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A monitor glows, playing a scene that first aired in 1989: Four women, the “The Golden Girls” of the show’s title, discover that one of them is living with addiction.

“I thought you said you could take these or leave them,” Blanche says, holding a bottle of prescription painkillers.

“Well, that’s true,” Rose replies. “And right now, I want to take them.”

Cue laughter, a few somber musical notes and a fade to black. When the program resumes, the Golden Girls are sitting at their kitchen table, debating whether Rose should get professional help or go cold turkey.

Rose wants to go it alone, but the episode reaches denouement with her completing rehab before closing with a comedic bit about a musically inclined chicken. The last-minute humor lets audience members laugh their way out of an episode that dealt with a serious topic.

Yet for the Cal State ������Ƶ students who have completed “Women and Aging: Lessons from The Golden Girls,” the program’s blend of levity and gravity facilitates candid discussions of real-life issues.

“I think the coolest thing is that the humor in it inspires the students to talk about how the topics relate to their own families’ lives,” said Maria Carpiac, director of CSULB’s Gerontology Program, “Golden Girls” fan and course instructor.

“I find that students are very transparent and vulnerable in this class,” Carpiac added. “They see it as a safe space to talk about their own lives and experiences.”

From screen to classroom

During the spring 2025 class session that revolved around “High Anxiety” — the episode dealing with painkillers — Carpiac alerted students to the risks posed when older adults receive numerous prescriptions that can lead to side effects or drug interactions.

Students contributed their ideas for better-informed approaches to medication. One ventured that caregivers could miss signs of substance abuse if they assume a patient is dealing with aging-related problems. Another offered that addiction can lead to risky behavior, which can, in turn, increase the risk of financial abuse.

Carpiac has screened additional episodes for talks on other matters students may encounter, either as professionals serving older adults or as family members caring for elder loved ones. Besides medication, Women and Aging has explored such topics as ageism, menopause and end-of life planning.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, it can relate to one aspect of your life,” said Georgette Shobeiri ‘23, who took the course in spring 2025 and grew up watching "The Golden Girls."

Shobeiri’s experiences caring for her foster mother inspired her to pursue a master’s in gerontology. After completing her degree, she aspires to work as an ombuds speaking for older adults in nursing facilities.

“I just know that I want to advocate for the older population and give them a voice,” Shobeiri, who also holds a bachelor’s in sociology, said.

Inspiring CSULB’s gerontology students

“The Golden Girls” aired from 1985 to 1992 and Buzzfeed’s “Which Golden Girl Are You?” quizzes are one sign of the show’s enduring popularity. But rather than asking students whether they identify with Blanche, Dorothy, Sophia or Rose, "Women and Aging” invites students to see how those characters’ situations can be mirrored in reality.

“The more I watched it as a gerontologist, I just kept realizing, holy moly, everything this show is talking about is relevant to something in this field,” Carpiac said.

And since gerontology is a field that is inextricably connected to personal and family life, humor makes it easier to be at ease when discussing touchy subjects.

“It opens up discussion,” Nicole Smith ‘14, ‘20 said. “If you’re feeling uncomfortable, and you’re not able to talk about personal stuff, you’re able to talk about what you saw in the episode.”

Smith completed Women and Aging in 2019 on her way to a master’s degree in gerontology. She now serves as a long-term care ombuds for a Santa Monica-based nonprofit and is among Beach alumni helping California’s older adults live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Frances Ginder, ‘16, ‘18, looks back on topics addressed in the class being relevant to her work as a care coordinator for SCAN Health Plan.

She recalled an episode where show characters had to deal with an aggressive salesperson while trying to sign up for a gym membership. Older adults may feel intimidated while looking for a place to exercise, Ginder said, and she looked back on one occasion when she helped clients secure transportation to an aquatic Zumba class.

Overall, the lesson Ginder wants the world to learn is that ageism needs to come to an end.

“After taking 'The Golden Girls' class, it made me realize that older people are misunderstood ... “We have older adults running a marathon, and they’re fine,” Ginder said.