Expertise

• Social Connection and Trauma, Transitions, and Loss
• Direct Care Workforce Well-being
• Aging and Disability Resource Centers
• Trauma-informed Care for Organizations Serving Elders

Education

• PhD in Health-Related Science, 2021, from Virginia Commonwealth University
• MS in Gerontology, 2018, from Virginia Commonwealth University
• BS in Urban and Regional Planning, 1988, from Virginia Commonwealth University

Research Interests 

To understand, raise awareness of, and transform working conditions of the direct care workforce. Transforming the direct care workforce environment via research requires listening to the stories and insights of direct care providers and connecting providers’ lived experiences with the evidence base by elevating narrative practices, understanding historical racial and health inequities, identifying best practices, and engaging local stakeholders in addressing issues related to compensation and organizational culture. Related research areas are trauma-informed approaches and social connection.

Bio

Gigi Amateau serves as Assistant Professor and Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care Lab Director for the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Gerontology and Virginia Center on Aging. She holds a Master of Science in Gerontology and a Ph.D. in Health Science. In her role with VCU, she focuses on person-centered, trauma-informed care for nursing homes, capacity-building within the home and community-based services network, and teaching in the graduate program, where she integrates poetry, film, and humanities as tools for building person-centered, trauma-informed skills. Her current projects include Oral Housing Histories with Centenarians, Caregiver Empowerment, Social Health Connector, Elder Justice Shelter Innovation, and Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit for nursing homes. Dr. Amateau is the author of 7 books for teens and children that celebrate elderhood and intergenerational connection. She is a certified personal care aide in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance, a YWCA Richmond Pat Asch Social Justice Fellow, and a Health Equity Faculty Fellow with the VCU Health Humanities Lab.

Highlights

• Best Data Insight Award, Presented by Homeward for early identification of an increase in older adults experiencing homelessness in the Richmond region (2019)
• Pat Asch Social Justice Fellowship, Presented by YWCA Richmond (2017)

Publications/projects

• Thelma Bland Watson Person-Centered Personal Care Aide School. 2021. Co-PI.
• Trauma-informed Culture Change in Nursing Facilities. 2021. Funded by the Civil Monetary Penalty Fund: Co-PI.
• Trauma-Informed Training for the LTSS Workforce. 2019. Funded by the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. Curriculum Developer.
• Health Equity and the Arts: A Photo-narrative Celebration of the Direct Care Workforce. 2019. Funded by Richmond Memorial Health Foundation. Collaborating artist with Penelope Carrington and community partner, Family Lifeline.
• Trauma and Resilience Among Certified Nursing Assistants. 2018. Funded by the Civil Monetary Penalty Fund. Research Coordinator.
• Amateau, G., Gendron, T.L., Rhodes, A. (in press). Stress, strength, and respect: Viewing direct care staff experiences through a trauma-informed lens. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics Education.
• Welleford, E. A., Amateau, G., White, J. T., Stanculescu, N. (2021). Bridging classroom and community: Innovations toward appreciation, compassion satisfaction and professional identity development. Journal of Appreciative Education.
• Van Aartrijk, A., White, J., Amateau, G., Welleford, E.A., (12 July 2021). Community EngAGEment: University, nonprofit and municipal partnerships emerging from the pandemic. American City and County.
• Watson, T. B., Welleford, E. A., Amateau, G., White, J. T., & Van Aartrijk, A. (2021). Walking greatly through this storm: Social connection among older people during COVID. A preliminary report to RMHF. Unpublished white paper.