Marilyn Gugliucci makes several presentations around the state

Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D, from the UNECOM Department of Geriatric Medicine had a number of speaking engagements recently.

In early June she was the invited speaker at the Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital which is part of The Aroostock Medical Center (TAMC) in Presque Isle and then later that day traveled to Mars Hill to present at the Aroostock Health Care Facility. Each presentation was 90 minutes and audiences included health practitioners and physicians from a variety of disciplines.

On the next day, Gugliucci was the keynote speaker for the Aroostook County Area Agency on Aging Senior Expo. The attendees included 130 older adults and  40 exhibitors. The title of her presentation was: "A.G.E.: Attitude, Greatness, and Efficiency."  Gugliucci said that "as much as she loves to provide lectures to health professionals and students her favorite audiences are older adults.

On June 13-14th, the 23rd Annual Maine Geriatrics Conference was held in Bar Harbor. This annual event is a signature program for the UNECOM Department of Geriatric Medicine and Maine Gerontological Society. It is also sponsored by the UNE Maine Geriatrics Education Center and is staffed by the UNECOM Continuing Medical Education Office.

Gugliucci is the chair of the Planning Committee, which includes nine interprofessionals from across the state. The event was a huge success garnering important financial support from Lunder-Dineen Health Education Alliance of Maine and a grant from MEHAF (Maine Health Access Foundation).

In addition to working with the conference Dr Gugliucci organized a session entitled:   "From the Inside Out: Undercover Feedback Prompts Nursing Home Staff Response."  This session was designed as a panel and included Audrey Weiner, DSW, MPH, CEO, Jewish Home Lifecare; Mary Danis, M.Ed, LSW, LCPC, Social Services Department Director, St. Andre Health Care; Eric Pooler, M.Ed, Administrator, Southridge Rehabilitation and Living Center and Kristy Lavallee, OTR/L, Staff Occupational Therapist, Southridge Rehabilitation and Living Center.  Since 2006 medical students have been “admitted” into nursing homes to live the life of an older adult nursing home resident for two weeks, 24/7, complete with a diagnosis and standard procedures of care. This is the first time that nursing home staff responded with their insights, challenges and resultant changes based on the feedback from these students. Gugliucci provided the details of the Learning by Living project and moderated the panel discussion.