GERONTOLOGY SOCIETY TO MEET

Montana Gerontology Society’s (MGS) 35th Annual Conference, Life Stories: Aging & the Human Spirit will be held Thursday and Friday, April 6-7, 2017 at the Holiday Inn, 1100 5th Street South, Great Falls. Many areas of aging including physical, medical, emotional, psychosocial, and financial will be covered. The conference will be of interest to a variety of professionals in the aging network, including healthcare providers, social workers, and senior service organizations, as well as seniors, baby boomers, and retirees. Two exciting keynote speakers have been engaged for the conference.
Thomas R. Cole is the McGovern Chair in Medical Humanities and Director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (UTHealth). Dr. Cole has published many articles and books on the history of aging and humanistic gerontology. Cole’s interest in the life stories of older people has taken him into biography and filmmaking. His keynote topic on Thursday will be Life Stories and Well-Being in Later Life.
Anthony Cirillo, FACHE, ABC, President, The Aging Experience, is an aging and caregiving expert. He is a speaker, consultant, and author of the book, Who Moved My Dentures. His company offers patient experience management, strategic marketing, and international health care consulting. He is focusing on assisting health care organizations to become dementia friendly. His keynote topic on Friday will be On the Journey to Excellence, The Experience Drives Everything.
Breakout sessions will cover medical/clinical topics, psycho/social services, legal and financial issues, and caregiving advice. There will be several sessions on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Diseases ranging from Dealing with Grief and Loss, Communication Techniques, Coping Strategies, the Memories in the Making Art Program and an Update on the Montana Alzheimer’s/Dementia State Plan. Other topics include Legal & Financial Planning, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults, Fighting Senior Hunger and Improving Nutrition, Treating Addiction in Older Adults, Spirituality, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
A Thursday early evening session presented by the Benefis Spirit of Women will be The Country Side of Care, a documentary on the Lifeside Farms program in Flathead Valley. Refreshments will be served with a no host bar.
MGS 2017 paid members receive a discount on the full conference fees of two days ($180) or one day ($110). The discounted fees for students, seniors, retirees, and family caregivers are $80 for the full conference and $45 for one day. Registration includes lunch, breaks, program booklet, and handouts.
For detailed conference information, registration form, or membership application, visit montanagerontology.org. MSN