Lawrence Force

Professor Lawrence Force is a distinguished gerontologist and psychologist at Mount Saint Mary College's Division of Social Sciences, with over 30 years of expertise in aging and disability policy. As director of the Center on Aging and Disability Policy, he bridges clinical practice, education, and research to address critical issues in elder care, family caregiving, and support systems for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Core Research Areas:

• Aging policy development and implementation
• Community-based care models for disabled elderly
• Family caregiving stress and interventions
• Dementia care and end-of-life support
• Adult day services optimization

Publication Trends: His work demonstrates sustained focus on dementia care frameworks (4 articles since 2005), intergenerational support systems, and evidence-based policy guidelines for aging populations with disabilities. Key collaborations include international research teams addressing care structures and measurement tools.

Honors & Recognition:

• NIH Principal Investigator status
• NIA and RAND Summer Institute fellowships
• Multiple institutional and foundation research grants
• State licensure as Clinical Social Worker

Interdisciplinary Engagement: Integrates psychology, social work, and public policy frameworks through his Center's initiatives, fostering cross-sector coalitions with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and healthcare institutions.