Oklahoma State University will host a special fall edition of the annual Linking Geriatrics and Gerontology conference on September 26. The conference will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Wes Watkins Center in Stillwater, Okla. The event is open to the public and lunch will be provided.
The conference is produced by the College of Human Sciences’ department of Human Development and Family Science and the Center for Family Resilience.
This year’s conference titled “Breaking the Silence: Elder Abuse, Care and Resilience,” will focus on a variety of issues related to Oklahoma’s aging population including elder abuse, psychological well-being, legal and ethical considerations of elder abuse, mandatory reporting, and the resilience of seniors.
Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D. will give the keynote address titled “Understanding Elder Abuse: Causes, Consequences and Care Solutions”. Her talk will focus on the various types of elder abuse perpetrated by family and friends, professional caregivers, and trusted others. Roberto is Director of the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech. She serves as a member of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (CLAHS) administrative team and is a tenured professor in the Department of Human Development.
A special session discussing psychological well-being of seniors and their resilience will be presented Rosemary Blieszner, Ph.D., president of the Gerontological Association of America, as well as the associate dean of the Graduate School and associate director of the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech. Roberto is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, and the National Council on Family Relations. She is the 2013 Gerontological Society of America Behavioral and Social Sciences Distinguished Mentorship Award..
Jerry Hines, a program supervisor with Oklahoma Department of Human Services – Adult Protective Services, will give a presentation focusing on mandatory reporting and situations which may lead to maltreatment, abuse, or neglect in elder populations.
Marguerite Chapman, University of Tulsa College of Law professor and founder of the Health Law Program, will present on the legal and ethical considerations of elder abuse and care.
In addition to HDFS and the CFR, sponsors and co-providers of the series include the Oklahoma Geriatric Education Center; the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing; the Alzheimer’s Association; the Arthritis Foundation; and the OSU Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence.
Early registration fees for the conference are $75 and $40 for seniors 65 and older and students.
For more information about Linking Gerontology and Geriatrics events or to register visit osu-okgec.okstate.edu or contact Dr. Tammy Henderson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone (405) 744-7511.
Linking Geriatrics and Gerontology focuses on helping participants identify the links between social behavior and health of an aging population. Evidence-based information enhances the best practices of health-care, other professionals, and individuals working with older adults.
