Tracy Schroepfer
Ph.D.

Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2003. Interests: Developing a deeper understanding of the cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual factors that connote a quality dying process for elders who have been given a terminal diagnosis; assessing cancer healthcare disparities in medically underserved communities.

Contact Information

University of Wisconsin, Madison - Social Work
302 School of Social Work
1350 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 263-3837
Fax: 263-3836
Email: tschroepfer@wisc.edu

Education

University of Arkansas at Little Rock, BA, 1988
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, MA, 1989
University of Michigan, MSW, 1996
University of Michigan, Ph.D., 2003

Research Interests

Dr. Schroepfer is currently working on several areas of research, the first of which is focused on gaining knowledge of the psychosocial and physical factors that motivate terminally ill elders to either consider or not consider a hastened death. Over the past two years, she has interviewed 200 terminally ill elders regarding the psychosocial and physical factors that motivated them to either consider or not consider a hastened death. The quantitative and qualitative results will be used to inform policy makers and practitioners working to improve the palliative care offered to terminally ill elders.

The second area of research on which Dr. Schroepfer is currently working focuses on reducing cancer health disparities in medically underserved communities in Wisconsin. She and fellow researchers are currently working in eight communities using a community-based participatory approach to assessing the readiness of the community to address cancer, as well as assessing the care provided to community members who have had cancer, currently have cancer, or who have been given a terminal cancer diagnosis. Once the assessments are complete, then the research team will sit down with community members to set action priorities and decide how best to implement programs or policies to address the priorities.

Dr. Schroepfer?s third area of research utilizes the Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) dataset, and seeks to determine the impact demographics and characteristics of the care recipient, caregiver and the pair as a couple have on the composition of their ADL & IADL caregiver network. The project's goal is to increase knowledge regarding the sources of community-based help that functionally impaired elders use and provide direction for practitioners and policy makers.

Research and Professional Specialties

Relationship of psychosocial and physical aspects of the dying process to an elder's consideration to hasten or not hasten death

Hospice practices and policies

Cancer health disparities in medically underserved communities
Caregiver networks of married elders

Behavioral interventions for addressing problem behaviors exhibited by patients with dementia

Current Research Projects

Project Title: Assessing the Psychosocial Needs of Elders in Hospice Care

Role on Project: Principal Investigator

Qualitatively and quantitatively examines the role of demographic, physical and psychosocial factors as motivators of a terminally ill elder's consideration to hasten or not hasten death.

Project Title: Assessing the Quality of Cancer Care in Medically Underserved Communities

Role on Project: Principal Investigator

Using a community-based participatory research process to assessing and addressing cancer health disparities in medically underserved communities throughout Wisconsin.
Project Title: Caregiver Networks

Role on Project: Co-investigator

Examines role of demographics, and other predictors at the household, respondent and couple level to determine if and how each influences the composition of the caregiver networks.

Selected Publications

Feld, S., Dunkle, R. E., Schroepfer, T., & Shen, H. W. (In press). Expansion of elderly couples? IADL caregiver networks beyond the marital dyad. International Journal of Aging and Human Development.

Schroepfer, T. (2006). Mind frames towards dying and factors motivating their adoption by terminally ill elders. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 61B(3), S129-S139.

Feld, S., Dunkle, R. E., & Schroepfer, T. (2004). Race/ethnicity and marital status in IADL caregiver networks. Research on Aging, 26(5), 531-558.

Feld, S., Dunkel, R., & Schroepfer T. (In press). ADL caregiver networks of elderly couples: When do couples expand their ADL caregiver network beyond the marital dyad? Marriage and Family Review.

Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Schroepfer, T., Pryce, J., & Waarala, C. (In press). Fostering empathy and empowerment among staff and family caregivers. Social Work.

Chatters, L. M., Taylor, R. J., Lincoln, K. D., & Schroepfer, T. A. (2002). Patterns of informal support from family and church members among African Americans. Journal of Black Studies, 33(1), 66-85.

Schroepfer, T. & Ingersoll-Dayton, B. (2001). Caregiver mastery of hoarding behavior in a patient with dementia. Clinical Gerontologist, 22(3/4), 109-113.

Schroepfer, T. (1999). Facilitating perceived control in the dying process. In Devries, B., (Ed.), End of Life Issues: Interdisciplinary and Multidimensional Perspectives (pp. 57-76). New York: Springer Publications.

Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Schroepfer, T., & Pryce, J. (1999). Effectiveness of a solution-focused approach among nursing home residents. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 32(3), 49-64.

Benda, B. & Schroepfer, T. (1995). Current drinking among the homeless according to past psychiatric and substance abuse treatment. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Vol. 12(1), 33-47.