18th Annual Rural Geriatric Conference
Where Policy Meets Practice
June 12 & 13, 2008
Bar Harbor Regency Hotel
Sponsored by:
Acadia Health Education Coalition*
Maine Gerontological Society
DHHS Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Rural Health & Primary Care
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
With additional grant support from:
DHHS Office of Elder Services
Maine Alzheimer's Association
Rosscare-Eastern Maine Health Care Systems
University of Maine Center on Aging
*The Acadia Health Education Coalition AHEC is a member of the Maine AHEC Network, which is supported by a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (grant number U77HP 03021)
AGENDA
THURSDAY, June 12
8:00 a.m. Welcome & Introductions
8:15 a.m. Late Life Depression: You Don't Want to Miss It!
Susan Wehry, M.D., Director Vermont Agency of Human Services
Dr. Wehry will address the differences between normal sadness and clinical depression, describe easy to use screening tools and evidence-based treatments and discuss individual - and institutional - strategies for prevention and early intervention.
9:45 a.m. Break with Exhibitors
10:15 a.m. A Year in the Life of the Commissioner
Brenda Harvey, M.S.Ed., CRC, Commissioner, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
In this presentation, the Commissioner provides an overview of the financial challenges experienced by the state over the past year resulting from lower than projected state revenues,and changes in federal programs. She discusses how these challenges have affected programs for Maine's seniors.
11:00 a.m. It's All About You: Humor as a Stress Reliever
Ed Latham, R.N., FNGNA, Coordinator of Dynamic Solutions, St. Marguerite d'Youville Pavilion
Changes in organizations, increasing workloads and nearly impossible deadlines multiply stress. Learn how to decrease your own and others' anxieties by using humor - or just come for the laughs. Laughter at work is no longer just "nice to have." It's a "need to have." Humor is a skill and this is an opportunity for you to practice.
12:00 p.m. LUNCH
1:30 p.m. WORKSHOPS
(Remember to indicate your workshop preferences on the registration form!)
1. Taijiquan (T'ai Chi Ch'uan) for Elders and Their Caregivers
Larry Landau, Instructor, Dragonfly Taijiquan
Taijiquan is a Chinese meditative movement art which has been shown to improve balance, flexibility, strength and co-ordination. It is a gentle discipline that is extremely successful with our senior population, promoting relaxation, effective breathing, and groundedness (i.e. coping with symptoms of depression and dementia.) The same qualities that make taijiquan so useful for seniors also benefit their caregivers. Staff as well as clients notice substantial, positive differences in their physical health and mental well being in a relatively short period of time. This workshop will include discussion and practice of some of the basic principles that form the foundation of this ancient healing art.
2. Long Term Care Needs in Maine
Julie Fralich, MBA, Associate Director, Institute for Health Policy, Muskie School of Public Service
Diana Scully, M.S.W. Director, Maine DHHS Office of Elder Services
This workshop will provide an overview of a model that has been developed to estimate the effect of changes in disability, income and an aging population on the future use of and demand for long term care services. The workshop will include a discussion of the policy options and implications of the results of model's use.
3. Hand in Hand: Satisfaction and Intimacy in Old Age
Marilyn Gugliucci, Ph.D., F-GSA, F-AGHE, Director, Geriatric Education and Research, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Intimacy often takes on a sexual connotation, but its origins include social, emotional, spiritual and physical connections. In modern times we need more than modern words to develop knowledge, understanding, and empathy as we explore intimacy and satisfaction in later life. This workshop will assist in constructing a path for understanding intimacy, and will discuss formal and informal tenets that can guide caregiver actions around intimacy and satisfaction for older adults in a variety of living environments.
4. Capacity Evaluations in Adult Guardianships
Susan Wehry, M.D.
This workshop will present a new conceptual model and assessment template, based on a national model reported in the November 2007 issue of (italics) The Gerontologist. Using this template, in March 2008 Dr. Wehry will be training all of Vermont's probate judges as the state's first step in bringing some standards and consistency to this process.
2:45 p.m. BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS
3:15 pm WORKSHOPS
5. Uprising: Culture Change in Nursing Home Facilities - More Choice and Modern Management
Ed Latham, R.N., FNGNA
It's not about IF the culture will change. The culture will change with or without us. Let's rise up and take it on! One of the changes that we have already begun to embrace is "evidence based practice." It's now time to recognize that we must start to look at "evidence based staff education" and "evidence based management." We will explore questions like, "What has stopped working? What has been proven to be effective? What can we do about resistance to change?"
6. Taijiquan for Elders and Their Caregivers (repeat of Workshop #1)
7. Mindfulness and Elder Care
Lucia McBee, LCSW, MPH
This didactic and experiential workshop will provide an overview of the clinical applications of mindfulness practice adapted for frail elders and their caregivers. Mindfulness practices focus on abilities, rather than disabilities, in order to provide paths to the inner strengths and resources that we all possess. Mindfulness-Based Elder Care (MBEC) conveys to this population the benefits of mindfulness through meditation, gentle yoga, massage, aromatherapy, humor and other creative therapies.
8. Hospice Utilization in Maine
Julie Fralich, MBA
This presentation will provide an overview of the research on the use, cost and quality of hospice care and the implications for policy and planning in Maine.
4:30 p.m. Maine Gerontological Society Meeting - All Welcome
5:15 p.m. Maine Gerontological Society Reception - All Welcome
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
8:00 a.m. Welcome to Day 2
8:15 a.m. The Future Health Care Work Force for Aging America: a Recent Report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM)
Marie A. Bernard, M.D., Professor & Chair, Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
This presentation will summarize the findings and recommendations of the IOM panel of this title, on which Dr. Bernard has served. The report is due for release in late March or early April; it will hopefully guide health policy makers and planners to meet the surging demographic imperative with the aging of the Baby Boom generation.
9:15 a.m. BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS
9:45 a.m. The Anatomy and Physiology of the Aging Brain
Frank Willard, Ph.D., Professor of Anatomy, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
This presentation will describe, in a way that is accessible to all, what happens in the brain as we age. Not only for health care professionals, the talk's goal is to promote understanding of the physical changes that occur in order to better respond to the behavioral and physical manifestations of aging.
11:00 a.m. Pharmacology for Elders: What Drugs to Use and What Drugs to Avoid in the Older Patient
David Mokler, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Focusing mainly on cardiovascular and central nervous system medications, this talk clarifies ways in which the actions of these drugs differ in elders, and how they interact with drugs used for common geriatric conditions such as arthritis, high blood pressure, urinary incontinence and others.
12:00 p.m. LUNCH
1:15 p.m. WORKSHOPS
9. Memory: Where Does It Go?
Frank Willard, Ph.D..
Our brains change physically throughout our lives, from our earliest thoughts to the time when aging affects our thinking and remembering. In this workshop, Dr. Willard will discuss what's happening in the brain during normal memory formation, and changes that can occur that result in memory loss.
10. A "Fireside Chat" with a Leading Geriatrician: Keys to Good Care for Older Adults
Marie A. Bernard,M.D..
This workshop provides a rare opportunity to "cozy up" and chat with one of the nation's leading geriatricians. Dr. Bernard's user-friendly style offers a unique learning experience for all who attend. She offers a brief introduction to the Keys to Good Care for Older Adults, and plenty of time is allocated to questions and group discussion, all with Dr. Bernard's guidance.
11. Staying at Home: Safe and Easy Living
Lynn Gitlow, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP; Colleen Adams, COTA/L, ATP; Denis Pratt, ATP
This workshop is for attendees interested in promoting and enhancing performance in the home. It discusses requirements and standards to make home structures accessible. Attendees will learn about home modifications and assistive technology (AT) solutions for safe and easy home living. There will be an opportunity to view and handle several AT devices and to explore applications for their use.
12. The Use of Osteopathic Medicine for Elders
Ronald Mosiello, D.O., Osteopathic Manual Medicine/Neuromuscular Medicine Specialist, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
This workshop describes the importance of maximizing musculoskeletal function to improve overall health and well being. Osteopathic Manual treatment is used to reduce pain and enhance elders' ability to move, ambulate, perform activities of daily living, and to be as independent as possible.
2:30 p.m. BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS
3:00 p.m. WORKSHOPS
13. Staying at Home: Safe and Easy Living (repeat of Workshop #11)
14. Older Drivers: Goin' Around the Bend
Marilyn Gugliucci, Ph.D., F-GSA, F-AGHE
David Mokler, Ph.D.
Driving is a necessity in rural Maine. Weather conditions, dark roads and other hazards pose a challenge to any driver. For older drivers, there are also issues of health and medication use, as well as the changes often associated with aging. This workshop looks at older adult function through the example of driving, and it introduces the implications of the use of medications (primarily prescription), presents medication options for consideration in relation to (driving safety) function, and discusses best practice approaches for health care providers in determining driver safety and potential needs for driving cessation. (This session is appropriate for all care givers.)
15. Healthy IDEAS (Identifying Depression, Empowering Activities for Seniors)
Linda Samia, R.N., MS, Program Manager, Healthy Choices for Maine, Partnership for Healthy Aging
Annette Chavis, R.N., CCM, Elder Independence of Maine
This workshop describes Healthy IDEAS, which is an evidence-based program designed to detect depression and reduce the severity of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults. Healthy IDEAS us being implemented throughout Maine by two distinct groups: the five Area Agencies on Aging, working with caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease; and Elder Independence of Maine, working with consumers of home and community based services. Representatives of these organizations will be present to describe their projects and some early outcomes.
16. The Use of Osteopathic Medicine for Elders (repeat of Workshop #12)
4:15 pm ADJOURN
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CREDITS
The University of New England (UNE) is accredited by the American Osteopathic
Association and by the Maine Medical Association's Council on Continuing Medical
Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. UNE has
designated this educational activity for a maximum of 11 Category 1A osteopathic
and AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.(TM ) Nursing Home Administrator CEUs and nursing CEUs from ANA-Maine are pending. The University designates UNE contact hours for all other attendees, which may be submitted to professional accrediting and
licensing agencies for continuing education credits.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
The Bar Harbor Regency (123 Eden St., Bar Harbor) is holding a limited number of
rooms at the conference rate of $109 per night, single/double occupancy. The deadline
to reserve a room at this special rate is May 11th; rooms are "as available" after that date.
To make a hotel reservation, call (800) 234-6835. Indicate you are part of the Geriatric Conference, and use the code BHG. For more information on the Bar Harbor Regency, including driving directions, visit the hotel’s website at www.oplhotels.com.
SUBSTITUTIONS/CANCELLATIONS: If this conference is cancelled
because of unforeseen circumstances, registration fees will be
refunded. Registrants who cancel by May 12 will receive a refund less a
$75.00 processing fee; cancellations received after May 12 are not
eligible for a refund. Substitution may be made without additional
charge by calling Marolyn Bissonnette at (207) 602-2589.
FEES:
_ Full Conference (Thurs./Fri.): $219
_ Thursday June 12 only: $119
_ Friday June 13 only: $119
_ Full time students, with copy of current ID: $50/day
Discounted Fees for members, staff, faculty, and preceptors of the following sponsoring organizations:
Acadia Health Education Coalition
Maine Gerontological Society
Maine Office of Rural Health & Primary Care
University of New England
_ Full Conference: $187
_ Thursday June 12 only: $100
_ Friday June 13 only: $100
If you require special accommodations of any kind to fully participate in this conference, please notify the CME Office at UNE (207-602-2589) at least two weeks prior to the event.
CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE
Sharon Ann Berz, LCSW, Long Term Care Director, Aroostook Agency
on Aging, Presque Isle (sberz@aroostookaging.org)
Amy E. Cotton, M.S.N., APRN, BC, FNGNA, Director of Operations,
Rosscare-Eastern Maine Health Care Systems, The Center for Healthy Aging, Bangor (acotton@emh.org)
Carolyn Dorrity, R.N., BSN, Executive Director, Acadia Health Education
Coalition (part of the Maine AHEC network), Bangor (cdorrity@meahec.org)
Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D.,F-GSA, F-GHE Associate Professor and Director of Geriatric
Education and Research, University of New England College of
Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford (mgugliucci@une.edu)
Sue-Ellis Hermansen, R.N., M.S., University of Maine School of Nursing,
Orono (susan.hermansen@umit.maine.edu)
Leslie Ingraham, M.S., Director Continuing Medical Education, University
of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford
(lingraham@une.edu)
Lenard Kaye, DSW, Ph.D., Professor, School of Social Work, Director, Center
on Aging, University of Maine, Orono (len.kaye@umit.maine.edu)
Peggy Pineo, MHA, Administrator/Vice President of Long-Term Care, Sunrise Care Facility, Downeast Health Systems (peggyp@dech.org)
Romaine Turyn, M.A., Director of Policy, Planning and Resource
Development, Office of Elder Services, Augusta
(romaine.turyn@maine.gov)
Paul Weston, Trescott TWP (covehawk@wildblue.net)
USE THE PRINTABLE REGISTRATION FORM TO REGISTER, OR REGISTER ONLINE NOW! FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER BY PHONE, CALL THE UNE CME OFFICE, (207) 602-2589 OR EMAIL AT cme@une.edu.