Social Support: Formal and Informal Resources9:00 AM - 12:15 PM
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Coping with death, dying, and bereavement9:00 AM - 12:15 PM
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Social support is one of the most significant predictors of successfully coping with adversity; however, it is not an unidimensional construct that works the same for all people. There is a goodness-of-fit between support provision and support reception in that different people require different types of support in order for it to be useful. There are multiple types of support, including instrumental, emotional, and informational from a variety of sources, including friends, family, communities, and formal services. This talk will provide a better understanding of the variety of support provision that can be helpful in working with various clients. Objectives:
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Understanding the complexities behind death and dying, both from the perspective of the dying, as well as the living, is of critical importance in helping professionals. Not only do these transitions affect patients and their families, but also the front-line professionals who care for them. There are a substantial number of myths associated with death, including stage theories (Kubler-Ross) and "working through" the loss; however, very few have been substantiated. In this talk we will discuss the myths and realities of the nuances of death to help dispel some common misperceptions while uncovering the protective factors that lead to acceptance and resilience. Objectives:
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About the Speaker: Dr. Toni Bisconti
Dr. Toni Lynn Bisconti has been a faculty member at the University of Akron for 15 years. She is a NE Ohio native, growing up in Lowelville, a very small village outside of Youngstown. After high school, she attended Youngstown State University graduating in 1995 with a B.S. in psychology. After her undergraduate training, she attended the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, where she earned her M.A. in 1997 and her Ph.D., in 2001, both in Psychology. Dr. Bisconti has been a faculty member since 2001, starting her career at the University of New Hampshire and continuing it in 2006 at the University of Akron, in which she is still an Associate Professor of Psychology. Dr. Bisconti has done research on older adults since she started her graduate program 25 years ago. Her specific research interests include resilience, successful aging, and how older adults cope with transitions related to later adulthood. The unique experiences and sociohistorical contexts of minorities shape aging trajectories as minority-related stigmas are confronted with additional age related stigmas are confronted with additional age related vulnerabilities. These intersections are most distinct in the junctures where older adults are exposed to discrimination, stigma, and prejudice across their multiple identities. Although older minorities experience significant adversity in these situations, in many cases they maintain positive outcomes and outlooks in their aging trajectories.
Her work in her Transitions, Resilience, and Identity (TRI) Lab at UA concentrates on understanding the extent to which exposure of stigma, discrimination, and prejudice predicts well-being in addition to identifying buffering factors that may minimize these associations. Presently, the TRI lab approaches these questions with three distinct lines of research: (1) The role of age in minority stress in older adult sexual minorities, (2) Measuring and understanding benevolent ageism, and (3) recognizing the impact of ageist epithets on older adults. Additionally, Dr. Bisconti has taught several classes in the areas of aging, prejudice, discrimination, and diversity. Finally, Dr. Bisconti has been featured on WAKR-1590 Akron on both the Ray Horner and Jasen Sokol shows, as well as on Cleveland's Channel 19 News The Next 400 segment. Collectively, she has been publishes in these areas over 25 times and has presented her work nationally over 50 times. For further information, please see her her ResearchGate profile (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Toni_Bisconti).
REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION INFORMATION:
Class sizes are limited, so register early. Classes with low registrations may be canceled. If the class is canceled or moved, participants will be contacted via email at least 24 hours in advance.
Classes start and end on time. To ensure a quality experience for all, please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the class start time and find a seat. CEU credits will be adjusted 0.25 credit hours for every 15 minutes not in attendance; adjusted certificates will be emailed to participants within 3 business days after the training. Hard copies of certificates will be mailed upon request.
It is difficult to control room temperature to everyone's comfort level. We suggest you dress in layers that can be adaptable to warm and cool temperatures.
For auditing purposes, arrival and departure times and signature are required on attendance sheets.