Meet Gerontologist Carol Hahn: by CSULB student, Jee Hyun Lee

Carol Hahn, MSN, RN, and I met through Westside Pacific Villages (WPV), a nonprofit community-based organization that offers support and services for older adults aging in place. I was WPV's social media coordinator, and Carol was and still is a volunteer. 

Carol recently retired from her career as a registered nurse, a dementia practitioner, a fall prevention educator, and the community educator at OPICA, an adult day care that provides support for older adults living with memory loss and their families. Carol became interested in gerontology when she was a nurse specializing in orthopedics, primarily focusing on sports medicine. She also treated many older patients who had suffered broken hips and underwent knee and hip replacements. Although she enjoyed working with athletes, she recognized the significant need to support older adults. 

In 1982, when Carol attended college, she took a gerontology course which, at that time, was not officially part of the curriculum, and the focus was mainly on the aging process from anatomical and biological perspectives. Carol said that gerontology courses have evolved significantly since 1982. They did not cover topics like they would now, such as Erikson's Stages of Development, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, examining life losses, or end-of-life issues. 

Carol’s introduction to dementia was when her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She sought support from the Alzheimer’s Association in New Jersey as she took care of him. After his passing, she wanted to give back and volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association. Carol became certified as a dementia practitioner through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. She then began teaching dementia practitioner certification courses. The certification course is 8 hours and includes topics such as an overview of dementia, behaviors of individuals living with dementia, the impact of their physical environments, and how to create supportive settings. 

Carol often discusses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the importance of fulfilling our basic needs. For individuals living with dementia, the situation can be particularly challenging when they are unable to express or meet these basic needs themselves, such as expressing that they are hungry or thirsty or have to go to the bathroom. As a result, a person with dementia might communicate their discomfort or needs through their behavior, which can include hitting or biting. This can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and anger from family members, such as a daughter or son towards their parent who is living with dementia. 

arol says that when engaging with older adults living with dementia, it is essential to include them socially so that they feel like valued members of the community. A good way to engage them in conversations is to provide opportunities for them to contribute rather than simply asking questions. Additionally, it is important to pay attention to non-verbal communication. 

Before Carol’s retirement, she was the community educator at OPICA, where she greatly enjoyed educating people about dementia. Her classes were held at various locations, including churches, senior centers, police and fire stations, and even businesses like Raytheon. I was surprised when she mentioned Raytheon. She said that dementia can impact anyone, either directly or indirectly. 

I asked Carol about some of her favorite resources for older adults. She is often surprised that older adults do not take advantage of free or low-cost services such as Meals On Wheels and transportation services. She said a service like Meals on Wheels is important because it provides older adults with the nutrition they need. 

I asked her about her favorite ways to support older adults in her community. She enjoys spending time with her neighbors by dropping by their homes or by simply giving them a call. She mentioned a neighbor who stays home due to Parkinson’s disease and feels like he no longer has a purpose. So, she had an idea to bring him work that volunteers did at OPICA or to make calls for OPICA, creating opportunities for him so that he could feel like he was still contributing to the community. 

Carol just entered retirement and thought she would have a more difficult time, but she is enjoying it. She and her husband have plans to visit all the national parks. So far, they have visited 37 out of 63 national parks. She is also trying new activities such as country line dancing through El Segundo Parks and Recreation.