Bonnie Callen, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing, recently received a Fulbright appointment to teach and conduct research at the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery at University College, Cork, Ireland, this fall. For her Fulbright research, Callen will compare Irish and American obesity trends in older adults, investigate causes, and examine the most effective potential interventions. This work will build on a qualitative study she conducted interviewing nine adults, 80 and older, asking them when they became overweight, why they gained weight, whether they were motivated to change, and how they tried to lose weight. She hopes that examining similarities and differences in these two countries will lead to more effective interventions useful in both cultures as well as in other countries. Callen’s research has focused on better screening in older adults, in measuring the effects of Meals on Wheels on the nutritional status of older adults, and in lifetime weight changes in obese adults who are 80 or older.
Recent Publications
Callen, B.L. & Imhoff, T. (forthcoming). “Nutritional risk factors as predictors of weight loss in community dwelling older adults.” Public Health Nursing.
Srikan, P., Callen, B. L.. Witucki Brown, J., Frown, A., Mefford, L., & Chen, S-L. (forthcoming). “Health perception, physical activity and coping strategies to health limitations of older adults volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.” Journal of Gerontological Nursing.
Callen, B. L. & Lee, J. (forthcoming). “Ready for the world: Preparing nursing students for tomorrow.” Journal of Professional Nursing.
Callen, B. L. (forthcoming) Weight problems of older adults: Weight loss and obesity. In Luggen, A. S. & Bernstein, M. (Eds). Geriatric Nutrition: The Health Professional’s Basic Handbook. Boston: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
Roman, M., & Callen, B. (2008). “Screening instruments in older adult mental health: Updating the evidence–based toolbox.” Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 29(9): 924-941.
Callen, B. & Pemberton, G. (2008). “Weight gain in overweight and obese community dwelling old-old.” Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 2(12): 233-237/
Nalle, M. A., Speraw, S. & Callen, B. L. (2007). “Community care: The family and culture.” In Lowdermilk, D. L. & Perry, S. E. (Eds). Maternity and Health Care. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.