• Professor, George Warren Brown School of Social Work

Nancy Morrow-Howell

Download

• Ph.D. in Social Welfare at University of California at Berkeley
• M.S.W. in Social Work at University of Kansas
• B.S.W. in Social Work at University of Kansas

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

Showing 5 Stories.

Tapping baby boomers U.S. government should help 'make volunteering a natural part of later life,' says productive aging expert March 2, 2005 -- With the first wave of baby boomers preparing for retirement, the 2005 White House Conference on Aging to be held this fall in Washington, D.C., will be an important opportunity to assess aging in America and improve the lives of older Americans. "The demographic revolution is upon us, and there is widespread agreement that we need to do something differently regarding older adults," says Nancy Morrow-Howell, Ph.D., productive aging expert and the Ralph and Muriel Pumphrey Professor of Social Work in the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. "The U.S. government and other service agencies need to expand and create institutions that make volunteering a natural part of later life," she says.

Official White House Conference on Aging Event WUSTL to host a public forum, "Maximizing Civic Engagement of Older Adults," Feb. 15 Feb. 9, 2005 -- With the first wave of baby boomers preparing for retirement, the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) will be an important opportunity to assess aging in America and improve the lives of older Americans. St. Louis will play a significant role in shaping the discussion at the conference through "Maximizing Civic Engagement of Older Adults," a public forum and official WHCOA event hosted by the George Warren Brown School of Social Work and the Center for Aging at Washington University 9 a.m. Feb. 15 in Brown Lounge.

Active aging Just a few hours of volunteering a week positively affects the well-being of older Americans Feb. 10, 2004 -- Photo courtesy of The OASIS Institute Volunteering can have a positive effect on the overall well-being of older Americans. Looking to chase away the winter blues? Interested in staying active after retirement? Need a boost to your health? Try volunteering at your church or a neighborhood organization for a few hours a week — it could do you a world of good. Just two hours of volunteering a week can have a positive effect on the overall well-being of older Americans, according to a study from the George Warren Brown (GWB) School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. The researchers found that older adults who volunteered had better assessments than non-volunteers on three measures of well-being: daily functioning, self-rated health and self-rated depression.

'Can't afford to waste this valuable resource' Older Americans in the workforce essential to economic future July 10, 2003 -- Older workers enrolled in a computer training class. Download Some economists predict that by 2030, the United States could experience a labor shortage of 35 million workers. Many businesses, including retail giants such as Wal-Mart and McDonalds, have responded to a looming labor shortage by encouraging older workers to remain in the workforce. But a recent study issued by the U.S. General Accounting Office finds that many of the government's existing employment assistance programs are not providing computer training and other high-tech skills to workers over the age of 55, a demographic that may soon constitute roughly one-third of the entire American workforce. Nancy Morrow-Howell, Ph.D., a professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis and a leader in the emerging field of productive aging research, contends that America's economic future may well hinge on our ability to help older adults continue making contributions to society.

Labor shortage coming Older Americans in the workforce essential to economic future July 10, 2003 -- Older Americans will be key in responding to a future labor shortage. Some economists predict that by 2030, the United States could experience a labor shortage of 35 million workers. Many businesses, including retail giants such as Wal-Mart and McDonalds, have responded to a looming labor shortage by encouraging older workers to remain in the workforce. But a recent study issued by the U.S. General Accounting Office finds that many of the government's existing employment assistance programs are not providing computer training and other high-tech skills to workers over the age of 55, a demographic that may soon constitute roughly one-third of the entire American workforce. Nancy Morrow-Howell, Ph.D., a professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis and a leader in the emerging field of productive aging research, contends that America's economic future may well hinge on our ability to help older adults continue making contributions to society.

Showing 5 Stories.

Clips:

Showing 2 Clips.

For some older people, the rocking chair still beats rocking out Inside Bay Area (CA) June 21, 2005 -- When The Rolling Stones announced plans recently for another world tour, performing their 34-year-old hit "Brown Sugar" and other songs at a New York news conference, it evoked the usual snickers about sexagenarians, drugs and rock 'n' roll. But it's not just money that drives Jagger and Richards — and Charlie Watts, 63, and Ron Wood, the baby of the group at 57 — to keep performing. "That's what they know how to do," said Dr. Nancy Morrow-Howell, a professor of social work at WUSTL. "They're going to continue to do it."

No, you can't just dodder The New York Times and 1 others May 16, 2005 -- Article on the growing trend of active and overscheduled seniors. But it's not just that people have the option of keeping busy. In some ways society is demanding that they do so -- to be less of a drain on resources, to remain physically and mentally fit, and as a source of support for the pharmaceutical and other aging-related industries. WUSTL social work professor Nancy Morrow-Howell comments.

She is the current chair of the Ph.D. Program in Social Work; previously she coordinated the gerontology concentration and chaired the curriculum committee. Professor Morrow-Howell has taught courses in gerontology, statistics, and evaluation. She is the 1996 recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award from the GWB Alumni Association and 1996 recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award from Washington University. She received the 1999-2000 Leadership Award from the Association for Gerontology in Social Work Education.

She has served in an advisory capacity for Jewish Family and Children's Services, Jewish Community Center's Adult Day Care, St. Louis VA Hospital Social Work Services Research Committee, Life Crisis, Inc., and the St. Louis Alzheimer's Association, among others. She is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. In 1999 the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York City selected her as a national level mentor for its Hartford Scholars Program.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Professional Specialties

* Gerontology

* Research and Evaluation

Selected Publications

Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., & Sherraden, M. (2001). Productive Aging: Concepts and Challenges. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Morrow-Howell, N., Proctor, E., Rubin, E., Li, H., & Thompson, S. (2000). Service needs of depressed elders following acute psychiatric care. Aging and Mental Health, 4, 330-338.

Morrow-Howell, N., Proctor, E., & Rozario, P. (2001). How much is enough? Perspectives of care recipients and professionals on the sufficiency of in-home care. The Gerontologist, 41(6), 723-732.

Morrow-Howell, N., Kinnevy, S., & Mann, M. (1999). The perceived benefits of participation in volunteer and educational activities, Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 32, 65-80.

Morrow-Howell, N.; Proctor, E.K.; & Doré, P. (1998). Adequacy of care: The concept and its measurement, Research in Social Work Practice 8 (1), 86-102.

Morrow-Howell, N.; Becker-Kemppainen, S.; & Judy, L. (1998). Evaluating an intervention for elders at increased risk of suicide, Research in Social Work Practice 8 (1), 28-46.

Morrow-Howell, N.; Proctor, E.K.; Doré, P.; & Kaplan, S. (1998). Post acute services to older adults with heart disease, Journal of Applied Gerontology 17, 150-171.

Morrow-Howell, N. & Proctor, E.K. (1998). Informal caregiving to older adults hospitalized for depression, Aging and Mental Health 2, 222-231.

Selected Grants

Principal Investigator- "Productive Aging: Toward a Knowledge Building Agenda." Funded by the National Institute of Aging to support a scientific meeting December 1998.

Principal Investigator (with E. Proctor) - "Service Use of Depressed Elders After Acute Care." Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. 1996-2000.

Academic Honors

* 1998 Fellow, Gerontological Society of America

* 1997 Distinguished Faculty Award, Washington University

* 1997 Distinguished Faculty, George Warren Brown School of Social Work

Affiliations, Associations, Consultation

* Gerontology Society of America

* National Association of Social Workers

* Academy of Certified Social Workers

* Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (past co-chair)

* Practice Concepts Editor for The Gerontologist