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Directory > Ellen Bouchard Ryan

Bio

Dr. Ryan is a psychologist of aging. Her research seeks to demonstrate how empowering communication fosters personhood and resilient aging, especially for older adults with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments.

Recent publications include Ability Speaks: Communicating with a Person with Disability, Celebrating Poets Over 70, and Writing as a Spiritual Practice in Later Life.

She edits the Writing Down Our Years Series of books which highlight the many ways in which writing can benefit older adults and those with whom they share their life stories and poems.

She hosts the website on Writing, Aging and Spirit.

Featured Publications

Kokorelias, K., Elliot, G., & Ryan, E. B. (2017).  Innovative practice: Conversational use of English in bilingual adults with dementia. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 16(2), 233-242.   

Ryan, E. B., Crispin, D., & Daigneault, M. (2014). “In my own words”: Writing down life stories to promote conversation in dementia.  In R. W. Schrauf & N. Mueller (Eds.), Dialogue and dementia: Cognitive and communicative resources for engagement (pp. 183-212).  New York: Psychology Press.

Anthony, B., Pevny, R., Ryan, E. B., Moore, C., & Morris, R. (Eds) (2013).  Second Journeys: The Dance of the spirit in later life. Chapel Hill NC: Second Journey.

Ryan, E. B., & Bannister, K. A. (2009). Ability speaks: Talking with a person with disability. Girona, Spain: Editorial Aresta.

Ryan, E. B., Bannister, K. A., & Anas, A. P. (2009). The dementia narrative: Writing to reclaim social identity. Journal of Aging Studies, 23(3), 145-157.

Ryan, E. B., Anas, A. P. & Mays, H. (2008). Assertiveness by older adults with visual impairment: Context matters. Educational Gerontology, 34, 503 - 519.

Clinical and Research Interests

Leads an aging-in-community group called Aging Together for the Hamilton Area

Education

  • BA Honours, Brown University, 1968
  • MA, Brown University, 1968
  • PhD, University of Michigan, 1970

Research Areas

Dr. Ryan is a psychologist of aging. Her research seeks to demonstrate how empowering communication fosters personhood and resilient aging, especially for older adults with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments.

Recent publications include Ability Speaks: Communicating with a Person with Disability, Celebrating Poets Over 70, and Writing as a Spiritual Practice in Later Life.

She edits the Writing Down Our Years Series of books which highlight the many ways in which writing can benefit older adults and those with whom they share their life stories and poems.

She hosts the website on Writing, Aging and Spirit.

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