Beard Center on Aging
Dedicated to enhancing the well-being of older adults and their caregivers. ​
Mission & Purpose
The Beard Center on Aging, situated at the University of Lynchburg, is deeply committed to its mission of enhancing the well-being of older adults and their caregivers. Its foundational purpose, established in 1982 by Dr. Belle Boone Beard, a noted centenarian researcher and gerontology professor, was to promote the understanding of the challenges and opportunities of aging and the contributions that older people can make to society. Dr. Beard herself was dedicated to “Promoting positive aging across generations.” The Beard Center fulfills its mission through several key areas:
Founding History
The Beard Center on Aging and the Life Course was established in 1983 through a $200,000 gift from Belle Boone Beard, a 1923 alumna of the College and a former faculty member. The Center was initially established to promote education, research, and training in gerontology and to coordinate community resources. The goal was to develop programming addressing health, activities, and attitudes related to aging and the elderly, and to introduce new scientific knowledge about the aging process to Central Virginia.
Offering a certificate program in gerontology and an academic minor in that field, it also sponsored the Adult Health and Development Program, which was an intergenerational eight-week program held each semester that paired students and senior citizens, the Life Long Scholars Program, which invited retired people to enroll in College classes, and an annual symposium.
Services and Programs
Workshops and Training for Organizations
The Beard Center conducts a wide variety of workshops and training sessions related to aging issues for various organizations, including government bodies, non-profit businesses, churches, and other community groups. These workshops cover an extensive range of topics
Find out more about the workshops available.
- Caregiving and Dementia: Examples include “Alzheimer’s and Dementia: National Certification Council Alzheimer’s and Dementia Class,” “Caregiver Burden and Stress,” “Caregiving From a Dementia Caregiver Perspective,” “Successful Day-to-Day Caregiving Strategies,” and “Communicating Effectively with Individuals Diagnosed with Dementia”. The Center also specifically offers “Caregiver Training & Support” and opportunities to “Lead a “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” group”, encouraging caregivers to “receive the same care and support you so generously give to others”.
- Positive Aging and Well-being: Topics cover “Aging with Spirit and Zest,” “A Positive Attitude is Everything,” “Beyond Crossword Puzzles: Maintaining a Healthy Brain,” “Positive Aging: Aging Well in Mind, Body, and Spirit,” “Promoting Positive Self Esteem in Older Adults,” “Laughter is the Best Medicine,” and “More Than Fun: The Importance of Recreation and Socialization to Longevity and Quality of Life”.
- Practical Aspects of Aging: This includes “Aging in Place: Housing Adaptations and Changes to Age-Proof Our Home,” “Finding Resources When You Need Them,” “End-of-life Planning,” and “Preventing and Detecting Elder Abuse”.
- Intergenerational and Societal Topics: Workshops address “Aging Communities and Career Opportunities,” “Aging: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for the Future,” “Boomers and the Pending Workforce Shortage,” “Generational Differences and Their Impact,” and “Wisdom at Work: The Move to an Aging Workforce”.
- Personal Growth and Resilience: Other topics include “Finding Purpose in Life,” “Living Life with Purpose,” “Overcoming Adversity,” and “Taking Charge of Your Health”
Genworth Aging and Caregiver Resource Center
Since 2010, the Aging and Caregiver Resource Center has assisted hundreds of residents in finding free information and referrals related to aging and caregiving. Staffed by University of Lynchburg students and community volunteers, the Center offers a wide range of publications, as well as loanable books and DVDs, on topics such as Alzheimer’s disease, healthy aging, caregiver stress, local services, driving safety, and more.
Consultations—by appointment or phone—are provided free of charge. The Center is a partnership between the Beard Center on Aging and the Central Virginia Area Agency on Aging, funded by the Genworth Foundation.
Opportunities for University of Lynchburg Students
The Center gives students hands-on experience in research, outreach, and professional events. Interns, research assistants, and GAs tackle projects such as the Faith & Aging Initiative and newsletter, faith-leader training, social media, caregiver support, healthy-aging campaigns, grant writing, and collaboration with our sister Center in East Asia.
Services for Community Partners
The Beard Center actively collaborates with community partners, offering a range of services, including training, surveys, and readiness assessments, assistance with grant applications, GIS mapping, student placement, internships, and speaker presentations. The Center is involved with key community resources, including the Virginia No Wrong Door and the Community Care Hub, a part of the Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living.
