This presentation includes summaries of research projects completed by Lauren Surprenant on topics related to youth and the elderly. The projects cover a range of issues including role reversal between Alzheimer's parents and children, teen pregnancy risk factors, eating disorders in gay males, ageism and sexism against the elderly, and the experiences of daughters caring for parents with Alzheimer's. The presentation provides titles, abstracts, and dates for each completed research project.

1. Collection of
Researched Projects
A combination of both youth and elderly focused projects
Completed by Lauren Surprenant

2. This presentation includes the titles, abstracts and dates of the completed projects.
TITLES
• Critical Analysis of Role Reversal of Alzheimer’s Parents and Their Children
• Felt Obligation and its influence the involvement of caregivers with an
Alzheimer’s/dementia afflicted parent in a care facility
• Positive Youth Development through a Teen Club/Center
• Experiences of adult daughters caring for Alzheimer’s afflicted parents in
Midwestern assisted care facilities

3. TITLES (CONT.)
• Serving the Elderly: Alzheimer’s Association, Alternatives & Milestones:
Report on Area Agencies on Aging
• Risk Factors and Influences of Teen Pregnancy
• Teens: Sexual behaviors and prevention
• Ethics of Assisted Suicide
• Eating Disorders in a Twice Hidden Population (young, gay males)

4. TITLES (CONT.)
• Ecological Approach to Deviancy
• Ageism and Sexism: Discrimination Against the Elderly
• Elders Have Sex Too
• Marginalized in Macomb: Participatory Action Research Project with
Black teens of Macomb, IL

5. ELDERLY Sept 2015
Critical Analysis of Role Reversal of
Alzheimer’s Parents and Their Children
INTRODUCTION: Role reversal, when one takes on an opposite role, in this case when the child takes on the parental
responsibilities towards and for the parent, in a manner beyond social norms (Mayseless, Barthholomew, K., Henderson, A.,
& Trinke, S., 2004) . As the research began searching within this topic, a simple Summon search resulted in approximately
150,000 results in articles since 2000. Yet, using the same method with the Alzheimer’s variable, just over 100 articles
resulted. Following the study of a non-Alzheimer’s disease role reversal article, the disparity and contradiction between non-
AD and AD caregivers and role reversal is glaring. Funk (2010) states that participaints strongly criticize caregivers who
engage in role reversal, as “overly bossy, bullies …or selfish” (p. 60). Non-AD caregivers are encouraged to allow their
recipients to make their own decisions, as well as guided to allow the care recipient to be responsible for those decisions
(Funk, 2010).
On the other hand, within AD’s progression, however, this becomes a normative element of the caregiving process. Dura,
Stukendurg, and Kiecolt-Glaser (1991) describe role reversal between the adult child and cognitively impaired parent as a
“major developmental transition”. Such an approach with a cognitive deteriorating individual would be in contradiction to the
care recipient’s ability, as well as safety. Dunham and Cannon (2008) articulates the struggle of having a cognitively impaired
may decisions with the term “paradox of power” (p. 45). This disparity indicates another gap in the research.

6. ELDERLY June 2015
Felt Obligation and its influence the involvement
of caregivers with an Alzheimer’s/dementia afflicted parent
in a care facility
ABSTRACT: Caring for a terminally ill parent with Alzheimer’s/dementia is difficult
physically and emotionally, especially as caregiving for early-stage Alzheimer’s patients
tends to fall to family and friends. Due to the nature of this ailment, its victims
eventually become unable to live alone, progressing to requiring full care. It is an
erroneous presumption that caregiving ends upon admission to a care facility (Bern-
Klug & Forbes-Thompson, 2008). What motivates caregivers to continue to provide
care to someone when that person is being cared for within a facility and, due to
memory care issues, will not remember whether the caregiver was or was not present?
The study will evaluate whether Felt Obligation drives the motivation to do so.

7. YOUTH June 2015
Positive Youth Development through a
Teen Club/Center
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (excerpt): The Outlet will be the over-arching umbrella
program, housing specific individual mini-programs within it. This proposal will
address the primary and initial program, the weekend night-club like hang out time,
where safe adults are available to talk and build relationships with adolescents.
There is no specific scripted program, just “hang out” time. This program will help
teens develop friendships with adults that they are able to talk to about life’s
problems and challenges, develop skills for problem solving (Shure, 2014) and make
better life choices. These outputs will serve to reduce teen deviancy and teen
pregnancies caused by a perception of nothing to do.

8. ELDERLY June 2015
Experiences of adult daughters caring for Alzheimer’s
afflicted parents in Midwestern assisted care facilities
ABSTRACT: The number of individuals afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease continues
to increase (Alzheimer's Association, 2015), and will continue to do so until there is a
cure. As the number afflicted increases, so do the number of caregivers. Researchers
have stated that without this added care provision, the care industry would be
bankrupted (Sorrell, Moving beyond caregiver burden: Identifying helpful
interventions for family caregivers, 2014). Unfortunately, due to the stigma associated
with Alzheimer’s disease (Zawadzki, Mondon, Peru, Hommet, & Constans , 2011),
many caregivers end up feeling isolated, described as the hidden victims of Alzheimer’s
disease (Berger, et al., 2005). The goal of this study is to help them not be so hidden.
• Note: this was a methodological sampling for the upcoming dissertation

9. ELDERLY May 2015
Serving the Elderly: Alzheimer’s Association, Alternatives
& Milestones: Report on Area Agencies on Aging
ABSTRACT: A number of agencies exist to serve the ageing population. This paper compares
and contrasts three Quad Cities area agencies: the Davenport local office of the Alzheimer’s
Association, Alternatives [formerly known as Alternatives for Older Adults] and Milestones:
Area Agency on Aging. Although they may serve the same population overall, focus and
program delivery vary. The Alzheimer’s Association primarily serves the family, in part,
because the family is the gateway to services (Wiles, Leibing, Reeve, & Allen, 2012) for an
Alzheimer’s parent. The Association utilizes Pearlin’s Caregiver Stress Model (Pearlin, Mullan,
Semple, & Skaff , 1990), providing resources and support for caregivers in an effort to relieve
the levels and influence of caregiver stress. Alternatives and Milestones both seek to serve the
elderly individual, facilitating aging in place, a model of Continuity Theory (Wacker & Roberto,
2008), empowering the aged individual to live at home as long as possible.

10. YOUTH Dec 2014
Risk Factors and Influences of Teen Pregnancy
• Teen pregnancy is a growing crisis within the United States. In addition to the
increased socioeconomic struggles to the parents, society as a whole carries the
burden. This paper will consider all the risk factors, which reach far beyond the act
of sex by a teenager. Some risk factors are biological, such as minority race or those
with a cognitive deficit. Some are culturally driven, such as the influence of
entertainment and internet media. However, researchers have begun to look at the
ecological influences upon the child; the largest influencer of teen pregnancy, as well
as prevention of teen pregnancy, resides in the child’s home. A stable home life is
the largest influence in preventing teen pregnancy.

11. YOUTH Dec 2014
Teens: Sexual behaviors and prevention
ABSTRACT: The sexual behaviors of teens and the outcomes of those behaviors
such as sexual addictions and teen pregnancies are subjects of concern. Educational
models have been both presented and proven ineffective. Empirical research has
discovered adolescents are not driven to sexual behaviors solely out of risky behaviors.
The medical influence behind the poor judgments indicates dysfunction within the
frontal cortex hinders multi-level processing. In addition, teens often use sex – or
other addictive behaviors – as coping mechanisms to life stressors. This study presents
a preventative program, C.O.P.E. - Consider Other Possible Endings, to train and
equip teens with healthy coping mechanisms applicable to any addictive behavior. The
educational model, L8r (LATER), teaches the effects of sex-too-soon through
presenting the medical facts in a technologically interactive model.

12. ELDERLY May 2014
Ethics of Assisted Suicide
ABSTRACT: Assisted suicide is a controversial topic that pits right to life against dignity to
die. Dr. Jack Kevorkian brought the debate into the public spectrum in the 1990’s, but that
erroneously implies this is a new issue. Assisted suicide has been controversial since antiquity.
In ancient Greece, Athenian city magistrates had poison available for anyone who wanted to
die. On the other end of the controversy is the Hippocratic Oath, written in ancient Greece,
prohibiting euthanasia (Historical timeline: History of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide,
2013). Four states and four nations have legalized physician-assisted suicide. Yet, the opposition
is strong, indicated by the majority of countries and states that refuse to legalize physician-
assisted suicide. As with most controversial topics, there are valid points on both sides of the
argument. This paper will present the ethical concerns from both perspectives, as well as
consideration of the varying participants: patient, physicians, nurses and/or family. This paper
is intended to present the known arguments and inform from both positions.

13. YOUTH Sept 2014
Eating Disorders in a Twice Hidden Population
ABSTRACT: Eating disorders have been long viewed as a gender issue, both
socially and clinically. Men do experience eating disorders, yet many refuse
treatment due to the stigma attached to having a “female disorder” (Collier,
2013). Within the population of men with eating disorders, there is a
disproportionate number of homosexual males who struggle with eating
disorders (Siever, 1994). This subgroup not only struggles with having a
“female disorder” but also general discrimination towards a homosexual
lifestyle. As a result, this group has become a twice-hidden population within
the research and treatment of eating disorder in homosexual males.

14. YOUTH Sept 2014
Ecological Approach to Deviancy
ABSTRACT: Animal cruelty/animal abuse, defined as torture, needlessly beating,
mutilating or killing of an animal has become a euphemism for deviancy or bad kids.
However, another perspective is being uncovered. Research is bringing to light the
likelihood that animal cruelty/animal abuse may be symptomatic of violence and/or
abuse within the home. Often this is behavior that the adolescent has observed or
participated in with a family member. From this perspective, the perpetrator is a
victim not an offender. This qualitative study asks Midwestern adolescents, ages 13-
18, who are in the juvenile justice system and have engaged in animal cruelty/animal
abuse about their lived experiences.

15. ELDERLY Dec 2013
Ageism and Sexism:
Discrimination Against the Elderly
ABSTRACT: For centuries, youth have been instructed to “respect your
elders”; somewhere along the way, a drastic paradigm shift occurred. In 1969,
the term “ageism” was coined to describe prejudice and discrimination of older
adults (Rupp, 2005, June), and has been thriving ever since. Ageism is a form
of discrimination solely based upon the belief that an age, up to a certain point,
is superior to those ages past this point. The population of older adults,
specifically elderly people, is a multi-cultural group being discriminated against,
as all ethnicities ultimately grow old and sadly, ageism appears to be nearly
universal. This paper shows the origin of this discrimination and its depth

16. ELDERLY Dec 2013
Elders Have Sex Too
As one ages, many changes occur, most notably biological and cognitive. Although those are the
obvious aging indicators, psychological and sociocultural variations are also incurred. However, it is
the influence of the sociocultural variables which may be the most surprising. Often times these
influences follow the path of stereotypes, an overgeneralized belief about a group or population, or
are the result of discrimination, defined as “unjustifiable behavior” towards a group or population
(Myers, 2014).
For this specific topic, the stereotype at play is that older adults cannot or do not have sex; in this
case, that some people are “too old to have sex”. This stereotype facilitates the discriminatory battle
of ageism, the belief that the competence and ability levels of human characteristics can be
influenced by age – moreover that after a certain age, become worthless. In 1969, the term “ageism”
developed to describe prejudice and discrimination of older adults (Rupp, 2005). This paper sets out
to illustrate that it is culture, not biology, influencing whether older adults engage in sexual activity,
addressing the sociocultural influences regarding aging adults and sexuality.

17. YOUTH March 2014
Marginalized in Macomb:
Participatory Action Research Project with
Black teens of Macomb, IL
INTRODUCTION: Stereotypes and prejudices have been recorded throughout history; sadly,
it still exists – and even thrives - today. Black adolescents in Macomb IL appear to be
increasingly prejudice against and this participation action research project set out to discover
how it was that these teens felt, not about their town, but because of their town.
Stereotyping exists throughout the world and the two selected organizations work to ensure
diversity is incorporated into their programming and operations. Youth for Christ, an
international faith-based organization, and Girls, Inc., an organization, “inspiring all girls to be
strong, smart, and bold” (GirlsInc.org), both utilize methods and strategies that look beyond
the “differences” and focus on the commonalities, chipping away at stereotypes and prejudices.
This paper will compare and contrast those two organizations in relation to the struggles of the
town of Macomb.