Conference, HAN is on the Move
by
 Monika White |
Fire season in Southern California this year was particularly active for emergency response teams and firefighters. Smoke-filled skies and thousands of acres of burned lands served as a valuable reminder of the need for emergency planning. Whether we are contemplating the possibility of West Coast fires, Southeastern hurricanes or Midwestern tornados, we all need to make a New Year’s resolution to have a disaster preparedness plan. Since no healthcare agency can operate in a silo, this need is especially pressing for those of us who serve older adults.
This issue of Healthcare and Aging focuses entirely on the experience of older adults in natural disasters -- and on the vital role of healthcare organizations and professionals in preparedness, response and mitigation for elders when catastrophes strike. We all have much to learn to ensure that we are ready to help elders in such trying circumstances. Special thanks to the HAN editorial board, led by Pat Pannone, for their work on this timely topic.
Mark Your Calendar: Aging in America 2008
Disaster preparedness is just one of the themes that also will come to the fore at Aging in America, the 2008 conference of the National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging, which will be held March 26-30 in Washington, D.C. Nearly two dozen workshops, poster sessions or program exchanges will address this vital topic, adding to the total of more than 400 dynamic educational programs on healthcare, health promotion and wellness, long-term care and other sujects of importance to HAN members. Many thanks to the 30 session reviewers who evaluated submissions for these healthcare-related presentations.
Not to be missed at the conference: the Critical Issues in Aging session titled “Evidence-Based Research and Promising Practices for Healthy Aging.” This session will highlight evidence-based model programs serving adults ages 50 and older, with a focus on physical fitness and fall prevention. We will explore ways in which older adults can prevent, postpone or manage chronic conditions and will discuss recent tools for fostering lifestyle and behavioral changes that can significantly improve elders’ health outcomes. Thanks to Bunni Dybnis, the HAN program working group chair, and her team for their work on this session.
Also on tap: During the HAN membership reception at the conference, we will celebrate our 10th year of presenting Healthcare and Aging Awards, sponsored by Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative. You’ll have the chance to learn about the award winners honored in 2008 -- six programs that represent a cross-section of healthcare issues ranging from oral health to pain management. Many thanks to the awards committee, led by Terrie Raphael, for their comprehensive evaluation of the two dozen nominations we received for the award.
Want to learn more about the conference? The Aging in America website offers a wealth of information on sessions, special programs and other events. Visit Aging in America.
Your Chance to Get Involved
As the field of healthcare and aging expands, HAN is looking to recruit current experts in healthcare as well as emerging professionals to join our numbers. Also, if you are interested in becoming involved in gathering articles for Healthcare & Aging, planning conference programs, reviewing session proposals or choosing HAN Award recipients, contact HAN staff liaison Dominick Albano at han@asaging.org.
Hope to see you at Aging in America in March. Meanwhile, my best wishes to all for a great new year!
HAN Leadership Council chair Monika White is president and CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, Calif. Contact her at mwhite@centerforhealthyaging.org.
Photo: Courtesy Monika White
Copyright © 2007 American Society on Aging; all rights reserved. This article may not be duplicated or distributed in any form without written permission from the publisher: American Society on Aging, 71 Stevenson St., Suite 1450, San Francisco, CA 94105-2938; e-mail: permissions@asaging.org.
