As a part of Age-Friendly Louisville, the Institute for Sustainable Health and Optimal Aging joins AARP, the City of Louisville and the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency to host a number of workshops throughout Louisville that focus on what makes the community a better place for people to “live, work and play at every stage of life.” The events will include small group discussions on social, health, economic and built environments that can support individuals in leading lives that thrive.

Workshop dates are March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4, 7, 17 and 24. More information, including times and locations, is .��

KIPDA and UofL’s Institute for Sustainable Health and Optimal Aging are also teaming up to host World Café this month throughout Jefferson, Bullitt, Shelby and Trimble counties. These events will include discussion about the results of the most recent regional needs assessment and how to work together to ensure support for the area’s aging population. .��

Finally, the Institute is currently seeking nominations for the Gold Standard Award for Optimal Aging. The 7^th annual award will be given in September and will celebrate older adults who embody the Institute’s vision for “a world where all older adults lead engaged and flourishing lives.” Nominations will be accepted through April 15. .

“Optimal aging is the ability to flourish throughout one’s lifespan. It is not a specific level of achievement but rather a state in which a person is able to continue living life to its fullest,” said Anna Faul, PhD, executive director of the Institute.

Thanks in part to UofL’s work, that ability to flourish is very much a reality in the city of Louisville.��