Karl Pillemer
Professor
2007
HDWeb Bio Page
Current Activities
Current Professional Activities
Gerontological Society of America, American Sociological Association, National Council on Family Relations
Current Research Activities
My research activities center on human development over the life course, with an emphasis on family and social relationships in middle age and beyond. A major research program is on intergenerational relations in later life, focusing on determinants and consequences of the quality of adult child-parent relationships and on within-family differences in later life (such as parental favoritism and differential treatment of children). A second program of research, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, studies family members who provide care to older persons with physical and mental impairments. A third area is nursing home care for the elderly, with an emphasis on examining relationships between family members of residents with staff in long-term care facilities, including intervention research on this topic. Fourth, I have a long-term program of research on conflict and abuse in families of the aged, including several related studies of the domestic and institutional abuse of elderly persons. Finally, I am actively involved in intervention research and in policy analysis related to aging and long-term care, and on translational research on these topics.
Current Extension Activities
My extension program is in the area of aging and life course development. An overarching interest is promoting social integration in later life, including intervention programs to reduce social isolation and increase social engagement among older persons. I am the Principal Investigator of a center grant funded by the National Institute on Aging: The Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging (CITRA) one of ten Edward R. Roybal Centers on Applied Gerontology nationwide. CITRA has created a community-based research partnership with major elder service providers in New York City. Through a series of "research to practice consensus workshops," an innovative pilot study grant program that funds research partnerships with community agencies, and other related programs, CITRA brings Cornell research resources to the NYC community. My extension efforts also focus on improving the quality of care provided by staff in nursing homes. We have developed, evaluated, and are disseminating Partners in Caregiving, funded by NIA and other sources. This evidence-based program improves cooperation and communication between families and staff in nursing homes. Other products include publications for the nursing home industry that provide detailed practical guidance for upgrading the job conditions of paraprofessionals. In addition, a new program area is currently developing ways of engaging older persons in environmental volunteering, in collaboration with county Cooperative Extension Associations in New York State.
Biography
Biographical Statement
Dr. Karl Pillemer’s major interests center on human development over the life course, with a special emphasis on family and social relationships in middle age and beyond. He has a strong theoretical and empirical interest in life course transitions and the effects they have on family relationships. A major program of research is on intergenerational relations in later life, with a focus on determinants and consequences of the quality of adult child -- parent relationships. Dr. Pillemer is now conducting a large-scale study of this issue, with funding from the National Institute on Aging, which focuses on within-family differences in parent-child relations in later life and on ambivalence in intergenerational relations among adults. A second major program of research focuses on the nature and dynamics of family caregiving for impaired elderly relatives, which he has been carrying out over the past two decades with funding from the National Institutes of Health. A third area is in long-term care for the elderly, with a focus on the relationships between family members of residents with staff in long-term care facilities. Fourth, Dr. Pillemer has a long-term program of research on conflict and abuse in families of the aged, including several related studies of the domestic and institutional abuse of older persons. Finally, he is actively involved in intervention research and in policy analysis related to aging and health care, with an emphasis on evidence-based methods of developing a competent, caring long-term care workforce. His extension and outreach work involves translational research, exploring ways to speed the transfer of findings from basic research into scientifically tested interventions.
Education
Ph.D. 1985 - Brandeis University
Sociology
M.A. 1981 - Brandeis University
Sociology
B.A. 1977 - Boston University
Sociology
Administrative Responsibilities
Director, Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging
Member, Executive Committee, Department of Human Development
Member, Advisory Committee, Cornell Survey Research Institute
Member, Advisory Committee, Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center
Courses, Websites, Pubs
Courses Taught
Social Interventions to Promote Optimal Human Development; Parent-Child Relations in Later Life; Exploring Human Development
Related Websites
Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging
http://agingresearchtranslator.com
Publications
Pillemer, Karl, and J. Jill. Suitor. In press. “Intergenerational Support, Care and Relationship Quality in Later Life: Exploring Within-Family Differences.” In N. Crouter and A. Booth (Eds.), Caring, Negotiation and Exchange within and across Generations. Washington, D. C.: Urban Institute Press.
Pillemer, Karl, Rhoda Meador, Charles Henderson, Jr., Julie Robison, Carol Hegeman, Edwin Graham, Leslie Schultz. (In press). “A Facility Specialist Model for Improving Retention of Nursing Home Staff: Results from a Randomized, Controlled Study.” The Gerontologist.
Pillemer, Karl, J. Jill Suitor, Steven Mock, Myra Sabir, and Jori Sechrist. (2007). “Capturing the Complexity of Intergenerational Relations: Exploring Ambivalence within Later-Life Families.” Journal of Social Issues, 63: 775-791.
Chen, Cory K, Myra Sabir, Sheryl Zimmerman, J. Jill Suitor, and Karl Pillemer. (2007). The importance of family relationships with nursing facility staff for family caregiver burden and depression. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 62, 253-260.
Suitor, J. Jill, Jori Sechrist, and Karl Pillemer. (2007). "Within-Family Differences in Mothers' Support to Adult Children in Black and White Families." Research on Aging, 29: 410-435.
Robison, Julie, Leslie Curry, Cynthia Gruman, Martha Porter, Charles R. Henderson, Jr., and Karl Pillemer. (2007). “Partners in Caregiving in a Special Care Environment: Cooperative Communication Between Staff and Families on Dementia Units.” The Gerontologist, 47: 504-515.
Suitor, J. Jill, Jori Sechrist, Michael Steinhour, and Karl Pillemer. (2007). “When Mothers Have Favorites: Conditions under Which Mothers Differentiate among Their Adult Children.” Canadian Journal on Aging, 26, 85-99.
Robison, Julie and Karl Pillemer. (2007). "Job Satisfaction and Intention to Quit among Nursing Home Nursing Staff: Do Special Care Units Make a Difference?" Journal of Applied Gerontology, 26, 95-112.
Suitor, J. J., & K. Pillemer. (2007). “Mothers’ Favoritism in Later Life: The Role of Children’s Birth Order.” Research on Aging 29: 32-55.
Sabir, Myra, Risa Breckman, Rhoda Meador, Elaine Wethington, M.Carrington Reid, and Karl Pillemer. (2006). “The CITRA Research-Practice Consensus Workshop Model: Exploring a New Method of Research Translation in Aging.” The Gerontologist, 46: 833-839.
Pillemer, Karl, and J. Jill Suitor. (2006). “Making Choices: A Within-Family Study of Caregiver Selection.” The Gerontologist, 46: 439-448.
Suitor, J. Jill, and Karl Pillemer. 2006. “Choosing Daughters: Exploring Why Mothers Favor Adult Daughters over Sons.” Sociological Perspectives, 49, 139-162.
Sabir, Myra, Risa Breckman, Rhoda Meador, Elaine Wethington, M.Carrington Reid, and Karl Pillemer. (2006). “The CITRA Research-Practice Consensus Workshop Model: Exploring a New Method of Research Translation in Aging.” The Gerontologist, 46: 833-839.
Suitor, J. Jill, Michael Steinhour, Jori Sechrist, and Karl Pillemer. (2006). "’I'm Sure She Chose Me!’ Accuracy of Children's Reports of Mothers' Favoritism in Later Life Families.” Family Relations, 55, 526 – 538.
Pillemer, Karl, and J. Jill Suitor. 2005 "Ambivalence in Intergenerational Relations over the Life-Course." In M. Silverstein (Ed.), Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Volume 2: Intergenerational Relations Across Time and Place. New York: Springer.
Pillemer, Karl, and Kurt Luescher (Eds.).2004, Intergenerational Ambivalences: New Perspectives on Parent-Child Relations in Later Life. Stamford, CN: Elsevier/JAI Press.
Lachs, Mark S., and Karl Pillemer. 2004. "Elder Abuse." The Lancet, 364: 1263-72
Pillemer, Karl, J. Jill Suitor, Charles R. Henderson, Jr., Rhoda Meador, Leslie Schultz, Julie Robison, and Carol Hegeman. 2003. "A Cooperative Communication Intervention for Nursing Home Staff and Family Members of Residents." The Gerontolo