Intergenerational Connections
Retired Social Workers Mentoring Undergraduate and Graduate Students (in partnership with Dr. Emily Ihara’s lab). This program brings together the work being conducted at VCU with the interests of researchers at Mason to continue exploring intervention on dispelling myths about growing older. This project partners undergraduate and graduate students with retired social workers for 5 hours per week each semester. Most often, the students and mentors (retired social workers) spend one hour each week discussing being a social work student and a social work practitioner and how education and practice have changed and stayed the same over time.
Peer-Reviewed Publications and Presentations
Tompkins, C.J., Ihara, E.S., Brooks, D.M., & Krist, A.K. From Experience to Inspiration: Retired Social Workers Mentoring Social Work Students. In (Hand, M., Chair). Preparing Future Practitioners: Student Engagement in Intergenerational Mentorship, Research, and Practice. The Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Conference, November 4, 2026, National Harbor, Maryland.
Hand, M., Kang, H., Harvey, K.*, Inoue, M., Tompkins, C.J., Ihara, E.S. (2024). Intergenerational strategies learning for addressing ageism among college and university students: A scoping review. Educational Gerontology, DOI: 10.1080/03601277.2025.2490023
Ihara, E.S., Tompkins, C.J., Pantleay, H*., Barrett, K.*, Holden, M.*, Velazquez-Dominguez, V.*, Ivey, K., Wates, L., Marrs, S.A. (2024). “Don’t Treat Us Like Fragile Babies”: Mentors’ Perspectives of Senior Mentor Programs for Health Students. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships. https://doi.org/10.1080/15350770.2024.2310654
Tompkins, C.J. (2017). Creating an Intergenerational-Friendly World (Editorial Comment). Intergenerational Relationships, 15(3).
Encore Melody Makers
The impact of music interventions on people living with dementia and their family caregivers. There is one active project related to music interventions occurring in this lab and in partnership with Dr. Emily Ihara’s lab: Encore Melody Makers. The Encore Melody Makers program is designed to improve the quality of life for individuals living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). The current research evaluates the effectiveness of Encore Creativity’s Melody Makers program on the behaviors and attitudes of older adults living with ADRD in two assisted living communities. A mixed-methods observational design, incorporating qualitative and quantitative data collected through structured behavioral observations, is utilized.
Peer-Reviewed Publications and Presentations
Tompkins, C.J., Ihara, E.S., East, M.A., Krist, A.M., & Alsadah, G.A. Melody Makers: Multi-Modal Music Experience for People with Cognitive Change: Preliminary Results. Leading Age’s National Conference, October 27, 2026, Philadelphia, PA.
Inoue, M., Ihara, E., Layman, S., Li, M., Nosrat, S.*, Mehak, S.*, Barrett, K.*, Magee, C.*, McNally, K*., Moore, M.*, Tompkins, C. (2024). A Personalized Music Intervention in Nursing Home Residents Living with Dementia: Findings from a Randomized Study. The Journal of Applied Gerontology.
Ambergaonkar, J., Matto, H., Ihara, E., Tompkins, C.J. Caswell, S., Cortes, N., Davis, R., Coogan, S., Fauntroy, V., Glass, E., Lee, J., Baraniecki-Zwil, G. & Dhokai, N. (2022). Dance, music, and social conversation program participation positively affects physical and mental health in community-dwelling older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science. https://doi.org/10.12678/1089-313X.121522f
Tompkins, C.J, Ihara, E.S., Inoue, M., Ferenz, J.*, & Pham, S.# (2019). A web-based training program for direct care workers in long-term care communities: Providing knowledge and skills to implement a Music and Memory intervention. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 41(3), 367-379. doi: 10.1080/02701960.2019.1699074
Ihara, E.S., Tompkins, C.J., Inoue, M., & Sonneman, S.* (2018). Results from a person-centered music intervention for individuals living with dementia. Geriatrics and Gerontology International, 19(1), 30-34. doi:10.1111/ggi.13563
Grandparent Headed Households
The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren living in grandparent-headed households may evolve over time. Currently, the Resilient Families lab is interviewing adult grandchildren who were raised by their grandparents, exploring the complexities, strengths, and challenges that exist throughout the life course. Qualitative methods are being used to analyze the data with an emphasis on grounded theory.
Peer-Reviewed Publications and Presentations
Tompkins, C.J., & Brooks, D. Reasons for Initiating, Assuming, and Reciprocating Care for Grandparents: Adult Grandchildren Speak Out. The Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Conference, November 4, 2026, National Harbor, Maryland.
Ihara, E.S., Horio, B.M. & Tompkins, C.J. (2012). Grandchildren caring for grandparents: Modeling the complexity of family caregiving. Journal of Social Service Research, 38(5), 619-636. doi:10.1080/01488376.2012.711684
Tompkins, C.J. (2007). Who will care for the grandparents? Exploring relationships between grandparents and grandchildren. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 45(5), 19-22.