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Stephen G. Post, PhD, Director, Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University
Dr. Post will draw you into “life with dementia and with the demented,” while providing solutions for the many problems posed by the progressive loss of cognition. He offers a comprehensive picture of the Alzheimer’s patient, the caregiver, and the caregiving relationship, and then presents a series of well-founded practical recommendations to work with the complexities of the disease. Dr. Post is dedicated to the Alzheimer’s community of both patients and caregivers as he gently, straightforwardly, and on occasion humorously portrays the Alzheimer’s experience through the words of people who are actually living it. He will equip you with the necessary facts and suggest how to proceed humanely and with absolute consideration of the person who should be at the center of concern.
Dr. Post believes that maintaining the emotional and relational wellbeing of those with dementia depends on caregivers who see dignity even in those severely affected by this kind of condition. He addresses specific ethical issues of interest to health care professionals, families, and affected individuals, including topics such as diagnostic disclosure, the extension of autonomy through advance directives, behavior control, family caregiving, quality of life in relation to treatment limitations, hospice care, and end-of-life choices. His message will leave you with practical solutions and equip you as an Aging Life Care Professional with a positive course of action. Post’s book, The Moral Challenge of Alzheimer’s Disease: Ethical Issues from Diagnosis to Dying (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000, 2nd edition), was designated a “medical classic of the century” by the British Medical Journal (2009).
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Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, RAAN, John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc., New York, NY
With current medical advances and the adoption of healthier lifestyles, people are living longer. Older Americans now comprise the fastest growing segment of the United States population. By the year 2020, this group will increase by 5.5%, and by 2050 they are projected to account for 25% of the population. Their inevitable functional decline will leave older Americans increasingly dependent on others for support and hence at risks ranging from physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse; and exploitation or neglect by individuals within the older person’s social circle -- family, friends, and even professional advisors and care providers. Dr. Fulmer will discuss how care management can identify, report, and work effectively in these challenging situations. Dr. Fulmer is nationally and internationally recognized as a leading expert in geriatrics and is best known for her research on the topic of elder abuse and neglect.
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Howard Fillit, MD, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, New York, NY
Dr. Fillit will share the prevalence of dementias and proportion that is diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease now and projections for the future. He will discuss how “cure” is defined, what types of dementia are targeted for “cure,” and what neurobiological theories support Rx research. He will also share some of the successes to date; what prescriptions are currently available; and if there is really hope, how should Aging Life Care Professionals address and work with clients and families around drug treatment. Dr. Fillit is a geriatrician, neuroscientist, and leading expert in Alzheimer’s disease, and the Founding Executive Director and Chief Science Officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.
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Gayatri Devi, MD, PC, The New York Memory & Healthy Aging Services, New York, NY
Dr. Devi’s presentation will address the challenging topic of burnout among professional caregivers, such as social workers, care managers, and home health aides. The statistics are sobering. Dr. Devi shows us not only how we might achieve balance and happiness, but how this translates into better lives for clients and their families AND for caregivers and their families. Every professional should hear Dr. Devi’s compelling message.
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Lucia McBee, LCSW, MPH, CYI, Mindfulness for Everyone, New York, NY
Stress abounds in our daily lives. In addition to personal stress, Aging Life Care Professionals often absorb the stress of their clients and vice versa. Stress is contagious! What if there were a miraculous pill that could reduce stress and improve our brain, as well as increase happiness and wellness? And, if this pill was free and without side effects, would you be interested? Not a pill, but a practice, mindfulness, offers all the above benefits and more. The 2,500 year old practices of mindfulness have recently emerged as an evidence-based intervention with proven efficacy for physical, emotional, and mental illnesses. Mindfulness practices can benefit clients, family caregivers, and care managers and provide simple, effective, and proven tools for deescalating stress and improving wellbeing. This didactic and experiential presentation will review mindfulness research and skills, as well as ways to bring mindfulness practices into our lives.
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