Newswise — Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON) Associate Professor Sarah L. Szanton, PhD, ANP, FAAN, was named one of the top 50 “2016 Influencers in Aging” by Next Avenue, a digital publication covering issues for older Americans.
Szanton was recognized among a list of advocates, researchers, thought leaders, writers, and experts at the forefront of improving aging, including the television innovator Norman Lear, news anchor Lesley Stahl, and Susan Reinhard of the AARP.
“I am excited to be highlighted among so many leaders who share a passion for aging,” says Szanton. “Older adults have so much to offer our communities through wisdom, knowledge, and experience. It’s vital that we help them improve their ability to age with independence and options."
Szanton’s innovative Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders program, known as CAPABLE, has made strides across the nation as a viable solution to improving health outcomes among older adults. The program, which incorporates home visits from a nurse, occupational therapist, and handyman, provides small home improvements, like handrail installation or lowering cabinets, and helps older adults work on mobility and self-care issues. Findings published recently in the health policy journal Health Affairs have shown decreased disability, depression, and improved self care for participants.
In addition to her CAPABLE study, Szanton is researching and piloting strategies for preventing falls and examining how food and energy access may impact health outcomes of older adults. With a background as a policy analyst, Szanton uses her research results to inform policymakers about alternative, cost-effective solutions that can save health care and taxpayer dollars while simultaneously strengthening the health and well-being of older adults.
She has served on committees as a national adviser regarding care within the community, and has received numerous accolades including being named an American Academy of Nursing Emerging Edgerunner, earning the Protégé Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research, and being named a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar.
“Dr. Szanton’s work is innovative and speaks to nursing’s leadership in community health, public health, and especially aging,” says Dean Patricia Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN. “My congratulations on another notable achievement.”
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Located in Baltimore, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is a globally-recognized leader in nursing education, research and practice and ranks #1 nationally among graduate schools of nursing and #2 for DNP programs, according to U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the school is ranked by QS World University as the No. 2 nursing school in the world and is named the “Most Innovative Nursing Graduate Program in the U.S” by Best Master of Science in Nursing Degrees. The school is among the top nursing schools for Federal Research Grants and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. For more information, visit www.nursing.jhu.edu.
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