A local organization focused on qualify of life for area seniors sponsored six Frederick Regional Health System professionals attending Johns Hopkins Hospital’s 2017 conference on geriatric health care.
Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County provided scholarships for the six clinicians to the 44th annual Edmund G. Beacham Current Topics in Geriatrics presented by the University’s Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology and the Johns Hopkins Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program. The annual three-day event provides “scientifically-based practical, clinical talks focused on improving the health care of individual seniors,” according to the conference directors.
Over three days, participants attended presentations, panel discussions, and a series of clinical case sessions. The more than 30 topics covered this year included caring for the caregiver, behavioral approaches to changing behaviors, pain management in older adults, frailty assessments, patient-centered care, and the fascinating session and question of “How Old Would You Be if You Didn’t Know How Old You Are?”
“AAFC was delighted to support these medical professionals interested in geriatric care continuing education, and our collaboration included their willingness to come back and share their knowledge with colleagues through in-house education and training,” according to Melanie Cox, president of the AAFC board of directors.
Dr. Rachel Mandel, FMH assistant vice president for medical affairs, notes that the sponsored participants described the conference as extremely informative and useful in their hospital and primary care practices.
“We are very appreciative of AAFC’s support of this important professional education for our doctors and nurses,” she said. “Our participants are excited to share new ideas and information with their colleagues, raising awareness of geriatric needs and encouraging us to be innovative in our services and acre.”
The mission of Advocates for Aging of Frederick County is a public voice for the needs to low-income and poor senior citizens and to facilitate and support partnerships and collaboration between government, for-profit and non-profit organizations to meet those needs.
For more information, visit the AAFC website at www.advocatesforaging.org and follow AAFC on Facebook.