Lynchburg College's annual two-day Conference on Aging, to be held this year on May 22 and 23 in Rosel & Elliot Schewel Hall, will feature 25 workshops and five guest speakers in the field of aging and health, along with more than 30 exhibitors.
Topics will include practical strategies for healthy aging, promoting brain health, depression, and knowing what to expect as someone says their final goodbye. Nutrition, alcohol use by older adults, urinary incontinence, and the aging workforce will also be discussed.
The conference is sponsored by the Beard Center on Aging at Lynchburg College in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association of Central and Western Virginia and Centra Rehabilitation and Senior Services.
Morning keynotes are free and open to the public. Linda Nablo, commissioner of the Virginia Department for the Aging, will kick off the conference at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 22 in Sydnor Performance Hall. She will discuss state and federal programs for older Virginians, new initiatives, and future programs under consideration to meet the needs of the growing population of adults 65 and over.
Dr. Gary Oberlender, a private consultant in geriatric medicine, will talk about the different types and causes of dementia, many of which are treatable in his keynote at 9 a.m. Friday, May 23.
Guest speakers throughout the conference include Anthony Cirillo, entertainer and author of "Who Moved My Dentures," Mike Gillette, president of Biomedical Ethics, and Dr. Ron Fisher of Seven Hills Urology. Through audience participation, storytelling, and other methods, they will discuss the meaning of life as learned from older adults, the ethics of aging and dementia, and sexuality as a lifelong process.
Participants will have an opportunity to attend five of 25 workshops offered by professionals from across the state including Centra Health, Piedmont Geriatric Center, the Attorney General's Office, the Virginia Employment Commission, and Carilion's Center for Healthy Aging.
Participants will learn about the levels of care, legal planning, and gain tips on taking care of aging parents. They will learn how to avoid being a victim of crime and how to experience inner peace and joy. Practical tips for exercise and stress management will be offered to promote healthy aging.
Cost for the two-day conference is $50 for seniors and $145 for professionals. Lunch is provided both days. A limited number of scholarships are available. Thanks to the generous support from Centra, Heritage Green, "Senior News," Generation Solutions, and Home Instead, the conference is able to offer these low rates and scholarships.
For additional information, contact Denise Scruggs, director, Lynchburg College's Beard Center on Aging, at 434/544-8456 or e-mail at scruggs.dr@lynchburg.edu. Registration may be done on line and detailed descriptions of workshops are available at http://www.lynchburg.edu/beard.xml.