The HOPE Lab
Welcome to the HOPE Lab
Learning together how to age well.
The HOPE Lab (Helping Older People Engage) studies strategies we can all use to maintain and increase well-being as we grow older. We study ways to maintain and grow meaningful social connections in later life.
People around the world are living longer and the number of older adults worldwide is on the rise —a phenomenon termed “population aging.” The United Nations estimates there are now 700 million people aged 60 years and over. By 2050 that figure will rise to over 2 billion. Growing old is a journey more and more of us will have the privilege of experiencing—a journey that is not just about challenges. For many people, growing older allows them to gain increased perspective on life and what is most valuable, develop increased relationship satisfaction, and more frequently experience positive emotions. However, those positive experiences do not develop for all of us due to a diverse range of challenges. Members of the HOPE Lab study psychosocial challenges some adults face as they grow older. We work to develop strategies to address these challenges. In particular, we focus on testing interventions to promote social engagement, social connectedness, and well-being. We are delighted you are interested in our work and invite you to contact us if you are interested in joining our team.
Kimberly A. Van Orden, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Current Projects
View All ProjectsPublications
View All Publications- Early Childhood Adversity Predicts Risk of Family Caregiver Suicidal Ideation:Roles of Neuroticism and Self-Compassion.; Research square. 2024 Sep 17.
- Associations of quality of social support and accurate beliefs about curability among older adults with advanced cancer.; Journal of geriatric oncology; Vol 15(8), pp. 102061. 2024 Sep 10.
- Capitalizing on Psychosocial Strengths in Aging.; International psychogeriatrics. 2024 Jan 22.
Affiliations
- Department of Psychiatry
- Steering Committee Member for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- Co-Director, Rochester Roybal Center for Social Ties & Aging Research
- Co-Director, Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide
Events/News
October 24, 2024
Dr. Van Orden Helps SAMHSA with Development of Suicide Prevention Resource
May 2, 2024
Dr. Van Orden: Panelist at 7th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium
December 3, 2023
Dr. Van Orden Spoke with NPR's Ayesha Rascoe About Persistently High Suicide Rates Among Elderly Men
January 19, 2021
Dr. Van Orden Featured on Short Takes on Suicide Prevention Podcast
Contact Us
The Hope Lab
300 Crittenden Blvd., Box Psych (Research)
Rochester NY, 14642
Lab office location: G8116?
(585) 273-1811 (Lab Phone Number)