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About Us

The Center for Aging with Dignity is dedicated to:

• advocating dignified care for the aging and chronically ill,
• encouraging personal and professional responsibility, and
• reinforcing the core values of nursing

An initiative of the College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati, the Center works closely with experts in the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Social Work and the College of Allied Health Sciences.

Key Personnel

College of Nursing

Andrea Lindell, PhD, RN, is Dean of the College of Nursing. Her distinguished professional experience and qualifications have enabled her to influence the role of nursing and the education of nurses on both a nation and international scale. Dean Lindell oversees the Center initiative and serves as the visionary and primary advocate.

Charles Puchta (pronounced Puck-ta), MBA and CSA (Certified Senior Advisor) is Director of the Center for Aging with Dignity. Puchta's distinctive gift is his ability to take complex subject matter, distill it and communicate it in a way that makes sense to the audience. He is an award-winning author (The Caregiver Resource Guide and Biblical Caregiving Principles) and a nationally acclaimed authority and speaker on the subject of aging and caregiving. Prior to joining the University of Cincinnati, Puchta founded Aging America Resources (www.AgingUSA.com), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families cope as loved ones age or become ill, and helping churches address the care needs within their community.

Evelyn Fitzwater, DSN, RN, CS, is Associate Director of the Center for Aging with Dignity. Dr. Fitzwater has worked 20 years in the aging field and is a nationally known researcher and author on topics of gerontology. She has a distinguished record of appointments and leadership for various programs and organizations in the aging and nursing fields. Most recently, she was honored by the Association for Professionals in Aging as the 2005 Outstanding Leader in the Field of Aging. In addition to providing thought leadership, Dr. Fitzwater is focused on curriculum and continuing education.

Elaine Miller, DNS, MN, BSN, has expertise in research (quantitative and qualitative research, mixed methods, theory, theory testing,) health promotion, adult health, gerontology, and rehabilitation. Dr. Miller serves in a leadership role in the American Heart Association (AHA), is a speaker for the National Stroke Association and is active in the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) for which she currently serves as the editor of the Rehabilitation Nursing journal. Dr. Miller serves as an advisor for the Center for Aging with Dignity.