Oklahoma State University will host the third annual Linking Geriatrics and Gerontology conference on March 7 & 8, 2013. The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the Advance Technology Research Center on the OSU campus in Stillwater, Okla.
The conferences focus on issues faced by Oklahoma seniors and their families, and this year the emphasis will be on how to provide important information and ensure ultimate care. Grandparents and Grandchildren: Intergenerational Concerns will be the topic on March 7 and features sessions on medical literacy, consent for medical treatment, caregiver needs, resources for grandparents, and coping with chronic health concerns. Quality Care: Falls, Safety, and Overall Well-Being will be held on March 8. Topics include consent for special populations, quality health, preventing falls and breaks, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging, and medication management considerations for seniors.
Dr. Todd Brockman, president of the Tulsa County Medical Society, will deliver the keynote address at the conference on March 7th. Brockman is a board certified ophthalmologist, who has practiced in Tulsa for 26 years. He recently completed two terms as chairman of the Oklahoma State Medical Association Board of Trustees and was elected vice president of OSMA. In his presentation titled Medical Literacy: Closing the Communication Gap, Dr. Brockman will explain the signs of limited health literacy and describe the teach-back method of communicating with patients.
Dr. Laurence Rubenstein, president of the Gerontological Society of America, will be the conference keynote speaker on March 8th. Rubenstein is board certified in internal medicine, preventative medicine, and geriatrics. In his presentation titled Falls Prevention in Older Adults: State of Science, Rubenstein will explain the impact of falls on morbidity, mortality and functional impairment in the elderly population; identify the most common precipitating causes for falls; describe important risk factors for falls and approaches to reduce them; and review the essentials of a post-fall assessment and the important components of prevention.
In addition to the Human Development and Family Science Department at OSU, sponsors and co-providers of the series include Physicians Liability Insurance Company; Stillwater Medical Center; University of Oklahoma College of Nursing; OSU College of Engineering, Architecture, & Technology; Alzheimer’s Association; OSU’s School of Fire Protection and Safety; Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative; and OSU Institute for Creativity and Innovation.
The conferences are designed for health care, social science and other professionals, and family and community members working with older adults in rural Oklahoma. The series also focus on helping participants identify the links between gerontology and geriatrics, while also learning to apply evidence-based information needed to enhance professional practices of individuals working with or caring for older adults. The event will be open to the public.
For more information about Linking Gerontology and Geriatrics events or to register visit humansciences.okstate.edu/okgec or contact Tammy Henderson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (405) 744-8350.
