Media Relations
University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
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Writer:
Brenna
Smith
(863) 667-7010
Contact:
Rosemarie
Lamm
(863)
667-7031
LAKELAND,
FL (January 23, 2002) - Dr.
Alice Murray, USF Assistant Dean and Dr. Rosemarie Lamm, Interdisciplinary
Social Science Professor, are continuing work on a grant in an effort
to better understand and assist the needs of the senior population of
Polk County. The research focuses mainly on the needs of the elder population
in terms of health, well-being, mental status and ethnic needs. Most of
the information used in the research was gathered at last year’s
Senior Health and Fitness Expo from a questionnaire filled out by expo
participants. Questions such as ethnic background, health status, area
of residency, services used in illness, income and employment status aided
researchers in drawing specific conclusions about the area.
From the information gathered, Dr. Murray and Dr. Lamm and their assistants,
soon learned that there seems to be more healthcare available for those
in the indigent bracket. “There is a section of those in the gray
area income-wise who have needs currently not being met,” stated
Dr. Rosemarie Lamm. “With the information we have gathered, we hope
to remedy this situation somewhat.” Of the 350 completed surveys
gathered, they learned that the average age of seniors in the Polk County
area is 75 with an average illness of 2.5 a year. When ill, most see physicians
as opposed to going to health care facilities or seeing physical therapists.
The information gathered by the researchers will be presented at the Society
for Applied Anthropology meeting in March, an invitation-only event. After
presenting their findings, the research team hopes to acquire a grant
that will help them continue to analyze the needs of the elderly and assist
them in establishing a coordinated center for aging services in Polk County.
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