The Barbara and Richard Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence was established to support and improve the care of older adults. The Center builds on the rich traditions of the John A. Hartford Center of Nursing Excellence that was funded for 15 years by the Hartford Foundation.

The Csomay Center's mission is to advance innovative, evidence-based practices and products that maximize optimal aging and adaptive function.  Center efforts in practice, research, and education have contributed to the discovery of new knowledge and adoption of improved care practices that have touched the lives of many older adults and their families.
Marianne Smith, PhD, RN
Director
Keela Herr, PhD, RN, FAAN, AGSF
Co-Director
Howard Butcher, PhD, RN
Associate Director, Evidence-Based Practice Series Editor
Nicola Jane Stickney, DNP, ARNP, NP-C
Associate Director
  • Dayna Ballantyne - University of Iowa Foundation Representative
  • Linda Seydel, MA, LNHA - Iowa Geriatric Education Center Director
  • Megan Dotson, BA - Partnership and Outreach Director
  • Ryleigh Maas, BS - Evidence-Based Practice Associate Editor
  • Eiko Oka, MPH - Center Coordinator
Dr. Smith is a leader in care and treatment of older adults with mental health syndromes. Her long-standing work in research and geriatric training has focused on developing innovative and pragmatic ways to reduce disability and promote function among older people with psychiatric syndromes of late life, including depression, anxiety, delirium, and dementia. Dr. Smith served as Co-Director of the John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, and Co-Director of the UI Center on Aging. She leads a NINR-funded studying examining the effect of a cognitive training program on late life depression and a foundation-funded training grants, one that targets substance use education and another on geriatric workforce enhancement. Dr. Smith also leads a UI Strategic Research Leadership initiative that aims to advance successful aging in place through innovative use of technology and novel partnerships among interdisciplinary UI researchers and diverse community members.
On April 12th, the Corridor Business Journal celebrated Kim Bergen-Jackson, PhD, RN-BC as a honoree of the 14th-annual Women of Influence award. The award banquet serves to recognize women in the corridor who have made a substantial difference in their communities. As the Administrator for one of the most well respected senior living communities in Iowa, Oaknoll Retirement Residence, Kim is not only known as an expert in older adult care, but as a strong advocate for high-quality geriatric care. She received her PhD at the University of Iowa for administrative nursing and continues to partner with the College of Nursing and Csomay Center to advance geriatric care.

Congratulations, Kim!
Lynn Nakad
(2 nd year, BSN-PhD student)
Awarded: Barbara and Richard Csomay Gerontology Research Award for Students and Post-Doctoral Scholars

Title: Attitudes of Older Persons with Chronic Low Back Pain towards Virtual Reality Distraction Therapy

Amount: $3,000

Period of Performance: 11/1/2017 – 10/31/2018

Chooza Moon, PhD, RN
Awarded: Barbara and Richard Csomay Gerontology Research Award for Faculty

Title: A Pilot for the H ealthy A ging and Hea rT (H-ART) study

Amount: $15,000

Period of Performance: 1/16/2018 – 6/30/2019

Nai-Ching (Allison) Chi, PhD, RN
Awarded: Woodrow W. Morris Gerontology Research Award for Faculty

Title: Developing and Evaluating the Usability and Acceptability of the Ho spice P ain management E nhancement (HOPE) Web-based Tool for Nurses and Family Caregiver

Amount: $10,000

Period of Performance: 1/16/2018 – 6/30/2019
Care of Older Persons for Optimum Quality of Life: Nursing Diagnoses, Outcomes, and Interventions
This book provides in-depth plans of care for common late-life health challenges. Topics are framed in the context of key nursing diagnoses ( NANDA-I ), outcomes (Nursing Outcomes Classification), and interventions (Nursing Interventions Classification) to best assure ease of assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation of care across practice settings. The editors and authors are composed of current and former faculty of the College of Nursing who are experts in their respective areas of specialty geriatric practice. The Center is pleased to offer this book in an electronic format that permits purchase of individual chapters or the book as whole.

We would like to thank the following for their donations and support of the Csomay Center given from January 2017 to present:

  • Mr. Charles F. Knudson & Mrs. Elizabeth L. Knudson
  • Mrs. Emily Ray Wilson & Dr. R. Dale Wilson
  • Dr. Sherrel A. Fry             
  • Mr. James D. Graham & Mrs. Lois A. Graham
  • Dr. Marianne Smith               
  • Mr. John C. Murrow      
  • Mr. Thomas M. Suckow & Mrs. Mary Kay Suckow
  • Mrs. Carol M. Brookshire & Mr. Joseph Brookshire
  • Mrs. Mary J. Uhlhorn    
  • Mrs. Virginia L. Johnson & Mr. Craig B. Johnson
  • Ms. Diane M. Bloodhart & Mr. Clifford T. Burgess
  • Dr. Meridean L. Maas & Dr. Richard R. Maas
  • Ms. Jill R. Hobson            
  • Mrs. Janna L. Apostolopoulos
  • Mr. David L. Thomas & Mrs. Sheryl L. Miller Thomas 
Prompted Voiding For Persons with Urinary Incontinence 

Urinary incontinence (UI) is seen in at least 55% of nursing home residents and is the second leading cause of institutionalization of the elderly. In nursing home residents with UI, 30% have shown improvement after the implementation of prompted voiding (PV). PV is a toileting program geared towards improving bladder control using scheduling, frequent prompts, and positive reinforcement. PV CAN be effective in residents with diminished cognitive and functional ability.
 
The purpose of this evidence-based guideline is to provide information for implementing a treatment program of prompted voiding (PV) for individuals who have UI. This guideline provides assessment checklists and educational modules for resident and staff use. Also included are samples of policy, standards of care, and assessment forms.  

Written 2001; Revised 2018

Detection and Assessment of Late-Life Anxiety

Anxiety symptoms and disorders are both common and disabling among older adults. A number of negative outcomes are regularly associated with anxiety symptoms in older adults, and underscore the importance of accurate assessment, referral and treatment. Detection and assessment are essential to accurately identifying and treating clinically significant anxiety, and to simultaneously address factors that cause or contribute to anxiety-related symptoms, distress, and discomfort, and functional limitations.  

The purpose of this evidence-based guideline is to improve the detection and assessment of anxiety symptoms among older adults. The simplicity of the guideline and associated assessment methods makes the guideline appropriate for use by all levels of health care practitioners.

Written 2008; Revised 2017