Janet Melnick: Making Life Better for Seniors

Janet Melnick, Ph.D., MSW, LSW, has been teaching at Penn State Scranton for 22 years, but her duties extend well beyond the classroom. Well-known and beloved as a professor, she is also the program coordinator/field coordinator for the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) program at the campus, overseeing faculty, courses, scheduling and internships and is a consultant for Penn State’s World Campus on the development of a master’s in social work program (available in Fall 2023.)

Melnick is also an active researcher; her area of specialty is elder care in rural areas. She has received multiple grants from foundations and state agencies for her work, been published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at state, national and international conferences and she collaborates with the PA Department of Aging (PDA).

Three research grants through the Center for Rural PA focus on adult day care, rural community service delivery and the scope of senior care centers in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania. A fourth grant proposal to study Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia care in rural PA, provides the basis of projections for the next 10 years (pending). This research has been in partnership with Dr.

Heather Shanks McElroy at Keystone College.

“I have heard from local and state agencies and organizations, particularly the director of the Lackawanna County Area Aging on Aging, regarding the relevancy of the research that my colleague and I have conducted,” she said. “Pennsylvania in general, and the northeast region, has a high concentration of elderly and is more rural than many residents realize. This combina-

“All of our research has utilized students as research assistants,” she explained, “…a fantastic opportunity not usually afforded to undergraduate students. They have also accompanied us to conferences to present.” tion of location and age can leave many elderly individuals vulnerable to issues in receiving care, both in their homes or when they need more intensive care in nursing facilities,” she explained. “It is vital that state and local lawmakers understand the issues facing these individuals and their families. I believe the research I have conducted has been instrumental in shedding light on these issues and hopefully, solutions will follow.”

Melnick even engages students in this work, involving them in projects that expose them to real world situations and challenges, and teaches them the interpersonal and compassion skills needed for their future careers.

Last spring, PDA Secretary Robert Torres held a press conference at Penn State Scranton to highlight the department’s Intergenerational University Connections Program, which aims to benefit seniors at risk of negative impacts on their health and well-being due to social isolation. Seniors are paired with college students to help reduce their isolation, thereby improving their daily lives. Penn State Scranton was the first university in northeastern Pennsylvania to participate.

Melnick, along with Penn State Scranton psychology professor Renae McNair, Ph.D. and several students who participated are still involved.

“It’s a win-win for the seniors and the students,” Melnick explained. “The senior gets a call from a friendly visitor at least once a week, helping to combat isolation, and the students get to practice clinical skills. They make new relationships as well; many of my students ask me if they can continue to call their senior after the class has finished.”

Having their work recognized by Torres was an honor for Melnick. “As a clinician and administrator in human services, it is important that I am not only generating knowledge for knowledge’s sake but that it actually has practical real-world applications. Anytime someone acknowledges that your research or what you are doing actually has those realworld applications and you are making a difference, it is a wonderful feeling!”

It's a hectic workload, but suits Melnick’s natural tendencies. “I have always been a worker bee and enjoy what I do,” she said. “I like getting involved in all areas of the job. Time management is important, and I try to stay on top of things in order to get everything done.”

Surprisingly, Melnick didn’t start out in higher education. She began her career as a licensed social worker, going back to school for her Ph.D. in human development with a specialization in social work when she was 40. “Not the typical teaching trajectory of most faculty,” she said.

Prior to getting her Ph.D. and joining Penn State Scranton, she was employed for almost 20 years in aging services in Lackawanna County including

The ARC of Lackawanna County, the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging (where she started the first protective service unit) and Telespond Senior Services as the director of Rehabilitation Services, managing two adult day care programs, a Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation facility (CORF) and in-home respite programs. She was also employed at Marywood University’s School of Social Work, as assistant director of the field experience. “Coming to work at Penn State Scranton in the HDFS department was a natural extension. I was originally hired to develop and manage the internship experience for the HDFS program, so it was a natural fit.”

In addition to all that she is currently doing as an educator and researcher, Melnick has also maintained involvement with several organizations related to her work. She has served on the boards of the Alzheimer’s Association of NEPA and Family Services of Lackawanna County, serving as board president for both; was a consultant for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Partners in Caregiving Program; and participated in Leadership Lackawanna.

In her spare time, she loves to cook, read, garden and travel, and is a member of Penn State Scranton’s Chorale and the church choir of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church. And, this time of year, likes to snuggle with her Siamese cats, Fiona and Hazel. H