Membership Update

The Csomay Center is proud to welcome 56 new members!

Our no-cost membership allows anyone interested in aging to deepen their involvement with our work, tap into a community with similar interests, and provide insight and influence in Center activities. Beyond joining the Center, being a member also means opportunities to: connect, contribute, and create the future where we can all age optimally.

To Join: 

Scan or click on the QR code on the image below.

Meet a Community Member: Kay Weiler

Kay Weiler is someone who has been a friend of the Csomay Center for quite some time. She is a dedicated community member who is thoughtful and generous to those who meet her according to her teacher and long-time friend, Kitty Buckwalter.

Kay and Kitty first met when Kitty was Kay's teacher during her master's program. Buckwalter was the chair for Weiler's thesis paper entitled, "Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurses’ Knowledge about the Iowa Involuntary Commitment Statute: Vignette Tool Development." Kay states, "Kitty and I went from student and teacher to colleagues to friends."

Kay likes to spend her time helping others. When Kitty had surgery for a knee replacement, Kay made a quilt for Kitty. As part of a way for her to age optimally, she states, "Making quilt tops, that's my fun time."

Kay also volunteers at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics (UIHC) Neurosurgical floor. The reason Kay does this work is because one day she was teaching on the floor of the neuro unit and after a subarachnoid hemorrhage, she became a patient. While she was in recovery on the floor she gave volunteering more thought. Kay states, "I'm comfortable in the hospital unit, with the patients, and with the physicians." Her goal was to help the patients and then the families of those patients. Eventually, that work continued to help the nurses.

Kay has also done what may be seen by others as impossible. She managed to get season tickets to the Iowa Women's Basketball game. Kay does not attend the games herself. The reason for the tickets is so she can help more nurses. Kay worked with the assistant head nurse over at UIHC to gift tickets to different nurses each game. Kay was told by one of the nurses who got tickets this event gave her something to look forward to. Kay says to the nurses, "You carry a burden, and I can't carry it with you, but I can do this for you."

Beyond her charitable works, Kay Weiler also has a family; her late husband John, a daughter, and a son. Kay and her husband owned a company called Compleware Corporation. At this company, Kay and her husband worked on clinical research studies for respiratory clinical trials. The business was a success.

Now Kay continues as a volunteer and someone who does what she can for the nursing community. Kay works with the Csomay Center and volunteered as our hostess at our open house event in January. Kay continues to be a light in the Csomay Community and for nurses.

Student Spotlight: Sophia Abodeely

Sophia Abodeely, a Master of Public Health student, is completing her practicum with the Csomay Center this spring semester.

Abodeely is from Marion, Iowa, and got her undergraduate degree from The University of Iowa. When asked why she chose her field of study Abodeely says, "I chose this field [public health] of study because I want to make a difference in healthcare by helping to develop, implement or rewrite policies to better the overall health and wellbeing of individuals."

Sophia is working with Jennifer Jones who is the Optimal Aging Initiative Program Coordinator. Jones says, "Sophia’s applied practice experience with the Csomay Center is providing her the opportunity for real-world application of the knowledge and theories she’s been presented through her courses, while also introducing her to our center processes and the impact we can have in the world of aging. The development of her projects will benefit the center but will also help develop skill sets and awareness of critical aging issues that Sophia can employ as she transitions into the professional world of public health after graduation."

Sophia is developing several projects for the Csomay Center. One project is a relationship map that shows connections between the Csomay Center and our community partners. She is also developing impact scorecards that highlight the growth, success, and results of the Csomay Center initiatives and efforts. Thank you, Sophia!

Resource Spotlight: Seniors Together in Aging Research (STAR)

Shortage in Research Participants over the Age of 50- check out what the STAR Registry has to offer!

If you are a researcher in Gerontology and are experiencing a lack of participants over the age of 50, Seniors Together in Aging Research (STAR) helps connect individuals who are interested in participating in research studies.

STAR says older adults are typically under-represented in scientific research. It has been found that over 17% of Iowa’s population is over 65, and even with the growing numbers, researchers often have difficulty recruiting older participants. People aged 50 and older who are healthy, as well as those with medical problems, are invited to enroll in the STAR Registry.

The STAR Registry currently has over 1,500 Iowans age 50 and older who are enthusiastic and interested in volunteering for research studies. STAR can provide resource information on subject recruitment for use in grant applications, searchable fields for demographic and other health/medical conditions, as well as overall recruitment enhancement. STAR is useful for recruiting harder-to-identify or non-disease participants, community-based studies, specific conditions or circumstances, participants willing to participate long-term, and volunteers who are committed to research and likely to be retained.

Over 60 investigators from over 20 departments at the University of Iowa have used the STAR Registry as a recruitment resource, and they use them repeatedly. Many types of studies use STAR including surveys, interviews or focus groups, and clinical trials.

To learn more about the STAR Registry, visit the website at www.icts.uiowa.edu/star, e-mail coa-star@uiowa.edu, or call (319) 335-7569.

Optimal Aging Initiative Updates from Coordinator, Jen Jones

Program Coordinator Jen continues to focus on community engagement as she introduces the Optimal Aging Initiative around the region. She had a lovely time sharing the story of the Csomay Center with residents from Melrose Meadows in Iowa City during a Csomay Coffee Talk in late January. Hearing how they continue to optimally age was very inspiring!

The Optimal Aging Initiative also sponsored a Stanley Sage event at the Stanley Museum on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. These are wonderful educational opportunities where older adults come together socially and learn about a local business or artist. We appreciate our partnership with Amanda Lensing who arranges these events!

Jen has two more Disrupt Aging Classroom (an AARP program) presentations coming up this spring. This is a terrific opportunity for college students to learn about the demographic swing that is occurring and better understand the impact the aging population will have on them personally and professionally. 

If you would like to have Jen present about the Csomay Center, please contact her at jennifer-e-jones@uiowa.edu. 

Save the Date: AHA Heart Walk on May 4th