August 30, 2010
Conference focusing on older adults set for Oct. 1
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A conference focusing on older adults will take place from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center.
“The governor has declared 2010 ‘the year of the engaged older adult,’ so we designed the conference to celebrate this initiative,” said Juliane P. Wallace, associate professor in SIUC’s Department of Kinesiology and head of the College of Education and Human Services’ gerontology program.
“Our conference will follow the state’s first summit on aging and education, where the goal is to look for ways to solve problems with new intergenerational partnerships. For example, where schools are cutting their budgets, what could older people do to help younger ones learn?”
Nancy Morrow-Howell, a social work professor from Washington University in St. Louis, and editor of the book “Productive Aging,” will deliver the keynote address.
“She’s the leading researcher in the engagement of older adults and is well known in international circles, so we’re really excited about having her come,” Wallace said.
Breakout sessions will cover such topics as nutrition, exercise, policy issues and learning after retirement.
In addition to older adults, Wallace hopes to attract those responsible for caring for them.
“We are offering continuing education credits for people in social work,” she said.
A panel discussion at the conference’s end will address specific ways to build on the statewide intergenerational initiative known as “Generations Serving Generations,” Wallace said.
“We’re also in the process of developing a center for gerontology and intergenerational studies, which will be housed in the College of Education and Human Services, so what comes out of this conference will be pretty important in shaping what goes into the development of that center,” she added.
Registration costs $99, with an additional $10 fee for those wanting continuing education credit. The fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Register online at www.dce.siu.edu, where workshops are listed under the calendar section on the right side of the page. Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 24. For more information, call Wallace at 618/536-7751 or e-mail her at juliane@siu.edu.