ASA - American Society on Aging

2004 Awards Programs
Recognizing Excellence in the Field of Aging

Award Winners

2004 ASA GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS

Gretchen E. Alkema, MSW, LCSW

Los Angeles, CA

Gretchen Alkema is a licensed clinical social worker and is currently pursuing a PhD in Gerontology at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California. She received her Master's Degree in social work and Specialist in Aging Certificate at the University of Michigan, and completed undergraduate work in psychology at the University of Colorado. Ms. Alkema has provided direct service in government agencies, as well as the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Her experience includes many facets of gerontological social work, including community mental health, sub-acute physical rehabilitation, residential care, and adult day health care. Her current research interest is the impact of integrated chronic care service delivery systems on the quality of care and quality of life for older adults and the disabled. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and serves as a campus representative for the Gerontological Society of America. Ms. Alkema is a native Californian and lives in Long Beach.

Ms. Alkema is honored for her study of the characteristics associated with home- and community-based services (HCBS) usage by older adults with chronic care needs in a Medicare managed care setting. Age, gender, social support, living situation and chronic health conditions were significant factors in predicting utilization for these different HCBS categories. Policy implications for social case management in a medical setting are discussed.