Megumi Inoue, PhD

Dr. Inoue is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work. Her research primarily focuses on older adults experiencing declining health, placing them at risk of losing autonomy and dignity. The deterioration of physical and/or cognitive abilities in older adults could significantly threaten their right to make decisions and be treated with respect. Dr. Inoue’s research aims to identify ways to prevent such unfortunate situations and to provide support for these vulnerable older adults and their family members.

Drawing on her extensive clinical experience as both a social worker and a registered nurse, Dr. Inoue brings a unique perspective to her understanding of these research areas. Additionally, she serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Gerontological Social Work.

Dr. Inoue has taught a diverse range of courses at both the MSW and BSW levels. These courses encompass Clinical Practice with Older Adults, Death & Dying, Research Methods for Social Workers, and Program Evaluation for MSW students. For BSW students, her courses include Research in Social Work, Integrative Methods in Social Action and Social Change, Knowledge Building for Helping Professionals, and Introduction to Social Work.

Dr. Inoue earned a Ph.D. from Boston College (Graduate School of Social Work), an MSW from Washington University in St. Louis (Brown School of Social Work), a BSW from Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare in Japan (Department of Medical Social Welfare), and an ADN from Kyushu University in Japan (College of Medical Technology Department of Nursing).

Research

Research Interests

• End-of-life issues: Advance care planning and grief process
• Patients’ autonomy and dignity in healthcare settings
• Personalized music intervention for dementia
• Nonpharmacological interventions for individuals living with dementia

Select Publications

• Chen, L., & Inoue, M. (in press). Community care in Japan: A blueprint for mitigating social isolation and loneliness in older adults with dementia. Frontiers in Public Health.
• Prieto, L., Masa, R., Inoue, M., Kellermeyer, K.*, & Booker, E.* (2024). Food insecurity and diabetes among older adults. Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/21551197.2024.2409287
• Inoue, M., Ihara, S. E., Layman, S., Li, M-H., Nosrat, S.*, Mehak, S.#, Barrett, K., Magee, C., McNally, K.* A., Moore, M.*, & Tompkins, C. J. (2024). A personalized music intervention in nursing home residents living with dementia: Findings from a randomized study. The Journal of Applied Gerontology, online first. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648241257797
• Gimm, G., Layman, S., Inoue, M., Ihara, S. E., & Tompkins, J. C. (2024). Mason caregivers aiming for resilience, empowerment, and support study: Assessing family caregiver burden post-intervention. The Journal of Applied Gerontology, online first. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648241243173
• Inoue, M., Masa, R., Prieto, L., Baruah, D., Kellermeyer, K.*, Booker, E.*, & Sweeney, G.# (2024). Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among older adults in the United States. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1-18.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2024.2339975
• Mago, J., Firlie, M., Fang, L., Serpicp, S., Ortiz, A., Tandon, M., Inoue, M., Baxter, P., Yu, Y.*, John, M., Abbas, K., Dinka, L., Ekwenna, O., Koizumi, N., Li, M., & Ortiz, J. (2024). A comprehensive analysis of litigation in organ transplantation for allegations of insufficient policy coverage, discrimination and malpractice. Progress in Transplantation, 34(1-2), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1177/15269248241237822
• Oh, K., Inoue, M., Koizumi, N., Beran, K.*, & Lee, J. (2024). Chronic health conditions and online medical records use in caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The Journal of Applied Gerontology, 43(4), 363-373. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231210677
• Masa, R., Inoue, M., Prieto, L., Baruah, D.*, Nosrat, S.*, Mehak, S.#, & Operario, D. (2023). Mental health of older adults by sexual minority status” Evidence from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey. The Journal of Applied Gerontology, 43(3), 276-286. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231203838
• Inoue, M., Li, M-H, Hashemi, M., Yu, Y.*, Jonnalagadda, J.*, Kulkarni, R., Kestenbaum, M., Mohess, D., & Koizumi, N. (2023). Opinion and sentiment analysis of palliative care in the era of COVID-19. Healthcare, 11(6), 855. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060855
• Inoue, M., Waithaka, E., Ihara, E. S., Tompkins, C. J., Donnelly, C.*, & Spinelli, L.* (2023). Exploring students’ experience of study abroad: Short programs in Japan. The International Journal of Diversity in Education, 23(2), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-0020/CGP/v23i02/37-49

Affiliations

• Member
  Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work
• Member
  Council on Social Work Education
   
• Member
  Gerontological Society of America
   
• Member
  Society for Social Work and Research
   
• Member
  Japanese Society for the Study of Social Welfare

Degrees

• PhD, Social Work, Boston College
• MSW, Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis
• BSW, Social Work, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Japan
• ADN, Nursing, Kyushu University, College of Medical Technology, Japan